On 1 September 2026, the Finnish taxi driver exam changed. The old 50-question test is gone. The new exam has 60 multiple-choice questions, a 45-minute time limit, and — for the first time — five test sections instead of four. If you're preparing for the taksinkuljettajan koe, here's exactly what you'll face and how to study for each part.
The official basis: the new exam follows Traficom regulation TRAFICOM/697114/03.04.03.00/2025 (issued 29 June 2026, in force 1 September 2026). Every question has one fully correct answer — there are no trick "choose all that apply" formats.
The new exam at a glance
- 60 multiple-choice questions
- 45 minutes total (about 45 seconds per question)
- 5 topic sections, including one brand-new area
- One fully correct answer per question
- The fifth section — Kuljettajan oikeudet ja velvollisuudet (Driver's rights and obligations) — is new and contributes 10 questions
The biggest practical change: the exam now tests not just how you treat passengers, but how well you know your own rights and duties as a driver. Let's go through each section.
Section 1: Matkustajien avustaminen ja turvallisuus (Assisting passengers & safety)
This section covers the hands-on work of helping passengers safely: assisting people in and out of the vehicle, securing luggage and mobility aids, and acting correctly if a passenger is injured or becomes ill during the ride.
What to study:
- How to assist passengers with reduced mobility without causing injury
- Securing wheelchairs, walkers, and luggage so nothing moves during the trip
- First-response basics: what to do if a passenger loses consciousness or is breathing abnormally
- Seatbelt rules and child safety requirements
Study tip: Many questions here are scenario-based ("a passenger faints in the back seat — what do you do first?"). Don't just memorize rules; picture yourself in the situation. Our mock exams train exactly this kind of thinking.
Section 2: Eri matkustajaryhmien erityistarpeet (Special needs of passenger groups)
Finland's taxi system serves a lot of passengers with special needs — elderly riders, people with disabilities, children, and customers using publicly funded transport services (like Kela taxi rides). This section tests whether you understand each group's specific requirements.
What to study:
- Communication: speaking clearly, confirming the destination, and checking the passenger understood
- Assisting visually or hearing-impaired passengers
- Rules for Kela-subsidized and other special transport services
- Patience and professionalism in demanding service situations
Study tip: This is where many non-native Finnish speakers lose points — not because the rules are hard, but because the vocabulary is specific. Learn the key terms (avustaminen, liikuntarajoitteinen, saattaja) alongside the rules. TaxiReitti explains every question in simple English for exactly this reason.
Section 3: Taksipalvelujen asiakaspalvelutilanteet (Customer service situations)
The customer-service section covers the everyday judgment calls of taxi work: handling complaints, dealing with difficult or intoxicated passengers, and keeping the ride professional when things go wrong.
What to study:
- De-escalation: staying calm and professional with aggressive or drunk customers
- What to do when a passenger refuses to pay or disputes the fare
- Smoking, eating, and behavior rules in the vehicle
- When you are allowed to end a ride — and how to do it safely
Study tip: The exam rewards the calm, professional, by-the-book answer. If an option sounds like something you'd do in a heated moment, it's probably wrong. Read our guide to the top 5 reasons immigrants fail the taxi exam — most failures come from this section's judgment questions.
Section 4: Kuljetusten ja liikenteen turvallisuustekijät (Transport & traffic safety factors)
This is the most technical section: traffic safety, vehicle condition, driving and rest-time rules, and the equipment a taxi must carry.
What to study:
- Driving and rest-time limits for professional drivers
- When a vehicle is not roadworthy and must not be used
- Mandatory taxi equipment and how it must work (taximeter, signage, receipts)
- Adverse weather and night driving: adjusting speed and following distance
- Alcohol and drug rules — zero tolerance in professional transport
Study tip: Numbers matter here (hours, distances, alcohol limits), so make flashcards for every figure you meet. This section is also where the 2026 reform changed several details — make sure your study material is dated September 2026 or later.
Section 5: Kuljettajan oikeudet ja velvollisuudet (Driver's rights and obligations) — NEW
The brand-new fifth section contributes 10 questions and covers the legal framework of your work: what the law requires of you, and what rights you have in return.
What to study:
- Your obligations toward passengers, the permit holder, and the authorities
- Fare transparency: informing the passenger of the price or pricing basis before the ride
- When you may refuse a ride (for example, if completing it would break working-time law)
- Professional conduct and confidentiality
- The driver's own legal protections
Study tip: This section is new, so older study books don't cover it at all. We've written a dedicated guide: Taxi Driver Rights and Duties in Finland.
How the sections fit together in practice
The five sections aren't isolated — a single real-world situation touches several at once. A drunk passenger who refuses to pay (Section 3) might also need safe handling (Section 1) while you stay within your legal rights (Section 5). The exam's scenario questions work the same way, which is why studying section-by-section and then practicing full mixed mock exams is the most effective strategy.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Finnish taxi exam in 2026? 60 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, under Traficom regulation TRAFICOM/697114/03.04.03.00/2025.
What are the 5 sections of the taxi exam? Assisting passengers & safety; special needs of passenger groups; customer service situations; transport & traffic safety factors; and the new driver's rights and obligations.
Is the exam in Finnish? Yes — the official exam is in Finnish. That's why TaxiReitti teaches every question with simple-English explanations and tap-to-translate vocabulary, built for non-native speakers.
How do I prepare for the new 5th section? Older materials don't cover it. Use study material updated for the September 2026 reform, such as TaxiReitti's 60-question mock exams with the new five-section structure.
Preparing for the taksinkuljettajan koe? Try a free mock exam built for the 2026 format — 60 questions, 5 sections, 45 minutes, just like the real thing.