Rent a car in Lapland – yes or no?
To rent a car or not to rent a car while in Lapland – this is one of the most frequently asked questions we get as cabin accommodation providers in Ylläs, Finland.
I would say that the question can be addressed also as if you wan’t to rent a car or not.
Driving on the summer time is basically the same here as it is in many other countries. But when it comes to winter with weather variation, snow, ice and cold, it is a whole other game.
Driving in winter conditions is a skill that we Finns get in mothers milk. It is also most likely the reason why we have many successfull F1 and WRC drivers from a very small nation.
So what are the things you need to take into account renting a car and driving in Lapland`s winter?
Here is my comprehensive tip package for you!
Weather variation
It is very typical in Finland that the weather varies a lot.
During one week (or even a day), you can have excellent sunny weather, nice temperatures, extreme coldness and a lot of snow.
Snow
In the Ylläs region, we get approximately 120 cm of snowfall every year.
The first snow arrives usually in the first week of October and it lasts up to May.
Snow will affect your driving in many ways.
A typical Finnish winter road is a mixture of hard-packed snow, ice, and asphalt. When it is snowing, the powder-like snow will cause the visibility to drop dramatically, especially when meeting heavy traffic.
When the blizzard of snow hits your town by the trucks, make sure that you concentrate on keeping the car in the right lane and not steer towards meeting traffic or too much to the right.
The marked, colorful poles on the right side will tell you the position of the edge of the road. Don’t brake too fast; the car behind you is driving as blind as you are so it may hit you from behind if you brake too fast.
When there is a lot of powder snow on the roads and you end up driving behind a truck, stop for a few minutes, let the truck continue its driving, and have a refreshing break instead. Most likely you can’t pass it so there is no reason to make you drive a long way without seeing anything.
Make sure that you have cleaned the car from snow before you head for the road. In Finland, you will get a fine for not doing so. Good visibility is a cornerstone for safety in traffic.
Ice
During your driving in Lapland, you will meet ice in many forms.
Winter tires with spikes will increase the traction in icy conditions. Never rent a car without spikes!
Snow chains are not used in Finland; they are simply not needed as we plow the roads.
When driving, the best traction on the lane is not usually on the asphalt as it is most likely covered by a thin layer of ice. If you need to brake fast, use the anti-locking brakes to steer the car to the snow-covered part of the lane as the traction is better there and the car will stop faster.
During ice rain, the weather is cold but the rainfall is not snow but water. This makes all surfaces extremely slippery, so extra caution is needed. You may need to turn the heating in the car to maximum and position it against the windscreen to keep it open. If this is not enough, stop the car and clean the windscreen manually by scratching the ice away.
Cold
Cold weather affects the car in many ways. It drains the battery, makes seats and suspension hard, increases consumption, and makes the car difficult to start.
Modern diesel cars are as good on winter as their petrol-driven sisters, but you may need to preheat them longer on very cold weather, and if it gets extremely cold (>-35 degrees) you need to fill them on special diesel to prevent the fuel from freezing. In Ylläs region this diesel is usually available at Neste station in Kolari.
A good rental car in the Arctic is equipped with an engine heater (always check this from the rental company). The electrical heater preheats the engine making it a lot easier to start. Typically, some 2 hrs of preheating is needed. Many of the Finnish houses (and all of our cabins in Ylläs) are equipped with an electrical connection box on the parking lot with a timer, so that you can easily set the timer for desired time and the car is ready preheated when it is time to hit the road!
If your car is equipped with a Webasto or Eberspächer fuel-driven heater, kindly notice that these will drain the battery very fast so don’t use them for longer than 10-15 minutes before the start and make sure that you drive long enough to charge the battery from the missing power the heater as used.
When starting the car, we Finns usually fire up the engine first and the start to scratch the windows clear from the ice and remove the snow from the car. This few minute idle will help the car in warming up and ease the first kilometers on the road. If the weather is very cold, it will take some 15-20 minutes until the car is warm.
Remember to clean your feet from the snow before jumping into the car as the snow will melt on the carpets and finally the vaporizing water will freeze your windows from inside.
And never turn the air circulation inside on as it will freeze your windows from inside for sure!
And what about choosing the car?
Could choosing a better-equipped car help alleviate the problems caused by cold weather?
Here are some frequently asked questions with the right answers:
Is a 4x4 better in winter?
Yes, it is, but there is no need to rent one.
A 4x4 car will accelerate faster on slippery roads but it won't stop any faster than a regular 2x4 car. When cornering, the friction from the tires is limiting the speed, not the way the car is driven.
Hence, if you are not a very experienced driver on slippery roads, I would rather choose a 2x4 instead as you will easier notice when the road is slippery and when it is not.
Some people also think that the 4x4 will take you to the destination as a 2x4 might get stuck in the snow.
In Finland we maintain the roads and clean them from the snow so you won't get stuck in snow on public roads. So no need to pay more for a 4x4 simply.
Can a well-known rental operator guarantee me a good car?
Yes and no.
During the high season a lot of rental cars from southern Finland are being moved to the north. Some of these cars have been poorly equipped for the winter in general so check with your company what the car really is and how it is equipped. By equipment I do not mean leather seats or a nice glass roof but good quality winter tires with spikes (preferred brands Nokian, Continental), ice scratch and snow brush and engine heater.
Can choosing a sc premium brand ensure that it will work in cold?
No, this is not the case in any way.
Cold makes us all equal, both humans and cars as well.
The small car from a less-known brand can work better in cold vs your premium car in cold.
Is it wise to choose a bigger car?
Yes it is!
In general, we Finns driving in Lapland do not like small cars. They are unsafe, especially in moose collisions.
I would choose an SUV that is a bit higher and offers better safety against moose collisions vs lower small cars.
When you are having vacation e.g in Rhodes, you can easily rent a small car without a problem. However, in Lapland, choose something bigger instead.
What brand would be the best choice?
Well, a Toyota is always a safe bet, despite the model and size. These cars work very well in the cold and always start on the cold as well.
If I would rent a car myself, I would go for a Volvo. It is hard to find a better car for winter simply. It is not that bad in summer as well and the chassis are designed also to withstand moose collisions.
Some of you may think that I am driving a Toyota myself? Unfortunately not. I have a fully electric Skoda Enyaq 4x4.
When the weather comes cold and I get sick and tired of fighting against the conditions with this 21st-century VAG technology marvel that is pushed to the market half-ready and full of gremlins, I’ll fire up my Volvo V70 from 2002 (Yes, it is soon 23 years old) and enjoy a warm and safe ride, excellent seats, and audio system even in today's scale. Yes, and it works even if the weather is less nice outside. Just need to forget the carbon footprint for a while…
Summa Summarum
When you rent a car you have the freedom to drive around and go and see the places you wish whenever you wish and you are not tied with bad public traffic connections in Lapland.
If you do a price comparison, you may find it cheaper to do it using an airport bus/private transfer/taxi in the village vs the rental car as a fully insured car at Kittilä airport is not priced as low as in e.g in Munich.
Relying on a taxi will remove the risk from the car not starting on the morning and you missing the flight. You can also enjoy a warm ride always 😊
Greetings from Ylläs, Finnish Lapland,
– Kristian
