 General
/ Road Rules & Regulations
Using
a Foreign Driving licence
in Finland
Obtaining
a Finnish Driving licence
Exchanging
a Foreign Driving Licence
for a Finnish Driving Licence
International
Driving Licence
Vehicle
Inspection, Registration
and Taxation
Finnish
Driving Schools
Driving
Tips (FAQ's)
Additional
Information
See
also Motor
Vehicle Insurance
 WINTER DRIVING COURSE for expatriates: Saturday 18th February 2012
Training language: English Location: Vihti slippery track
Winter is coming - are you ready? Conditions can be unpredictable and driving on icy roads and in snow is a big challenge in Finland. In order to safely handle a vehicle in winter weather, drivers must be able to assess road conditions, predict how the vehicle will react in different situations and conditions, and know what actions to take to keep it under control.
Expatriates recently relocated to Finland need instruction on how to drive safely and avoid accidents. Return Ticket has organized, together with Maken Autokoulu, a winter driving course to train fundamental skills to drivers to improve reaction time, emergency response time and vehicle control. Throughout our course, you will effectively learn winter driving techniques that will help you prepare for challenging weather and road conditions, as well as how to apply such techniques to enhance winter driving safety even in severe or unpredictable settings, and what to do in case of emergencies. You will also be taught practical tips for driving on ice and snow.
To maximize the benefit of the course Return Ticket asks that you use your own car during the course.
The amount of participants is limited to 15 so make sure you are one of them!
Fee: 260 euros + VAT 23 %: includes coffee/tea and sandwiches
Training language: English
Location of Vihti track: www.uay.info/page/yhteystiedot
Information & Bookings: Email marja.saviaro@returnticket.fi
General / Road Rules & Regulations
The
Ministry of Transport has published a booklet Driving in Finland,
which contains information on Finnish traffic regulations
and rules regarding the use of motorized vehicles
(English PDF - download
here)
Driving in Finland during the winter months
can be hazardous and icy road conditions are common. If driving
in Finland, your car must be winterised and winter/snow tyres
(either studded or non-studded) are a legal requirement from
1 December to 3 March.
All motor vehicles must use headlights at
dusk, or in the fog or rain. Headlights must be used at all
times outside built-up areas (indicated by a sign).
When driving at night (particularly around
dusk) incidents of moose or reindeer being struck by vehicles
are common, causing severe damage to the vehicle and injury,
sometimes fatal, to the occupants.
Police strictly enforce all traffic laws
and institute random roadside Breathalyzer tests. Those drivers
who register a .05 or above alcohol content are subject to
immediate arrest.
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Foreign
Driving Licences in Finland
Driving licences issued in another EU or
EEA country and interim driving licences issued in the Nordic
countries entitle the holder to drive motor vehicles in Finland
equivalent to those indicated on the non-Finnish licence.
The driver must be at least 18 years old. The right to drive
is valid regardless of whether the person is in Finland as
a tourist or residing permanently.
A person residing permanently in a
country that has signed the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic
Convention and who holds a national or international
driving licence or an official Finnish or Swedish translation
of a national driving licence is entitled to drive motor
vehicles equivalent to those indicated on the non-Finnish
licence for up to a year following entry into Finland,
provided that the person fulfils the Finnish age requirement
to drive such vehicles.
The right to drive is based on the possession
of a driving licence issued to a person living permanently
in a
country that has signed the Convention. A driving licence
acquired in such a country during temporary residence (for
example as an exchange student) does not entitle the holder
to drive in Finland.
Other driving licences
Driving licences not issued in any of the signatory
counties do not give entitlement to drive in Finland.
On application, however, the police may grant a provisional
driving licence for a maximum of one year without the need
for a driver examination. After this, the Finnish driver
examination must be taken.
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Finnish
Driving licence
Driving licences are issued by the Police.
In some cases it is possible to exchange an existing foreign
driving licence for a Finnish licence. See
below.
Instruction
If you are starting from scratch, the situation
is somewhat different from that of many other countries.
The driving student does not need to apply
for a "learner's permit" or similar. They receive
instruction from a qualified instructor, usually from a driver
training school, and having completed their training
they complete theory
and driving tests, and apply for a driving licence.
Instruction can alternatively be given by
the holder of a driving
instruction permit, which grants the holder the right
to operate a vehicle intended for driving instruction.
