Car rental in Finland

Car Rental in Finland: winter activities and summer explosion of life

Finland offers visitors a unique and insular cultural experience, where the cultural clash of the Scandinavian and the Slavic is kept at bay by a truly unique language and set of traditions. Whether you visit to take part in a wide array of winter activities or for the explosion of life that is the Finnish celebration of summer, make sure you see the most of this marvelous country by travelling through city and countryside alike. You are sure to be surprised by Finland, particularly if you get off the beaten path via rental car.

Winter spans from December to April in Finland, with December and January the darkest months. June through August are the best months to visit to take advantage of summer activities.

The major official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Sami, Romani, Finnish Sign Language, and Karelian are the official minor languages. Over 70% of Finns also speak some English.

Finland is in the Eastern European Time Zone, UTC+2.

The currency is the Euro, and ATMs are widely available in most cities. While most restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops will accept credit cards, markets and most automated gas or petrol stations do not accept foreign credit cards, so having enough cash on hand to fill your gas tank and buy trinkets is highly recommended.

Don’t underestimate the size of Finland, but do consider driving the length of it! For the most spectacular sights, follow the 900-kilometer-long (560 mi) Bothnian Coast Road from the southern to the northern tip of Finland.

Automobile hire is available in the vast majority of Finnish cities, though you are likely to find the best prices in the largest cities and major metropolitan areas of Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Kittila, Lahti, Turku, Ivalo, Lappeenranta, and Kuusamo.

Visa Regulations

As a member of the Schengen Agreement, Finland accepts visitors from many countries visa-free for up to 90 days. If you do need to apply for a visa, you can do so at a Finnish consulate or mission at least 15 days in advance of your arrival.

Driving in Finland

With well-maintained roads and a wide network of highways, driving through Finland is truly a comfortable and convenient experience. If you’re driving outside any cities - which is recommended - be sure to keep an eye out for animals! Moose, deer, reindeer, and bears often cross rural roads, particularly at dawn and dusk, and hitting such large animals can result in serious accidents and injury if drivers come upon them too quickly.

Right-Hand Driving

• Traffic proceeds on the right-hand side of the road as in the rest of continental Europe.
• Always yield to oncoming traffic from the right.

Speed Limits

1. In cities and towns: 50 km/h (31 mph)
2. On rural roads: 80 km/h (50 mph)
3. On motorways (located only in southern Finland): 120 km/h (75 mph)
4. Compared to most other European cities, cities in Finland are relatively traffic free.

Other Regulations

• Parking is strictly regulated by time and fee in Finnish cities. Some parking areas will require the use of a parking disk, with which you indicate when you arrived in that specific parking spot. Ask your rental company if a parking disk has been provided in your car.
• All drivers whose licenses are issued by a country that has signed the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic Convention are permitted to drive in Finland with their domestic driver’s licenses.
• There are no toll roads in Finland.
• It is required to have your headlights on at all times.
• The minimum driving age in Finland is 18, though to rent or hire a car, you will have to be at least 20 years old and you may face young-driver surcharges up to the age of 25.

Other Tips

• Particularly if you’re visiting Finland during the winter, expect roads to be icy and snowy. Avoid braking or turning sharply. It is good habit to shift into lower gears to slow your car rather than braking in order to avoid losing control.

Cheap Car Rental in Finland

Automobile hire in Finland typically starts at between $35 and $47 a day. Here are some of the best deals in Finland:

• Ford Fiesta or similar (economy class) – $31/day
• Volkswagen Up or similar (mini class) – $32/day
• Peugeot 207 or similar (compact class) – $39/day
• Skoda Octavia or similar (intermediate class) – $46/day
• Opel Corsa or similar (economy class) – $49/day

Note that prices vary depending on the availability of each specific car and the season in which you rent. For the most accurate offers, use the search bar above.

Tips for Renting a Car Inexpensively in Finland

Car rental in the off-season runs $5 to $10 cheaper than rental during the summer months.

The cheapest places to pick up your rental car are the airports in Helsinki and Turku, where Sixt and Green Motion car rental agencies keep prices closer to $35 a day, rather than the typical $47 a day you’ll find throughout the rest of the country. This price can drop by around $10 a day, if you extend your rental period over a week!