Law and permits

Taxis will get a green licence plate: orders start in January 2027, mandatory from 1 July 2027

10 September 2026, updated 1 November 2026 · Taksiuutiset editorial team

On 10 September 2026 the Government issued a decree under which the base colour of the licence plate of taxis is green and the characters black. According to Traficom, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, distinctive taxi licence plates will be issued from 1 January 2027 and they become mandatory on 1 July 2027.

What the decree contains

According to a press release of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the decree amends the Vehicle Decree, and the change is intended to enter into force on 1 January 2027, at the same time as changes to the Vehicles Act. In choosing the colour, the ministry says it took into account distinctiveness, accessibility and the needs of police field supervision.

The taxi licence plates are based on a change to the Vehicles Act: the Government submitted the proposal to Parliament on 26 February 2026, and the act was confirmed on 26 June 2026. According to Moottori, a vehicle used in taxi driving must still have a taxi light despite the plates.

Timetable and conditions

According to Traficom's guidance, taxi licence plates are issued from 1 January 2027. They can be ordered at inspection stations from January, and orders cannot be made in advance. The plates become mandatory for all taxi transport vehicles from 1 July 2027, and checking the plate requirements in vehicle inspection starts on the same day.

Traficom lists as conditions that the vehicle is registered for licensed use and linked to the owner's or holder's valid taxi transport licence. The car must not be under a use ban or driving ban, for example because it has not been inspected or vehicle tax has not been paid. According to Moottori, the vehicle must be linked to the transport licence before the new type of taxi licence plates can be issued for it.

Political dispute

According to Iltalehti, changes to the taxi legislation were one of the disputes of the government term. National Coalition Party Member of Parliament Tere Sammallahti wrote on X that the taximeters and differently coloured licence plates forced by the new taxi act must, in his view, be corrected right at the start of the next term. This is the position of one Member of Parliament.

What this means for you

• You cannot get plates until your car has been linked to the transport licence. Check the link in good time.
• You can order the plates from January at an inspection station. An order cannot be made in advance.
• From the start of July 2027, when driving a taxi, the car must always have taxi licence plates.
• The car must not be under a use ban or driving ban when you apply for plates.

The timetables are from Traficom's page (updated 9 October 2026), and according to the ministry's press release the decree is intended to enter into force on 1 January 2027. Read on 1 November 2026. Check the current situation with Traficom.