Licence
Driving licences for operation of a passenger
vehicle in Finland are issued in two phases. The first driving
licence, a driving licence permit, is valid for a
period of two years. This is issued by the police when a
person has received instruction and passed the theory
and driving tests.
When applying for a driving licence permit from the local
police, the following must be submitted:
- 2 photographs (required if the previous photographs
were submitted more than 3 years earlier or the
applicant's name has changed)
- young person's health certificate (obtained no more than
five years earlier) or a driving licence medical certificate
(obtained no more than six months earlier)
The second, or actual driving licence
is issued no earlier than 6 months after issue of the driving
licence permit. Before this licence can be obtained, holders
of driving licence permits must complete further driver training
provided by law (primarily this involves driving techniques
for ice and snow). The certificate for this further training
must be submitted to the police.
A driving licence permit may be granted
to an applicant who:
- fulfils all the health requirements laid down
by Government decree
- lives permanently in Finland or has been studying in
Finland for at least six months
- is not considered a danger to traffic because of habitual
abuse of alcohol or other intoxicant
- is not banned from driving in Finland or in any other
EU or EEA country
- has not been guilty of operation of a vehicle without
a licence during the last year.
In addition to a permit application form,
applicants must fill in a form asking whether they already
have a driving licence issued by another EU or EEA country,
or whether they have been banned from driving in any EU or
EEA country.
Complete details, including fees, are available from the Finnish
Police Web site.
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Exchanging
a foreign driving licence for a Finnish driving licence
Exchanging a driving licence
issued in an EU or EEA country
A person who lives permanently in Finland
or has been studying in Finland for at least six months can
exchange a driving licence issued in an EU or EEA country
for an equivalent Finnish driving licence without having
to take a new driving test. A driving licence permit application
must be submitted to the police in person.
When applying for a driving licence permit, the following
must be submitted:
Exchanging a driving licence
issued in a country that has signed the Geneva or Vienna
Road Traffic Convention
A person holding a driving licence issued
in a
country that has signed the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic
Convention and who resides permanently in Finland may
apply to exchange the licence for a class A1-, A- and B driving
licence permit without the need for a new driving test. The
driving licence permit application must be submitted to the
police in person.
When applying for a driving licence permit, the following
must be included:
- 2 photographs (preferably black-and-white)
- driving licence medical certificate (obtained no more
than six months earlier)
- a document stating that the applicant has been driving
a car in Finland for at least six months
- driving licence issued in a
country that has signed the Convention.
At the police station you must fill in the
driving licence application form and a form asking whether
you already have a driving licence or are banned from driving
in another EU or EEA country.
A Finnish class B driving licence is issued
as a permanent driving licence. The country that issued the
original driving licence is entered on the Finnish driving
licence.
The driving licence holder must surrender
both his/her national and international driving licence to
the police when collecting the Finnish driving licence. The
police will keep these licences and will return them only
on request if the driving licence holder leaves the country,
in which case the Finnish driving licence must be handed
to the police in exchange.
Complete details, including fees, are available from the Finnish
Police Web site.
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International
driving licence
An international driving licence will be
useful if you intend to travel to, for example, Latvia or
Russia or countries outside Europe.
- An international driving licence does
not entitle you to drive a vehicle in
Finland
- An international driving licence can only be issued against
a valid Finnish driving licence
International driving licences are applied
for through the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (ATCF).
You can fill in the application form at any of the ATCF offices
or service points round the country. The application must
include a photograph, and you must also present your Finnish
driving licence. The ATCF will send the international driving
licence to the police for approval.
ATCF
Web site
Hämeentie 105 A
00550 Helsinki
Tel: (09) 72584400
Fax: (09) 72584460
E-mail: autoliitto@autoliitto.fi
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Vehicle
Inspection, Registration and Taxation
The responsibilities of the Finnish Vehicle
Administration (AKE) include vehicle and driving licence
registration, annual vehicle taxation, arranging driving
tests, the supervision of motor vehicle inspection and handling
the type approval.
Visit the AKE
Web site (comprehensive info. in English).
See also Motor
Vehicle Insurance
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Finnish
Driving Schools
There are approximately 600 driver instruction
companies or schools operating in Finland. These are registered
with the Finnish
Driving School Association (site in Finnish only).
Enter your region in the search box under Autokouluhaku and
click HAE for a listing of
local schools.*
*Please note cookies
must be enabled or the site will not function correctly.
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