Tampere Customs Office / Imported Car

[KaDaSa]

Okay, time for another exciting round of "Questions I should have asked before paying to have my car shipped from the US". The consignment company we hired is bringing our car (1.8L 2003 Toyota Matrix) to the customs office in Nuutisarankatu in Tampere for us to clear. I do not have winter tires on my car and will obviously be needing them. Does anyone have any experience with getting a vehicle sans winter tires to a shop to have said tires put on? Is anyone familiar with any garages/tire shops near the customs office to have this done? The customs official (in Helsinki), with whom my wife talked before we came made this whole importing a car process sound suspiciously easy. Yes, I will need the tires, block heater, and side lamps installed to pass inspection....what else am I missing?

[DMC]

Are you sure you need a block heater to pass inspection? I didn't think that was a legal requirement - though of course you might want one anyway. I know neither of our cars has a block heater (one car a personal import, the other leased here in Finland).

[Hank W.]

You need the side lamps removed for inspection... I think it is tow truck time, or then a dirty job on the customs office yard... you have two sets of rims don't you, or are you one of these filthy rich persons with money to pay for rerimming two times a year? (I mean seriously if you live in the sticks you need studs...)

[KaDaSa]

I thought that all cars here needed the side turn lights? Unfortunately, we will need to buy the winter tires with the rims (though it actually seems cheaper here than in the States), and i suppose we will be needing a tow.

[Hank W.]

Yes well those are "blinkers", not that difficult to get aftermarket but ones that look nice and the guy installing makes a neat job... I was meaning in USA you have those side lights/reflectors white in front and red in back on the bumper on the sides that need to be orange and off.

[sinikettu]

Have you visted the Test place in Tampere?
The reason I ask..I have used two in recent years..
One in Helsinki another in Nummela..Both were next door to Tire suppliers/fitters...
These sort of places seem to spring up near by the test centers...

[sinikala]

I thought that all cars here needed the side turn lights? Unfortunately, we will need to buy the winter tires with the rims (though it actually seems cheaper here than in the States), and i suppose we will be needing a tow.

When will your car arrive? Winter tires are only compulsory up to the end of February. After that you can just drive it away irrespective of whether there is snow or not.

If there is no tyre shop close to the Customs then one alternative...

- Put the bare rims in the car (wrap them in binbags).
- Call a taxi, ask the taxi driver to take you to a tyre shop.
- Explain to the tyre guy where your car is. Get winter tyres put on the rims.
- Take the rims+tyres back to the car - the tyre shop might even give you a lift & fit them for you, or at worst you take a taxi back and fit them yourself.

[Hank W.]

After that you can just drive it away irrespective of whether there is snow or not

He may drive, I would take the "can drive" bit with a pinch of road salt.

[sinikala]

After that you can just drive it away irrespective of whether there is snow or not

He may drive, I would take the "can drive" bit with a pinch of road salt.

Of course you can drive... just not like a Finnish rally driver.

[KaDaSa]

I really appreciate the help...I didn't realize that winter tires can be removed at the end of February already. I think I'll probably go ahead and get them put on now, as the majority of my driving experience is on large, non-ice encased highways.

[Karhunkoski]

pay for rerimming

Oh no, here we go again