Make sure you are eligible for a driving instruction permit
Read the instructions on this page carefully.
Part of the training required for a driving licence can be completed with a driving instruction permit. On this page, we explain what the driving instruction permit is and how and how to apply for one. Acting on behalf of another person is not possible in the service. The average processing time for applications is currently 3 weeks.
What is a driving instruction permit?
With a driving instruction permit, you may instruct another person to drive. The permit is learner-specific, meaning that you may only instruct the learner who is registered on the permit.
For category B (passenger car), the permit is valid for 3 years or until the learner has passed the driving test. For other categories, the permit is valid for 9 months or until the learner has passed the driving test.
You may instruct close relatives without limitations. Close relatives include a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, child, grandchild and sibling.
You may instruct a maximum of 3 learners within a three-year period if they are not close relatives.
As an instructor, you are responsible for any traffic offences the learner commits. For mopeds, light quadricycles and motorcycles, the learner is responsible for their own traffic offences unless you are physically present in the vehicle.
Training provided under a driving instruction permit may replace part of the training normally given at a driving school. Note, however, that training for the first driving licence (EAS) and risk identification training for category B cannot be provided with a driving instruction permit.
You may be granted a driving instruction permit if
- you are at least 25 years old
- you have held a driving licence in the relevant category for at least five years, and it has been issued in Finland or an EU/EEA Member State
- you are not subject to a driving ban
- you have not been subject to a driving ban in the past 5 years due to a conviction for drunk driving, aggravated drunk driving, having been found guilty of causing a serious traffic hazard or causing a traffic hazard in a manner indicating gross negligence of traffic safety.
- within the previous year, you have not been subject to a driving ban due to being found guilty of recurrent traffic violations, driving without a licence or other traffic offences
- you are not considered unsuitable for the instructional task on the basis of other entries in the criminal or fine register
- when applying for a category B instruction permit, your learner has already turned 16. For other categories, a driving instruction permit may be granted no earlier than six months before the student meets the minimum age for getting a driving licence.
Read more about the conditions under Conditions for issuing a driving instruction permit per driving licence category
How to apply for a driving instruction permit
Fill in the application online
You may apply for a driving instruction permit to teach one learner for one licence category. If several instructors teach the same learner, each instructor must apply for their own permit.
If you wish to teach two or more learners, you must complete a separate application for each learner.
Answer the questions in the service carefully. If needed, you can save the application as incomplete and return to it later.
The application fee is 25 euros. The fee will not be refunded even if the permit cannot be granted.
You will find the application by logging in to the My e-Services portal and selecting Driving licence.
The application is transferred to Traficom for processing
Once the application has been paid, it will be transferred to Traficom for processing.
We will contact you if we need additional information or if the permit cannot be granted.
You will receive the driving instruction permit in Suomi.fi Messages or by post
Once the permit has been granted, you will receive it electronically via Suomi.fi Messages. If you have not activated Suomi.fi Messages, the permit will be sent to you by post.
You can also view the details of the granted permit in the e-service under Driving licence.
Check the current queue status for applications in the Processing time for driving instruction permit applications section on this page.
Keep the instruction permit with you when giving driving instruction. You can present the permit to the police via Suomi.fi Messages.
Make sure the equipment of the instruction vehicle is in order
Before you begin the instruction, ensure that the equipment of the instruction vehicle is in proper condition.
An automated decision-making procedure may be used when granting the permit. Read more about automated decisions at Traficom .
You can only apply for a driving instruction permit through Traficom’s service provider Ajovarma in the following situations:
- You want two instructors and/or two learners on the same driving instruction permit. The instructors and learners must be close relatives (parent, grandparent, guardian, child, grandchild or sibling).
- Either instructor may record the training in the learner’s certificate of instruction and examination (E100).
- You are applying for a driving instruction permit for lorry or bus instruction.
- You are acting on behalf of another person
When acting on behalf of another person, you will need a power of attorney.
If two instructors are to be listed on the same permit, you will also need a power of attorney from the other instructor.
You will find the power of attorney form at the bottom of the page.
The fee for a driving instruction permit at an Ajovarma service point is 36 euros.
Processing time for driving instruction permit applications
If you are using Suomi.fi Messages and an automated decision can be made regarding your application, you may receive the permit as soon as the next working day.
Only applications that require no further clarification can be processed automatically.
The processing time for applications requiring clarification is up to 3 weeks.
We will contact you if we need further information.
You can also view the details of the granted permit in the e-service under Driving licence.
Dual break padel
When providing driving instruction, a dual brake pedal for the driving instructor is mandatory in the following vehicles:
- passenger cars, light quadricycles, quad bikes and tractors when the seats are side by side.
- motorcycles as well as light quadricycles and tractors where the passenger seat is behind the driver’s seat if the instructor accompanies the learner in the vehicle.
- a bus if the learner does not have a category C right to drive.