Driving in Finland

Resolve the foreign licence before collecting or importing a vehicle

An EU or EEA licence valid for the vehicle category is accepted within its validity. Traficom sets separate conditions for convention-country and other recognised foreign licences, including when an international permit or official translation must accompany the physical licence.

Check the licence's issuing state, category, validity and the driver's residence status. Then confirm registration, insurance and rental permission separately for Finland and every transit country; one accepted document does not validate the others.

Sources: [5][11]

Apply the condition-based winter tyre rule to the actual vehicle

Finland requires winter tyres from 1 November to 31 March when weather or road conditions demand them. The rule also applies to foreign-registered vehicles, and Traficom specifies vehicle, trailer, tread and tyre-marking requirements.

Do not read the calendar as permission to use unsuitable tyres outside that period or as proof that a road is safe within it. Match the vehicle and trailer to current conditions, clear snow and ice, carry visible emergency equipment and postpone the journey when conditions are dangerous.

Sources: [4][3]

Treat road ferries and commuter ferries as different operations

Finferries road ferries and cable ferries form operating links in parts of the public road network, but loading order, deck capacity, weight restrictions, weather and crew instructions control passage. Ordinary road-ferry space is not booked; commuter-ferry routes use a separate booking system where applicable.

Use the exact Finferries location page for restrictions, then join the marked lane, provide vehicle weight when requested and wait for the crew's boarding signal. Public-road status provides neither priority in the queue nor guaranteed deck space.

Sources: [6][7][2]

Plan Åland as a booked sea stage, not a mainland road

A vehicle journey to or through Åland includes a sea passage. The relevant ferry operator controls its booking, timetable, vehicle dimensions and check-in; the road route can begin again only at the confirmed arrival harbour.

Do not transfer a mainland road-ferry assumption to an Åland archipelago sailing. Verify the complete vehicle and trailer, any route-specific booking condition and the current service notice before committing to the onward road stage.

Sources: [8][7]

Do not route through the closed eastern land border

Under the Finnish Government decision dated 4 June 2026, every Finland–Russia road crossing point remains closed until further notice. A mapping service may still draw a historical connection, but it is not available to passenger vehicles.

Check the Government and Finnish Border Guard status again before any eastern-border plan. Do not navigate to a closed checkpoint as a through-route or assume that freight, rail, air or maritime arrangements make the road crossing available.

Sources: [9]

Before driving in Finland

• Verify the licence category, original supporting documents, insurance and permission for the actual vehicle.
• Check Fintraffic conditions, cameras, maintenance, incidents and restrictions on the named roads shortly before leaving.
• Resolve every road ferry or Åland sea transfer through the correct operator and current operating state.
• Call 112 for an emergency; after a collision or animal strike, protect the scene only when safe and give the road number, direction and nearest marker.

Sources: [5][1][6][3][10]