FINLAND – drives on the right

Please read the general notes in conjunction with those below.

Essential Safety Equipment

• Warning triangle
• Headlamp converters
• GB plate (see note 1)

Recommended Safety Equipment (by Finland and/or EUroadlegal.co.uk)

• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Reflective vest
• Spare bulbs (see note 2)
• Torch

Seatbelt Requirements
The wearing of front and rear seatbelts is compulsory when fitted.

Children Passengers
Children under 3 must be seated in rear with child seat or using normal seat belts if no child seat is available.

Drink Driving Limits
50mg/100ml (UK 80mg/100ml)

Minimum Driving Age
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 18.

Speed Limits

Lights
All motor vehicles must use dipped headlights at all times of the day regardless of time or weather conditions. This rule applies to built-up and other areas alike.

Fuel
Petrol stations are usually open 07:00-20:00 weekdays, shorter hours at weekends. Some petrol stations are open 24 hours. There are automatic pumps that operate upon the insertion of bank notes or credit cards.
Unleaded petrol: Regular (95 octane) and Super (98 octane) available, pump labelled “lyijytön polttoaine”.

Diesel is available; there is “summer” and “winter” quality.

LPG is not available.

Spare fuel: Both from EU and non-EU countries only 10 litres allowed.

Tolls
There are no toll roads in Finland.

Parking
Most cities have metered parking areas. When there are no meters pay-and-display parking vouchers, which can be obtained at petrol stations, must be displayed on the dashboard.

Fines
Police are empowered to impose on-the-spot fines, but not authorised to collect them. Fines should be paid at banks.

Mobile Phones
The use of hand-held mobile phones whilst driving is illegal, hands free systems are tolerated.

Emergency Numbers
Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services.

Local numbers:
Police – 10022

Other Useful Information
If you have a car accident, report it to:
Finnish Motor Insurance Centre,
Liikennevakuutuskeskus,
Bulevardi 28,
FI-00120 Helsinki
tel. +358 (0)9 680401
fax +358 (0)9 68040391

Driving in Finland during the winter months can be hazardous. 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. The local transport system is good and traffic is light.

Useful Words and Phrases

Embassy Details
Address:
British Embassy
Itäinen Puistotie 17
00140 Helsinki 

Telephone:
+358 (0)9 2286 5100
+358 (0)9 2286 5210
+358 (0)9 2286 5216

Email:
info@britishembassy.fi  (Information)
consular.section.helsinki@fco.gov.uk  (Consular and Passport enquiries) 
visa.mail.helsinki@fco.gov.uk  (Visa enquiries) 

Office Hours:
Mon-Fri: 09.00-17.00
Summer hours: 21 June-20 August: 08.30-15.00
Consular and Visa Section: Mon-Fri: 09.00-12.00 – telephone only

For emergencies outside normal opening hours, please call:
+358 (0)500 817 242

Website:
www.britishembassy.fi

Note 1: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.  Countries outside the EU still require national identification.

Note 2: Regardless of local requirements it is always a wise precaution to carry a spare set of vehicle bulbs and adjust headlamp beams for driving on the right. A spare bulb kit will not prevent a fine if you are travelling with faulty lights, but it may avoid the cost and inconvenience of a garage call out. On some cars it is inadvisable or impossible for anyone other than a qualified technician to change a headlamp bulb or lamp unit e.g. high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and carrying spare bulbs is not an option. However, it is recommended that spare bulbs are carried for any lights which may be easily and/or safely replaced by the owner/driver. Do not forget to ensure that you also carry any tools that might be required to change the various bulbs.

Disclaimer
EUroadlegal has made every effort to ensure that the information contained on this page is accurate and up-to-date.  In most instances the information has been collated from either an official document from the country concerned or from two or more reliable sources.  EUroadlegal cannot be held responsible for any actions resulting from the adherence to or ignoring of the information contained on this page. If you would like to contribute by adding, removing or modifying the data on this page based on your own experience, please us.