Clear answers to taxi industry questions — about the taxi law change, the exams and A+ trainings. We always separate what applies now from what applies from 1 September or 1 November 2026.
On 1 September 2026 the taxi entrepreneur training and exam were reformed. The entrepreneur exam is now organised by Traficom’s service provider, not by training organisations. Taking the exam requires completing the new-system 21-hour entrepreneur training. Training and exams under the old system had to be completed by 31 August 2026 — they can no longer be taken.
From 1 November 2026, new taxi drivers must complete the 21-hour basic training before the taxi driver exam. The refresher obligation also begins: according to Traficom, a 7-hour refresher training must be completed when renewing a taxi driver licence between 1 November 2026 and 31 August 2034. The transition period ends on 31 August 2034.
The basic training applies to new drivers entering the field: from 1 November 2026 it is a requirement for taking the taxi driver exam. If you already hold a taxi driver licence, the 21-hour basic training does not apply to you.
A taxi driver licence requires that you have held your B-class driving licence for at least one year. If you pass the exam now but the one-year condition is met only later, what matters is when the licence is granted — not when you took the exam.
Until 31 Oct 2026Under the transitional provision of the law (612/2026), the licence can be granted without taxi driver training until 31 October 2026 at the latest.
From 1 Nov 2026Granting the licence requires the 21-hour basic training. Ajovarma takes about three weeks to process the application, so it is worth applying in good time, in early October.
If this is your situation, ask us — we will go through the timing with you.
If you renew your taxi driver permit between 1 November 2026 and 31 August 2034, you generally need to complete the 7-hour continuing training before renewal. You can apply to renew up to six months before your current permit expires. There is no exam — attending the training is enough. Exception: the training is not required if you completed the statutory 21-hour basic training after 1 September 2026.
A renewal in 2028 falls within the transition period 1 November 2026 – 31 August 2034, when renewal generally requires the 7-hour continuing training. What counts is when you renew — you can apply up to six months before the permit expires. Be prepared to complete the training before renewing. See the renewal steps →
Ended 31 Aug 2026Training and exam under the old system had to be completed by 31 August 2026. This option no longer exists.
From 1 Sept 2026Taking the exam requires the new-system 21-hour entrepreneur training, and the exam is organised by Traficom’s service provider — not by a training organisation. A+ Taxi’s entrepreneur training is Traficom-approved — the next course dates are published on the course page.
Please note that not everyone applying for a taxi operating licence necessarily needs the new entrepreneur training and examination: certain qualifications obtained under previous taxi legislation may already satisfy the professional competence requirement. Check your status with Traficom before registering.
Training completed under the old system does not qualify you for the new-system exam. From 1 September 2026, taking the entrepreneur exam requires the new-system 21-hour entrepreneur training. If you did not manage to take the exam by 31 August 2026, you need to complete the new 21-hour entrepreneur training before the exam.
A+ Taxi’s entrepreneur training is Traficom-approved — see the next course dates.
The aim of the reform is to improve the safety and quality of taxi services, harmonise drivers’ skills and combat the grey economy — which is why training becomes mandatory. Previously, driver training was not mandatory. The entrepreneur training and exam were also reformed.
No. The taxi driver exam can only be taken in Finnish or Swedish. A+ supports your preparation in English and teaches the Finnish exam vocabulary as part of the course.
No. Under the new regulation (in force from 1 September 2026), no dictionary or interpreter may be used in the exam. It is therefore worth making sure you know the Finnish exam vocabulary before the exam.
Ended 31 Aug 2026The old exam had 50 multiple-choice questions and 45 minutes.
Now · from 1 Sept 2026The exam has 60 questions from five subject areas. It is taken at an Ajovarma service point, and the exam fee is €138. Passing requires 45 correct answers plus a minimum number of correct answers in each subject area. The exam lasts 45 minutes.
From 1 Nov 2026Taking the exam requires the 21-hour basic training.
Ended 31 Aug 2026The exam was organised by the training organisation — at A+ it was included in the course package.
From 1 Sept 2026The exam is organised by Traficom’s service provider. Under the new regulation the exam has 50 questions from six subject areas, passing requires 38 correct answers, and it lasts 120 minutes. In addition to multiple-choice questions, the exam may include case tasks.
Under the new regulation (in force from 1 September 2026), the same rule applies to both the taxi driver exam and the entrepreneur exam: a failed exam can be retaken at the earliest on the next weekday. The exams are assessed by subject area — if the number of correct answers falls below the required minimum in any single subject area, the whole exam is failed.
The taxi driver exam is taken at an Ajovarma service point. Since 1 September 2026 the entrepreneur exam is organised by Traficom’s service provider and taken at its service point — not at a training organisation.
The training and materials are in Finnish, and the exam is taken in Finnish or Swedish. A+ Taxi offers English support when needed and teaches the Finnish exam vocabulary as part of the course.
Yes — English support is available when needed before, during and after the training. You can also ask us anything on WhatsApp in English: +358 50 439 5392.
Yes — courses are held online or in person in Helsinki. For remote participation you need a computer or tablet (not a phone), a good internet connection, a microphone and a camera. The camera must be on for the whole training — this is how we verify participation.
You can pay by card, invoice or Klarna — with Klarna also in instalments. See the details in the payment and cancellation terms.
The cancellation terms depend on when you cancel and whether the training has already started. See the exact terms in the payment and cancellation terms.
The trainer is Thomas Alemayhu — driving instructor, taxi industry trainer and the Traficom-confirmed person responsible for training. Thomas moved to Finland himself and knows the challenges foreign students face first-hand. Read Thomas’s story →
Yes. All three training programmes — refresher training 7 h, basic training 21 h and entrepreneur training 21 h — have been confirmed by Traficom. Traficom confirms training programmes; it does not recommend individual training organisations.
Registration and payment are handled in the Webauto service once a course is open — the link is on the course page and in the course calendar. If no dates are shown yet, ask on WhatsApp +358 50 439 5392 or join the waiting list on the course page.
Entrepreneur training €599 incl. VAT 25.5 %; plus the Traficom registration fee of €21. The prices of the refresher and basic training will be published shortly on the course pages — ask on WhatsApp or by email. Exams are paid separately to Ajovarma or Traficom's service provider.
Not yet. The approved programme permits e-learning, but A+ Taxi currently runs the courses as classroom training in Helsinki and as live online training. We will announce when self-paced e-learning opens.
A+ reports the approved completion to Traficom after the course, and it is entered in the transport register. You apply for the permit renewal yourself at Ajovarma — see the renewal steps.
Answer a few questions — the course finder tells you which training applies to you and when.