Driving in winter

• Wear a seatbelt, even in the backseat.
• Drive on the right-hand side of the road. No righthand turns on a red light.
• Follow the posted speed limits. If you don’t see signs, use 50 km/h in villages, town and cities, and 80 km/h on the highway as a rule.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Never use your mobile phone while driving (without a hands-free).
• Children under 140 cm must have a booster seat or safety seat.

In wintery weather, cars must have winter tires. Avis' rental cars in Finland always have winter tires when the season or law dictates. Studded winter tires are the most common winter tires used in Finland. Snow chains are not commonly in use in Finland.

Please note that Finland is a long country, reaching from southern capital of Helsinki until Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle. Thus, the weather and driving conditions can vary a lot. If you pick up your car in autumn or spring in South Finland but plan to drive north, let us know this well in advance. Thus, we can make sure if you need winter tires and make sure your rental car has them.

When winter approaches and temperature drops, the roads get easily black ice that can be very slippery but hard to notice. When driving in autumn or winter it is important to pay attention to the road surface and black ice. 

In heavy snow fall, there can be thick layer of snow on the road and it can push you off the road. When driving in a snowy road, be precautious, drive with moderate speed, avoid heavy accelerating and changing lanes, when there's snow banked up in between.

Note also that winter maintenance on roads may vary a lot. The further you are from big cities, the more important it is to stay on major roads ans avoid shortcuts. Smaller roads, specially in Lapland, may be in bad condition.

In very cold weather, it is important to heat the engine before driving. You should turn on the engine as the first thing you do when you come to your vehicle.

• In -10 °C just 5-10 minutes of the engine running will make the car nice and warm.
• In -20 °C 10-15 minutes of the engine running should warm up enough for the ride to be comfortable.
• In -30 °C 15-30 minutes of the engine running depending on vehicles.
• In -40 °C it is quite possible that the car will not really warm up. Run the engine for 20 minutes to get it warm and start driving.

If your vehicle has a pre-heater (2nd remote on the keychain) it is advisable to use it in the mornings before first drive. It will heat up the engine for 30 minutes when turned on. Note! This uses a lot of battery power so avoid using it too often during the day if you do not drive long distances, since the battery might go empty in cold weather.

If you drive a long distance (200+ kilometres) and it is very cold, it is advisable to leave the engine running for 10-15 minutes after stopping. This allows the engine to melt snow and ice from air intakes to avoid it clogging up and preventing the engine restart the next morning.

In extreme cold weather (-30 °C or colder), modern cars, which run very ecologically, do not produce a lot of heat. It might be necessary to stop from time to time to let the engine and the inside of the car to heat up.

We do not recommend using the handbrake during winter, unless you really must. Instead, just leave the car on 1st gear. If you can, try to find a flat place to park the car.

When you drive the car, the brakes will warm up and gather melted snow. If you then pull the handbrake on, it will not open the next morning, and you will be stuck. Of course, if you are on a steep hill, you must use the handbrake to avoid the car sliding, since the gearbox will not be sufficient to hold the car from moving.

Some cars have automatic handbrakes, but these are designed to function in the cold and should not freeze during the night.

It is highly advisable to have driving lights on always. Most cars have them automatically. If you are unsure, start the car and walk around it to make sure that lights are on.

In winter, snow billows out from behind the vehicle. This can make you invisible to those driving behind you, unless you have lights on that will shine red. Passing trucks also blow snow powder around and having headlights on will make you more visible.

Please note the traffic signs of elks or deers next to the roads. These signs are warnings about places where elks usually cross roads. When you see the signs, you should slow down and observe the roadside. You might also see reindeers walking on the road when driving in Lapland. Be careful since their behaviour can be unpredictable. In case of an accident, please call 112.

You are not alone on the road, even though at times it might seem like it. We understand that you are tempted to stop and take pictures of the wildlife, nature or Northern Lights. The darkness and the vast forests and hills might make it seem like you are alone in the middle of nowhere . But keep in mind that there are not many roads in the north and most of them are quite frequently travelled.

Do not stop on the road to take pictures, since visibility can be bad and the roads are slippery. If you stop unexpectedly or with bad visibility, you put yourself in a great danger of being hit by another car or a lumber truck.

When driving in cold weather it is good to carry along winter clothes even though there might be warn in the car. In case of emergency you should have warm hat, scarf, pair of winter shoes, winter coat and pants.

With snow present everywhere, some of it may accumulate inside the tire rim. Occasionally, a piece of this hard snow can break off, causing the tire to shake. This is a normal occurrence during winter driving. To stop the shaking, carefully clean all the tires using a snow brush or, if possible, taking the car inside a heated area to allow the snow to melt.

In winter, your car may get stuck in the snow or you may have other technical difficulties due to cold weather. In case of technical issues contact our roadside assistance +358 10 436 2285. If you are unsure where to call please contact our reservation center at +358 10 436 2200 in worktimes. In case of an emergency or accident, call to 112 which is Finland’s emergency number.