Car Rental in Finland

Why rent a car in Finland?

Finland is a great place for renting a car. From cozy and modern cities in the south to countless lakes in the east and pristine wilderness in the north, it is incredibly diverse yet easily accessible, and having your own wheels is the best way to go about exploring it.

Top ways to enter Finland

• Helsinki Airport: Finland’s largest airport is modern and well-connected, hosting flights not only to all the major destinations in Europe, but also to North America, Middle East, and Asia.
• Tampere Airport. Serving the lovely city of the same name, Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is small but still offers some lovely connections for travelers who do not wish to make a transfer in Helsinki. The airport, which is a secondary hub for the low-fare carrier airBaltic, provides connections with such destinations as Riga, Tallinn, Malaga, Mallorca, and Crete, as well as a couple of domestic destinations.
• Rovaniemi Airport: Lapland’s main airport has flights to and from many destinations in Europe, and is the best entry point of Northern Finland.
• Kittilä Airport: Even further north than Rovaniemi, Kittilä Airport is mostly active in winters and has flights to and from cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and many others.
• Oulu Airport: City of Oulu, the science hub in Northwest Finland, has regular flights to Helsinki and Stockholm, as well as to beach destinations in Spain, Turkey, and Greece during summers.
• By land or sea: If your rental car provider permits it, it’s possible to rent a car in a neighboring country and then drive  or take a ferry to Finland. Some large international airports near Finland are Tallinn Airport in Estonia and Umeå Airport in Sweden.

Top cities and places to visit

• Helsinki. The capital and by far the largest city, Helsinki also takes the prize of the most popular tourist destination. Many visitors are charmed by the city’s historical landmarks and well-preserved wooden houses, but its contemporary architecture, sauna culture, and inventive food scene can be just as interesting to explore.
• Tampere. A former industrial hub that’s now reinvented itself as a hotbed of culture and entertainment, Tampere is one of the most interesting cities in all of the Nordics. A lively university city, it always has something going on, and its location between several large lakes means that there’s also plenty of nature to explore.
• Rovaniemi. Located right outside the Arctic circle, Rovaniemi is best known as the ‘official’ home of Santa Claus, but it has plenty of other aces up its sleeve — not least the fantastic Arktikum Science Center, Arctic safari tours, and the opportunities to enjoy either the northern lights or midnight sun.
• Turku. Located on the southwestern coast, Turku (or Åbo, as it is known in Swedish) is the oldest city in Finland and used to also be its largest until it was overtaken by Helsinki. Still a relevant hub of culture, art, and architecture, it is also known for what locals proudly claim to be the best cuisine in Finland. In addition to being a fine city in its own right, Turku provides easy access to the nearby Archipelago Sea National Park.
• Pyha-Luosto National Park. Northeast of Rovaniemi, this gorgeous national park has things to do all year round. Skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, or biking, there’s miles of trails available to get your fill of the stunning scenery. Breathtaking hills, forests, and valleys will fill your day with fresh air and beauty in Lapland, the ancient homeland of the Sami people.

Most popular rental car

The most popular rental car in Finland is the Ford Fiesta, closely followed by the Skoda Citigo and the VW Polo.

Driver's license requirements

• Finland recognizes foreign driver’s licenses if they are written in a Latin alphabet and if you’re visiting the European Union (EU) for a period of less than three months. If you’re visiting Finland on a longer trip, you need to obtain a local driver’s license instead.
• If your driver’s license is in another alphabet (e.g., Cyrillic or Arabic), you need to have an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• Even if you have an IDP, you still need to also provide your valid driver’s license from your country.
• You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy of it, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
• Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.

Crossing borders

Finland is bordered by Sweden, Norway, and Russia. It shares a maritime border with Estonia and there is a frequent ferry service between Helsinki and Tallinn, the two capital cities.

Like Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Estonia are members of the Schengen Area. The entry requirements for these three countries are the same as with Finland. Russia is not a member of the Schengen Area and has its own visa policy. Depending on your citizenship, you may or may not need a visa to enter it. We strongly advise getting in touch with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance to find out if you need a visa to visit Russia.

Some car rental providers allow you to cross national borders and even drop off your car in a different country, while others don’t. If you’d like to cross a national border during your rental period, make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking a car. Learn more about cross-border rentals in our Help Center.

Most popular types of rental car

The most popular rental car type in Finland is an Economy, although Mini and Compact are also frequently chosen.

Top driving routes

• Oulu. Another northern city — although not located as far north as Rovaniemi — Oulu is a true hub of science and technology. The passion for innovation is even visible in the city’s architecture and landmarks such as the Tietomaa Science Center, although other, older attractions are present, too, such as the city’s old market square, Sailor Home’s Museum, and Turkansaari Open Air Museum.
• Inari. Located on the large lake of the same name some 300 km (186 miles) inside the Arctic Circle, the village of Inari is one of the main cultural hubs for the Sami, the indigenous people of Northern Europe. Cultural institutions where you can learn more about them include the Siida Museum and Sajos Cultural Center (the latter doubles as the headquarters of the Sami Parliament of Finland). Of course, another strong reason to visit the area is the stark beauty of the surrounding nature, something that is exemplified by the lake itself, as well as several large nature preserves that can be found around Inari.
• Karelia. The Finnish part of Karelia is divided into north and south regions, and both can be found along the country’s eastern border (there is also the Russian Karelia which is controlled by Russia and lies on the other side of the border). Geographically and culturally distinct, this region is known for its Orthodox churches and pristine nature exemplified by protected areas like Koli National Park and Saimaa Lake, which has no fewer than 13,700 islands in it.

Car rental prices in Finland

• Station wagons - from $38 per day
• SUVs - from $42 per day
• Large cars - from $44 per day
• Small cars - from $33 per day
• Medium cars - from $37 per day
• Vans - from $84 per day
• Premium cars - from $97 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are a number of things you can do to get a good car rental deal in Finland:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Finland is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 32% cheaper than the yearly average and about 57% cheaper than visiting in March.