To obtain a driving licence for a lorry, you need to have both theoretical and driving instruction.
Where to get instruction?
You can get the training required for the lorry driver's driving examination at
- a driving school
a vocational education and training institute (External link)
- with a driving instruction permit.
Amount of instruction in categories C1, C, C1E and CE until 1.12.2018
| The sought right to drive | C1 | C | C1E | CE | ||||
| Form of instruction | Theory | Driving | Theory | Driving | Theory | Driving | Theory | Driving |
| Valid category B right to drive began before 1.12.2018 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | - | - | - | - |
Valid category BD1 or BD right to drive began before 1.12.2018 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | - | - | - | - |
| Valid category C1 right to drive begun before 1.12.2018 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | - | - | ||
| Valid category C right to drive began before 1.12.2018 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 15 | 30 |
| Valid category C1E right to drive began before 1.12.2018 | - | - | 3 | 5 | - | - | 7 | 20 |
Supplementary amount of began before 1.12.2018 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
Amount of instruction in categories C1, C, C1E and CE since 1.12.2018
| The sought right to drive | C1 | C | C1E | CE | ||||
| Form of instruction | Theory | Driving | Theory | Driving | Theory | Driving | Theory | Driving |
| Valid category B right to drive | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | - | - | - | - |
Valid category BD1 or BD right to drive | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | - | - | - | - |
| Valid category C1 right to drive | - | - | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| Valid category C right to drive | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 15 | 30 |
| Valid category C1E right to drive | - | - | 10 | 7 | - | - | 12 | 27 |
| Supplementary amount of instruction (valid professional competence) | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
You can take the driving examination based on supplementary instruction on the following terms:
- You have completed the basic level of professional competence with 280 hours of training and your competence has been valid for 1 year.
- You have completed the basic level of professional competence with 140 hours of training and your competence has been valid for 2 years.
- Your right to drive a lorry has started before 10 September 2009 and you have achieved professional competence with basic level training or 35 hours of additional training.
- You have not taken another driving examination on the grounds of professional competence within the previous year.
Required skills
The driving instruction for a driving licence for a lorry must include instruction based on the special features of the vehicle to ensure that the driver is in command of
- the correct use, handling and transportation of the lorry in compliance with traffic rules,
- taking different traffic situations and environments into account and
- following a safe, economic, ecological and flexible driving style.
The training must also include
- first-aid training required for acting in an accident site and
- identification and avoidance of traffic incidents (instruction of anticipatory driving).
The driving instruction must include category-specific theoretical and driving lessons.
The instruction must follow a curriculum authorised by the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency (previously Finnish Transport Safety Agency).