Important documents

When driving in Finland the following documents should be carried:

Full, valid driving licence*

Proof of insurance/green card (third party or above)

Proof of ID (passport)

Proof of ownership (V5C certificate)

While driving in Finland you are required by law to carry the following items. Hefty on-the-spot fines can be issued for failing to carry specific items:

Headlamp beam deflectors: depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually

Lights: all motor vehicles must use their headlights in and outside built-up areas at all times, throughout the year

Warning triangle: compulsory in all vehicles (except motorcycles).

Reflective jackets: in Finland, the legislation concerns pedestrians, who must wear safety reflectors in the hours of darkness (any type of reflector is accepted). Thus, a car driver who steps out of their car in the event of a breakdown becomes a pedestrian, therefore, they must wear a reflector

Motorcyclists: drivers and passengers of mopeds or motorcycles over 50 cc, who must be aged 15 or over, must wear a crash helmet

Rear-view mirrors: cars towing a caravan or a trailer must be equipped with 2 side rear-view mirrors

Rules of the road & regulations

Rules of the road

Overtaking & passing

Drive on the right, overtake on the left.

Vehicles should be overtaken on the left, unless the driver of the vehicle to be overtaken has indicated his intention to turn left; in parallel lanes of traffic vehicles may be overtaken on the right. Vehicles being overtaken should not move to the right across the white line which indicates the lane for cycles and pedestrians.

Trams should be overtaken on the right only, except in a one-way street or if the tram-lines are on the right hand side of the road. Vehicles must stop and give way to pedestrians boarding or alighting from a tram at a stop without a shelter. Vehicles are not allowed on the tram lines between two shelters at a tram stop.

Priority

At intersections, vehicles coming from the right have priority, unless otherwise indicated. The "Give Way" sign can be used as an advance warning sign, in which case it is supplemented by an additional panel bearing the word ‘stop’ and indicating the distance to the obligatory stop.

Vehicles on rails and emergency vehicles always have priority over other vehicles, even when coming from the left. Emergency vehicles have a strident alarm signal and a flashing red or yellow light.

Warning of approach

It is prohibited to sound a horn in towns and villages except in cases of immediate danger.

In the country, horns and headlights should be used if necessary at bends, intersections, slopes and wherever visibility is not perfect.

Towing

An inventory of normal equipment is not required. However, visitors are recommended to draw up an inventory in duplicate of any unusual or valuable fittings. A deposit may be required.

The following dimensions for vehicles with trailers must not be exceeded

Height: 4.20m

Width: 2.60m (private car 2.50m)

Length:

Private car: 12m

12m Car & caravan: 18.75m (private car: 12m)

18.75m (private car: 12m) Car & caravan: 18.75m

Maximum authorised weight for trailers

Without brakes:

Half the weight of the unladen towing vehicle, but 750kg maximum.

With brakes:

If the maximum authorised weight of the towing vehicle is more than 3.5t, then the trailer may be up to 1.5 times the maximum permitted and registered weight of the towing vehicle. If the weight of the towing vehicle is less than 3.5t then the trailer cannot exceed that weight.

Seat belts

It is compulsory for the driver and passengers on the front and rear seats of cars to wear seat belts where fitted.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all children under 15 are safely restrained, the penalty is €35.

The number of passengers in a car or van is limited to the number indicated in the registration document, whatever the size of the person.

Travelling with children

A child less than 1.35m travelling in a car, van or lorry, must be seated in a child seat or child restraint. Where a child restraint/seat is not available, a child 3yrs and over must travel in the rear seat of the vehicle using a seat belt or other safety device attached to the seat. A child under 3yrs old may not be transported in a vehicle without child restraint/seat.

Speed limits

In residential zones the speed limit 20km/h.