Vehicles in Finland

Are you coming to Finland with a vehicle on holiday, to stay in the country temporarily or to live here permanently? The answer to this question will affect whether you have to have the vehicle inspected and registered and whether tax is payable on the vehicle in Finland. There are separate rules for registration in Åland, which can be found in the section Bringing vehicles to Åland. You can find information on driving licences on the page Driving licences in Finland.

Vehicle tax does not have to be paid if a vehicle is used temporarily, such for as holiday travel and short stays. The vehicle must have valid motor insurance in the country of registration. Read more on the Finnish Tax Administration website.

Citizens of other Nordic countries staying in Finland for less than 12 months can use a vehicle registered in another Nordic country in Finland as a tourist vehicle for a maximum of six months, but an extension to the time limit can be applied for. You can get more information on situations other than tourist use from the Finnish Tax Administration.

In some situations persons living permanently in Finland are entitled to use a vehicle registered abroad temporarily without paying tax. You can get more details from the Finnish Tax Administration.

Note, however, that the vehicle must have valid motor vehicle insurance in the country of registration and that most insurers will not insure a vehicle if the owner does not live in the country permanently.

If you move to Finland permanently and you bring a vehicle with you, a vehicle brought to Finland in a permanent manner must be inspected, registered and tax must be paid on it. Vehicles brought from outside the EU, i.e. from Iceland or Norway, must also be cleared through customs.

For a vehicle to be used in Finland without interruption from the day of moving, a declaration of use must be submitted to the Finnish Tax Administration on arrival in the country. For a vehicle that is to be registered in Finland, the declaration of use can be filed electronically.

Read more detailed instructions on the Finnish Tax Administration and Finnish Customs websites.

Car tax

After importing a vehicle, a separate car tax declaration must be submitted to the Finnish Tax Administration within five days of confirmation of the declaration of use. Read more about car tax on the Finnish Tax Administration website.

Vehicle inspection and registration

Before registration, a vehicle that is imported must be taken for registration inspection at a vehicle inspection station that does first-time inspections. At the registration inspection, the original registration certificate of the imported vehicle must be produced, stating the vehicle’s commissioning or first-time registration date. After registration you will receive the registration certificate and Finnish registration plates.

You can get more information on vehicle registration inspections, the vehicle inspection stations that do them, and on registration from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency.

After registration you will be given the registration certificate and Finnish registration plates. Remember to take proof of identity with you when the vehicle is registered.

More information on vehicle registration is available from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency.

If required by the weather or road surface conditions, winter tyres must be used in November, December, January, February and March. During the required time period, the minimum tread depth of the main tread grooves of winter tyres must be at least 3 millimetres. Winter tyres can be either studded or unstudded.

Studded tyres may also be used at other times if required by the weather or road surface conditions. Read more on the Finnish Road Safety Council website.

Persons with disabilities can get relief on vehicle tax and many other subsidies and discounts to facilitate their mobility. Read more on the page Information for people with disabilities in Finland.

A vehicle registered in Finland does not have to be registered in another Nordic country if you are only staying in the country for a short time. The time that a vehicle registered in another country can be used for varies by country. Go to the links below to find out more about the rules in the country concerned. 

Note, however, that the vehicle must have valid motor vehicle insurance in the country of registration and that most insurers will not insure a vehicle if the owner does not live in the country permanently.