Driving licence in Finland

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Finnish driving licence: a simple guide

Getting a licence
- You can apply for a car licence (class B) at 18 or older. To start tests you need a driving instruction permit.
- Prerequisites: you must meet age and health requirements, be a permanent resident or a student with at least six months of residency, and not have any suspended licences in other EU/EEA countries. The permit lasts 3 years.
- You can learn with a driving school, with a relative who has a permit, or a mix of both.
- Car licence training: at least 18 hours of instruction total, including risk recognition, theory, and driving lessons. First-time candidates also do a 4-hour risk recognition course (EAS).
- Theory test can be taken up to one month before turning 18. The driving test can be taken after you turn 18 (17-year-olds may test with an age exception permit or in some professional training courses).
- Since 2018, B-class training is a single phase: you receive the full licence after the driving test, but you must complete the mandatory risk recognition training before the test.

After you get your licence
- For two years after you get your first licence, traffic enforcement is stricter. If you have two infringements, your licence can be suspended.
- If suspended, you must take Driving Ban Training (four theory lessons about risk behavior) before your licence is returned. The police give the licence back after you prove you’ve completed the course.

Motorcycles and mopeds
- Mopeds: People born before 1985 may drive a moped. People born in 1985 or later can obtain a moped licence at 15 after training, theory test, and a short handling test.
- A1 licence: for light motorbikes, obtainable at 16. Practical training is done after a training permit; theory training includes 12 lessons.
- Upgrading: after two years with A1 you can move to A2 with additional training; after two more years with A2 you can move to A with more training. After age 24 you can get A directly without first holding A1.
- Tractors and motorized sleighs: If you have a valid B licence, you may drive tractors and motorized sleighs. A separate T licence for these vehicles is available from age 15 with a simple theory exam.