Planning to obtain a driving licence? Take note of these changes entering into force in October

Some of the amendments to the Driving Licence Act will not enter into force until 1 October 2026, but it is important to be aware of them already if you are planning to obtain a driving licence. The date on which the driving test is taken determines which training requirements apply. 

The most significant changes concern the duration of mandatory risk recognition training and the amount of simulator-based instruction.

“The duration of risk recognition training will increase from 8 hours to 12 hours,” says Marjo Immonen, Chief Specialist at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

The amount of driving simulator instruction included in driver training will also be restricted. In future, simulator-based instruction may account for no more than half of the driving instruction, that is, 2.5 hours.

“The transition to the new requirements is actually quite straightforward: if a person has not completed the driving examination by 1 October 2026, the remaining training must be completed in accordance with the new requirements,” emphasises Immonen.

In other words, training may be completed under the old content and hour requirements if the driving test is passed no later than 30 September 2026. From 1 October onwards, the new requirements must be met.

“It is therefore important to keep this timetable in mind if you want to obtain a driving licence under the old rules,” Immonen reminds readers and continues: 

“There are no exceptions to the new requirements. If the driving test has not been passed before 1 October 2026, the additional four hours of risk recognition training must be completed before the learner can take the driving test.”

Training already completed will not be lost. Parts of previous training that correspond to the new training content may be credited towards the new requirements and completed training hours may be counted towards the required number of hours under the new system. 

Finally, Marjo Immonen has a message for young people who are currently obtaining a driving licence:

“This summer, it pays to plan ahead. Contact your driving school in good time so that your training and driving test can be scheduled early enough and there are no surprises in the autumn.”