Driving in Lapland in Winter: Tyres, Reindeer, Snow Roads

Driving Lapland in winter is one of the most rewarding things you can do behind the wheel, if you respect the conditions. Tires, black ice, reindeer, survival kit: the practical basics.

All Lapland rental cars come with winter tyres. Here's what to expect.

Some operators offer studless friction tyres, which are quieter and better in light snow but significantly inferior on hard ice below -15°C. Always ask which type your rental car has.

Across the border: tyre rules in the neighbours

Three neighbouring countries sit within a day's drive of Lapland, and the tyre rules differ in all of them. Check your rental agreement too, not every car is allowed across a border.

Required 1 Nov – 31 Mar whenever weather or road conditions demand. The fixed calendar rule was dropped on 1 June 2020.

Permitted 1 Nov – 31 Mar, and outside that window when conditions demand. Never mandatory.

Winter tyres 3.0 mm, summer tyres 1.6 mm

Required 1 Dec – 31 Mar when there is snow, ice, slush or frost on the road.

Permitted 1 Oct – 15 Apr, and outside it when winter conditions exist or are expected.

The window starts a month later than in Finland but ends on the same day, 31 March, so it is one month shorter overall. The stud season, by contrast, runs longer than the Finnish one at both ends.

No date-based requirement for cars. The law asks for grip adequate to the conditions, using winter tyres if that is what it takes.

Permitted from 1 Nov until the first Sunday after Easter Monday. Nordland, Troms and Finnmark: 16 Oct – 30 Apr. Studs on all four wheels or none.

Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim charge a city fee for studded tyres.

Required in December, January and February, on all wheels.

Banned in June, July and August. Regional authorities may only extend the ban.

The road border crossings between Finland and Russia have been closed since December 2023, including Raja-Jooseppi and Salla in Lapland. Crossing by car is not currently possible.

Sources: Traficom, Transportstyrelsen, Statens vegvesen, and Customs Union technical regulation TR CU 018/2011. Checked 31 August 2026.

Reduce speed by 20%. Most dangerous, water + freeze = black ice at night.

Good conditions with proper tyres. Maintain 60–70 km/h on main roads.

Roads often at their best, dry and grippable. Watch for fog.

Brake fluid check critical. Battery may be weaker. Limit stops in remote areas.

Contact rental company. Some vehicles not rated for extreme cold. Build in extra time.

In December–January, Rovaniemi has only 3–4 hours of dim daylight. Further north (Utsjoki), the sun never rises. Use headlights constantly and reduce speed by 10–15% on unfamiliar roads at night.

Visibility can drop to 50 m in a whiteout. Park safely off the road if conditions deteriorate rapidly. Turn on hazard lights and wait.

Ground fog is common in valleys at -10°C to -20°C. It freezes on the windscreen. Rear window defrost and heated wing mirrors help. Do not use full beam in fog.

Allow 10–15 minutes to scrape and warm the car before driving. Never use hot water, it cracks glass. Windscreen washer fluid must be rated to -30°C minimum.

, sends your GPS location instantly to emergency services.

General Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

Autoliitto road service. A Finnish service number: usually cannot be dialled from a foreign SIM.

Roadside assistance: the 24/7 number on your rental agreement. Call this first.

Live road conditions, weather cameras and ice road status from Fintraffic:

Begin braking earlier than you think necessary, 2–3× the normal distance

Apply brakes gently and progressively, no sudden stops

If ABS kicks in (pulsating pedal), maintain steady pressure

On downhills, use engine braking: select a lower gear before the slope

Keep 4–5 second gap to the vehicle ahead, not 2 seconds

Reduce speed before the corner, not during it

Steer gently into curves, sudden movements cause slides

If rear slides out: steer into the slide calmly, do not counter-steer sharply