Renting a car & Driving in Rovaniemi – How Car Hire Works in Lapland

Renting a car in Rovaniemi can completely change how you experience Lapland…

I’ve been to Rovaniemi several times, and every trip my husband and I rented a car, both at the airport and railway station. The process has always been smooth and easy, but after trying different companies and seasons, I’ve learned a few things that are worth knowing before you book.

Whether you are coming for the Northern Lights, skiing, or trying to see Lapland on a budget, having a car gives you the freedom to experience more in less time. Renting in Rovaniemi, though, comes with its own rules and quirks, and that’s exactly what this guide is about.

Do You Need a Car in Rovaniemi? (When You Do & When You Don’t)

It depends on three things: season, your budget, and length of the trip.

When you don’t need a car: If your trip is short (3-4 days), you are mostly visiting Santa Claus Village and plan to book a tour. If your trip is longer (5-7 days), but you also plan it around Santa Claus Village and tours that introduce main experiences (husky safaris, reindeer farms, Northern Lights trips), then skip the car.

Tours cover nearly everything, and for people who don’t have much experience driving in snowy conditions, they are safer than driving. I’ve heard stories from locals about tourists ending up in ditches after underestimating the icy roads.

When you do need to hire a car: If you want independence and plan to hunt northern lights on your own, then a car makes sense. Also, if you are visiting Lapland for a week and want variety (not just Rovaniemi, but also other areas of the region).

• Winter (Dec–Mar): Great for chasing the aurora on your own or reaching ski resorts like Levi and Ylläs — but only if you’re confident driving in snow and ice.
• Other seasons: Roads are clear, days are long, and driving is easy. This is when a car is perfect for road trips to lakes, national parks, and remote cabins.

In short: tours are best for a short, activity-packed winter trip. But if you want to stay outside Rovaniemi city (and outside Santa Claus Village) in an igloo or forest cabin, or if you are visiting in summer or autumn, renting a car changes the whole experience.

Where to Rent a Car in Rovaniemi

It really depends on how you are arriving, but my main advice is: don’t choose a location to rent a car based only on price. For example, if you land at the airport but see a slightly cheaper deal at the railway station, you’ll end up paying more in the long run — not just in money for transfers but also in lost time.

And the same works the other way around: if you are arriving by train from Helsinki on the Santa Claus Express, there’s no point booking at the airport just because it looks cheaper. You’ll waste hours and extra money getting there. I’ll explain more about both options below.

Renting at Rovaniemi Airport

The airport is the most obvious choice if you are flying in. You land, grab the keys, and start your trip pretty quickly, which doesn’t get more convenient than that.

Prices are often a bit lower (but to be honest, not by a lot), and what’s good is that you usually get a wider selection of cars, including larger models for families or something more premium if you want an upgrade. At the airport, you usually hand the car back to a staff member, even late or early, unlike the railway station, where you just leave the keys in a box.

The process itself is very straightforward and it can even be quicker than at the railway station, because when a train arrives in Rovaniemi, dozens of people sometimes head to the rental desks at once. We’ve been waiting once for more than an hour to get a car in winter.

Renting at the Railway Station

If you arrive in Rovaniemi by train, the railway station is the most convenient place to rent a car. Desks are right by the platforms (inside the building), so you can pick up your vehicle immediately without transfers.

Prices here are often a bit higher than at the airport, but once you factor in bus fares and the two-hour trip to the terminal (with the wait time), the “cheaper” airport option usually isn’t worth it.

The only drawback to renting a car here is timing: when a train arrives, lines at the counters quickly become long, especially in winter.

We’ve rented from both the airport and railway station, using companies like Green Motion, Alamo, and Keddy. Out of these, the one we liked most was Alamo, mainly because it was the easiest process ever to rent a car, we also got a free upgrade, and everything went smoothly from start to finish.

Car Rental Costs in Rovaniemi

Car rental prices in Rovaniemi change a lot depending on the season. In winter, outside Christmas and New Year season, prices are €40-50 per day. From around the 15th of December to 10th of January, price already fluctuates between €70–80 per day for an economy car.

In summer, in July, we paid for a small car €25 per day, but upon arrival got a free upgrade and got a full-size SUV. So renting a car in Rovaniemi in summer opens a door to many deals. Thus, if you want to plan a trip to Tromso, you can fly to Rovaniemi, rent a car here and drive to Norway (that’s what we also did on one of our recent trips).

SUVs and automatics are always more expensive, and in winter they often start from €100–150 per day. So that’s considered a ‘normal’ price.

