Guide: Getting Your Driver's License in Finland

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When you first move to Finland you might not think that you would need to get your driver’s license. Public transportation is just that good in Finland, or at least where I live in the city of Turku. The buses can take you everywhere locally and if you are wanting to go to another big city then there are two train stations.

However, after living in Finland for a few years I have come to realize that there are some places in Finland that you can’t reach without a car. Specifically places down deep in the archipelago and well as way up in the north of Finland.

Not to mention I am originally from the US, so driving gives me a sense of independence. If you are new here then hi my name is Jasmin and I moved to Finland in 2020 after being in a long distance relationship with a Finn for 3.5 years. I made this blog as a way to share my journey of living in Finland and to share my adventures in Finland with those who are curious.

In this blog post I will be talking about the process I went through to get my drivers license in Finland as well as tips to help you avoid the mistakes I made. This blog post is written in collaboration with CAP-Autokoulu, the place where I got my driver training from in Finland, but all thoughts, feelings, and experience are my own.

How to Exchange your Driver’s License in Finland

If you are moving to Finland and planning to exchange your drivers license then the process for exchanging your license depends on the country you are from. The general requirement is that you must have lived permanently in Finland for the past 6 months.

In my situation, my US driver’s license expired before that 6 month time frame, so if you are planning on exchanging your driver’s license in Finland, do it as soon as you get your residence permit.

Keep in mind, when you exchange your driver’s license you will be literally exchanging it. For example you will be handing over your old country’s license to the Finnish police and they will issue you a new Finnish driver’s license.

You can read the complete rules on how to exchange your driver’s license on Finland’s Official Traficom website.

Choosing Between Manual vs Automatic Driver’s License

In Finland you can either get a manual driver’s license or an automatic driver’s license. With a manual driver’s license you can drive both manual or an automatic car. However, the automatic driver’s license is just for automatic cars.

At CAP-Autokoulu you’ll first start your driving practice with a manual simulator. That way if you have absolutely no experience with driving stick shift you can have time to familiarize yourself before getting in an actual car.

After a few sessions with the simulator you will then practice driving a manual car. If at any time you feel that the manual car or stick shift is not a right fit for you, you can ask to switch to an automatic driver’s license.

I know because that’s what I ended up doing. And this is when I need to give a shout out to my driving instructor. I really struggled with reaching the clutch pedal due to my height and he really helped me try to find a suitable angle by adjusting seats and my technique.

It eventually came to a point that I did not feel confident at all so I asked if we could switch to an automatic car instead. I thought it would be a whole process but actually it was very simple. During that moment, I felt so stressed out asking to switch but CAP-Autokoulu supported my decision and didn’t try to force me to continue with the manual.

(CAP Autokoulu also provides juices, which is nice before a driving session. Especially if you need to calm your nerves >.<)

Choosing the Right Driving School

One of the reasons I chose CAP-Autokoulu as my driving school was because they offered their services in English. Additionally, the English version of their website was easy to navigate compared to their competitors.

CAP-Autokoulu also has materials available to study for the theory exam including practice quizzes and tests. And if I am being completely honest, I am so thankful for the practice quizzes and tests.

I was not prepared for how different the driving laws in Finland would be, not to mention, when comparing the road signs in Finland to the ones in the US. Seriously makes me happy that I had to relearn everything here.

Another thing I love about CAP-Autokoulu is while preparing for your theory exam you are able to reach out to your instructor through WhatsApp to ask questions about questions you may have not understood. As far as I know CAP-Autokoulu is the only school that offers this assistance through What’sApp.

Do You Really Need a Driver’s License in Finland?

Well if you ask some Finns they will tell you that you need your driver’s license if you want to get to your mökki haha. So that’s already one good reason to get your driver’s license in Finland. Another would be that there are some places in Finland that are very hard to reach with public transportation.

As I already mentioned, in Lapland public transportation isn’t as frequent or as extensive as it is in the Helsinki,Turku, or Tampere areas. If you are wanting to explore that way more you will have to have a car, or pay ridiculous prices for taxis the whole time.

For me, getting a driver’s license is a symbol of independence. I can go anywhere I want any time I want. I don’t have to be chained down by someone else’s schedule.

And being an immigrant in a new country getting a driver’s license also gives you more opportunities. This includes finding and applying for jobs and having access to better language schools that might be outside your area (the language school I last went to was over an hour bus ride but 25 minutes by car).

Most importantly, by getting your driver’s license in Finland, it will help you to feel more confident. I mean think about it, it’s a big milestone for your life in Finland. Something that can make you really feel like you are putting roots down for yourself and you are integrating into society.
Overall, it’s not just about having a driver’s license—it’s about having empowerment, opportunity, and freedom in your life here in Finland.