Car rental rates in Finland with drop-off in Norway

Hi there,

We’re planning a trip to Finland and Norway this summer, starting in Oulu to explore Lapland, heading up to the North Cape, and then making our way down to Bergen.

This route means renting a car in Finland and dropping it off in Norway. My initial searches are showing rental rates that are... astronomical—about three times the price compared to returning it at the starting point.

I’m guessing I’m not the only one wanting to visit both countries. Are there any great tips to drastically reduce the cost of renting a car?

Thanks to the community for your suggestions!

Hi there,

These are the "one-way fees" (cross-border drop-off charges). Rental companies charge for the vehicle to be transported back by truck from Norway to Finland, which explains these prohibitive rates. Even within the same country, if you drop off at a different branch, the fees are high, but between two different countries, it’s exorbitant. Sometimes, certain rental companies won’t even allow you to cross borders—insurance won’t cover it.

A possible solution might be to do two separate rentals, one in each country, and take a bus to cross the border. It’s not super convenient, but it should cut down on the drop-off fees.

Watch out for the usual car rental traps, no matter the country! I’ve seen it all during my travels, so I put together this list of shady tactics some companies use to sneak in extra charges.