Car hire in Finland

Tips for a cheap rental car

Renting and driving a car in Finland is a wonderful experience. The roads in the country are in very good condition and the views from the car are generally beautiful. With a hired car, getting to and from the many wondrous places of Finland is made easy, and you’ll also have more freedom to see exactly the places you’d like.

Car hire in Helsinki

Requirements

Certain requirements apply for car rental in Finland:

The age limit for car hire is 20 years and the driver is also required to have had his or her driving license for at least a year.
Some car rental companies will charge extra if the driver is under 25 years old.

Please note that these rules may vary depending on both your chosen car rental company and the type of car you’d like to hire.

Add-ons at booking

Should you want extra equipment in the car, e.g. a GPS or a child car seat, it is recommended that you add it when booking the car. This, in turn, will facilitate the pick up of your car and ensure that the equipment is available on site.

Having a GPS in the car when driving in Finland is a very good idea. If you will be driving in the countryside, off the larger roads, finding your way can be quite difficult. A GPS will help guide the way and make your driving experience smoother.

Please be aware that children under 3 years or under 135 centimetres (4.43 ft) are required by Finnish law to sit in child car seats that match their height and weight.

Driving in Finland

The traffic rules and driving pace in Finland is similar to the rest of Scandinavia. There is not much traffic on the roads. Indeed, what the Finnish refer to as traffic jams are usually only smaller queues delaying you only a few minutes.

Furthermore, the Finnish road system includes very good roads, but some roads in the countryside can be quite narrow and winding. It is therefore important to pay proper attention when driving on such roads.

The speed limit on the Finnish motorways varies depending on the time of the year. In the summer, the speed limit is 120 km/h whereas in the winter, it is 100 km/h. However, you’ll always find the current speed limits clearly sign posted.

Below is a list of a few important Finnish traffic rules to be aware of:

Using a mobile phone without a hands-free is not allowed.
There are no toll roads in Finland.
Pay attention to the speed limits as Finland has some of the biggest speeding fines in the world.
The car’s headlights must constantly be switched on.
If you are unfortunate enough to be in a car accident involving an animal and you’ve collided with an elk, a reindeer or deer, you are required by law to phone 112 and report the accident.
The horn is not to be used if you are not in immediate danger.