Factors Affecting Price

• Season: In my experience, Christmas and New Year are the most expensive. May, June, September, and October are the cheapest.
• Car type: Automatics and SUVs cost significantly more than compact manual cars.
• Pickup location: Airport rentals are slightly cheaper than the railway station, but factor in transfer costs if you’re not flying in.
• ❗Rental length doesn’t affect price in Rovaniemi: daily, weekly, and even monthly rates work out to about the same cost per day.

Deposits & Extra Fees

Most rental companies in Rovaniemi block a deposit of €1,000–2,000 on your credit card in winter, even if you take insurance. We saw only rentals in the summer with deposits of around €500. But in winter they are high.

• One-way rentals: Picking up in Rovaniemi and dropping off in another city (like Kittila or Oulu) is often expensive. It is more reasonable to arrange a private transfer or hop on a train.
• Cross-border fees: Driving into Norway or Sweden requires prior approval and extra fee. We paid €60 with Alamo but saw other companies charge more.
• Extras: Child seats (€7–15/day), GPS units (though offline maps are easier), and winter equipment like roof racks or ski boxes.

Insurance & What’s Included

Every rental car in Finland comes with basic coverage included by law. This usually means:

• Third-party liability insurance – covers damage you cause to others.
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) – limits your responsibility if the rental car itself is damaged, but comes with a high deductible (often €1,000–2,000).

In Rovaniemi, many companies also add theft protection by default. What’s not normally included is coverage for things like broken windshields, damage to tires, or hitting wildlife. And these are exactly the kinds of risks you face on Lapland’s icy roads.

That’s why you have an option to choose to either buy full coverage from a rental company or purchase full protection from the aggregator. But buying from an aggregator is much cheaper and easier (costs around €8 per day). If your bank offers rental car coverage, use that to save money. And since Finland is a very civilized country with little risk of scams, you can confidently rely on your own insurance if it already covers rentals.

One more thing to be aware of: deposits in Rovaniemi are high, even with insurance. In our case it was between €1,200 blocked on the card, but whatever you’ll need to leave will depend on the company and season. Make sure your credit card has enough limit available before you travel.

Driving in Rovaniemi in Winter

Driving in Lapland during winter is very different from anywhere else in Europe. Roads are well-maintained, but conditions are tough for anyone without snow experience. Here’s what to expect:

Road Conditions & Snow Tires

From around late November to March (although it depends on the year and can be from early November), roads are usually covered with packed snow or ice. Finland requires winter tires by law, so every rental car in Rovaniemi comes with them.

Cars often also include an ice scraper and brush, and in some cases heated windscreen covers (we had all of that when rented from GreenMotion and Alamo).

However, even with all of this, driving requires a lot of patience(!). You need to drive slower, keep longer braking distances, and know that you will get to your destination 1.5 times slower than Google Maps shows.

NOTE: Many people ask if it is safe to drive in Rovaniemi in December and winter in general. The truth is, if you’ve never driven in snow or ice before, it’s not going to feel safe — it will be 100% stressful. Roads are cleared often and cars are equipped with winter tires, but you are still going to deal with darkness, slippery surfaces, and sometimes reindeer on the road. So, if you don’t have driving experience in winter, consider guided tours instead.

Polar Night and Visibility

In the heart of winter, daylight lasts only a few hours. Outside those hours, you’ll be driving in complete darkness, often with heavy snow falling.

You need to check that your rented car has good headlights (because once we rented a car with very dim lights and had to return to change a vehicle), but visibility can still be challenging. If you are not confident driving in the dark, it’s better to plan short trips during the limited daylight.

Wildlife on the Roads

Reindeer and moose regularly cross roads in Lapland, especially at night. They often move in groups, so if you see one, more are likely behind.

Once on the road from Rovaniemi to Inari, we nearly hit a reindeer that was running in zigzags on the road — a really frightening experience. Since then, I always emphasize this point.

Driving in Rovaniemi in Summer

Summer driving in Rovaniemi is much easier than in winter. Roads are clean from snow and with long daylight hours, it’s simple to plan day trips or long road journeys any time of the day.

Midnight Sun and Long Distances

My favorite part about renting a car in Rovaniemi in summer is that it ever gets dark from late May to July. This makes driving at any hour possible. But one thing to remember here is that distances in Lapland are deceiving, attractions are often far apart, and long stretches of road with little traffic get tiring quickly.

If you plan to travel towards Saariselkä, Utsjoki or even to drive to Tromso on a summer trip, then choose fuel and rest stops carefully. Also, make sure to stay overnight on the way to your final destination because driving all distance in one go is really exhausting.

Gravel Roads and Fuel Stations

Many smaller roads outside Rovaniemi are gravel rather than asphalt. They are still well-maintained, but you need to drive more slowly to avoid stone chips or dust.

Fuel stations are common in town but become scarce in rural areas, so it’s smart to fill up whenever you have the chance. Most stations are self-service and accept credit cards.

Winter vs. Summer Car Hire in Lapland

The real difference between renting a car in winter and summer is availability. Around Christmas and New Year, cars disappear fast. You do need to book in advance, but don’t expect lower prices — they are always high during the holiday season.

The point of booking early is simply to make sure you get a car at all, not to get a good price. Prices are already set high for the season. So you just accept it and pay or travel to Rovaniemi without renting a vehicle. If you leave it to the last minute, you might find nothing available or only huge SUVs for €1,000 a week.

In summer it’s the opposite: prices are lower and availability is better, so you can easily book closer to your trip without any stress.

Essential Driving Rules in Finland

Before you hit the road in Lapland, it helps to know a few key driving rules in Finland. Most of them are straightforward, but some can surprise:

• Headlights: By law, headlights must be on at all times, even during daylight or in summer.
• Alcohol limit: Finland has very strict rules. Legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%.
• Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on most rural roads, and up to 120 km/h on highways (in winter it’s 100 km/h, but with snow and especially snowstorm, you won’t be able to go faster anyways).
• Seat belts: Mandatory for everyone in the car, front and back.
• Winter tires: Required from December to March. All rental cars come equipped, so you don’t need to worry.
• Wildlife: Slow down when you see warning signs for reindeer or moose. Collisions are a serious issue here and if one happens, insurance requires filing a police report. I’ve seen many tourists ignore speed limits or warnings and end up stuck in the snow on the roadside.

Tips for Hiring a Car in Rovaniemi

Renting a car in Lapland isn’t complicated, but there are a few things that can make your trip smoother and safer if you know them in advance.

• Pick an automatic in winter if you’re not used to snow. Most cars in Finland are manual and while they are cheaper, driving stick on icy roads in the polar night is stressful if you don’t have much experience.
• Expect high deposits. Even with insurance, many companies in Rovaniemi block €1,000–2,000 on your card. Make sure your credit limit covers it.
• International Driver’s Permit is Required. I saw some people mention you don’t need it, but my husband was asked for it with his US passport (at the same time, no one ever asked me when I rented with my Ukrainian DP). Better get it so it doesn’t spoil the whole trip.
• Watch your mileage. Some budget rentals in Lapland come with daily mileage limits, which can be restrictive since distances are long (if you plan a long trip). Double-check your contract before booking.
• Offline maps are a must. Mobile coverage in Lapland drops outside towns. Download Google Maps or use an offline GPS app.
• Keep warm clothes inside the car. If you break down or slide off the road, you may wait a while before help arrives. Always have jackets, hats, and gloves within reach. Take this seriously.
• Don’t expect 24/7 desks. At the railway station especially, opening hours are short in winter evenings. Out-of-hours drop-offs usually mean leaving the keys in a box.
• Be on time for pickup. At the railway station, rental agents usually show up around the time of your booking, not earlier or later. If you miss them, you’ll need to call the company, so make sure you have working mobile data or roaming. If you don’t, you can order an international SIM or eSIM in advance (we use it and it works great).
• Plan fuel stops. In Rovaniemi itself stations are everywhere, but once you head north, they become rare. Fill up before long drives, especially at night, because we noticed that many gas stations close in the evening.

Final Thoughts on Renting a Car in Rovaniemi

For me, renting a car in Rovaniemi was never just about getting from A to B. It was about not losing hours waiting for a bus and having the freedom to drive out for the Northern Lights the moment the sky cleared.

Whether it makes sense for you really depends. Think about the length of your trip, whether you’d rather join tours, and how comfortable you are driving.

Hiring a car here isn’t cheap and without real winter driving experience, it can turn stressful or even dangerous, as I’ve seen tourists sliding off the road and blocking traffic.

But if you do have the skills and want independence, with a car, you’ll be able to do much more in less time in Lapland.

Have a great trip to Rovaniemi – whether you drive or not, it’s worth it!

Planning to Travel More Around Finland?

Here are more guides and itineraries:

• Cheap Places to Stay in Rovaniemi – winter edition for people on a budget
• Staying in Wilderness Hotel Inari – worth the hype or overpriced?
• Helsinki to Jyväskylä – easy scenic road trip for a nice weekend break