Guide to Driving In Sweden - Drive Safe in Sweden

With our Drive Smart guide you're fully prepared to hire a car in Sweden and stay safe on unfamiliar roads.

URBAN SPEED LIMIT

50 kph

urban
More info  

RURAL SPEED LIMIT

90 kph

rural
More info  

motorway speed limit

110-120 kph

speed limit
More info  

Drink Drive Limit

 20mg

drink and drive limit
More info  
urban
You drive in Sweden on the Right side  
urban
The currency in Sweden is SEK
urban
To rent a car is  21 years and to drive is 18 years of age
urban
Current fuel price in Sweden 1.60 €/Ltr

Driving Laws in Sweden

Driving in Sweden
Pocket guide to driving in Sweden
Profile:
Sweden
Stockholm
SEK
Driving in Sweden
SPEED: (kph)
50
90
110-120
Speed limit in Sweden
Holiday:
Rush hour in Sweden
Cameras:
YES
YES
Speed cameras in Sweden
FUEL:
1.60
1.68
EUR/Litre
Fuel prices in Sweden
See Fuel Price in Sweden for full statistics
MIN AGE:
18
21
Min driving age in Sweden
DRINK:
20mg
Blood alcohol content
Drink driving in Sweden
EMERGENCY:
112
Emergency phone number in Sweden
DOCUMENT:
Driving documents in Sweden
PHONES:
No
Hands free only
Mobile phone driving in Sweden
SEATBELTS:
Yes
Yes
Seat belt in Sweden
See here for current child seats law in Sweden

Are there any special requirements for driving or hiring a car in Sweden?

It is possible to drive the whole length of Sweden in a car. If you are arriving there from the United Kingdom you'll drive to Sweden through Europe via Denmark. If you are making the spectacular road trip you'll probably use the majestic Øresund Fixed Link bridge which joins Copenhagen in Denmark to Malmö in Sweden. Speed limits are very strictly observed in Sweden with a maximum 30 km/h limit for residential areas. Electronic signs will inform you of any changes to the normal speed limits. As in the UK, speed limit signs have a red circle with a black number. You should be aware that animals can run out into the road in Sweden commonly large animlas like elk and moose.

Driving is on the right in Sweden and you should give way to the left at any sort of intersection. Overtaking is on the left only. Vehicles must drive with dipped headlights at all times unless the car is fitted with DLR (daylight running lights) but should not be used in tandem, even in bright summer sunshine. Winter tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 3 millimeters while summer tyres must have a minimum of 1.6 millimeters tread depth. You must use winter tyres, usually from November to April although all weather tyres can also be used all year round. Heavy vehicles of more than three and a half tonnes must have snow chains if snowy weather is to be expected. Driving a car which has insufficient grip for the road surface is illegal.

Rules of the road

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Emergency Services Numbers

Police Police: 112

Police Fire: 112

Police Ambulance: 112

Notes:

DieselUnleaded
Feb , 2024

€ 1.68

€ 1.60

Jan , 2024

€ 1.61

€ 1.55

Dec , 2023

€ 2.00

€ 1.62

Nov , 2023

€ 2.04

€ 1.66

Parking Information

Parking regulations

Parking regulations
 
Swedish cities are a nightmare for parking with restrictions on the length of stay and high charges. 
 
Paid parking
 
Most roadside parking is paid for at ticket machines and you must display your ticket. There are often short periods for parking meaning that it's often inconvenient or expensive. To save the inconvenience, use a parking garage which is more expensive but you can stay longer. Parking is generally free on a Sunday in the cities. 
 
Enforcement
 
No parking areas are signified by a blue sign with a red ring and red diagonal line across it. Parking there or outstaying your ticket duration can be monitored by the police or wardens in some cities. You'll get a ticket attached to your car or, if causing an obstruction, you may be towed away.
 
Disabled parking
 
The European blue badge scheme isn't officially recognised in Sweden but it sometimes helps to show it if you're trying to get a more easily accessible spot. It won't allow you to park for free though! We recommend that you check local regulations before making assumptions. 

Emergency Information

Emergency Information

Police Police: 112

Police Fire: 112

Police Ambulance: 112

The emergency services number is 112, and the police can be contacted for non urgent enquiries on 11414.
 
  • The United States Embassy in Sweden is at Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm. You can phone on (46) 8 783 5300. Their website is https://se.usembassy.gov/
  • The United Kingdom Embassy in Sweden is at Skarpögatan 6-8, Box 27819, 115 93 Stockholm. You can phone on (46) 8 671 3000. Their website is http://ukinsweden.fco.gov.uk/en/

What to do in an emergency

If you have a problem with your vehicle, contact the emergency number given by the hire car agency when you collected it or, if in your own vehicle, use the telephone number for the Swedish partner to your breakdown company at home.

If involved in an accident, minor damage can be sorted out without the police attending. If there is major damage or injuries, put on a reflective jacket and place a warning triangle on the approach to the incident, call the police and, whilst waiting for them, take photographs of the scene, take witness names and addresses and where possible, avoid moving the vehicles

Handy Guides

World Driving Guides

Road Signs

Handy Phrases

  • Accident – Olycka
  • Police - Polis
  • Yes - Ja
  • No - nej
  • Gas stations accepting cash - Sedel automat
  • Please - Tack
  • Thank you very much - Tack så mycket
  • You're welcome - Ingen orsak
  • I have broken down -  Bilen har gått sönder
  • Where is the police station? - Var är polisen?
  • I have a flat tyre - Jag har en punktering
  • I have been in an accident - Jag har varit i en olycka
  • Where is? -  Var är?
  • Where can I buy petrol? -  Var kan jag köpa bensin?

Sweden Fuel Price History

DieselUnleaded
Feb , 2024

€ 1.68

€ 1.60

Jan , 2024

€ 1.61

€ 1.55

Dec , 2023

€ 2.00

€ 1.62

Nov , 2023

€ 2.04

€ 1.66

Oct , 2023

€ 2.20

€ 1.78

Sep , 2023

€ 2.18

€ 1.80

Aug , 2023

€ 2.03

€ 1.75

Jul , 2023

€ 1.91

€ 1.66

Jun , 2023

€ 1.88

€ 1.71

May , 2023

€ 1.86

€ 1.71

Apr , 2023

€ 2.01

€ 1.84

Mar , 2023

€ 2.05

€ 1.77

Month, YearDiesel €/ltrUnleaded €/ltr
Feb , 2024 1.68 1.60
Jan , 2024 1.61 1.55
Dec , 2023 2.00 1.62
Nov , 2023 2.04 1.66
Oct , 2023 2.20 1.78
Sep , 2023 2.18 1.80
Aug , 2023 2.03 1.75
Jul , 2023 1.91 1.66
Jun , 2023 1.88 1.71
May , 2023 1.86 1.71
Apr , 2023 2.01 1.84
Mar , 2023 2.05 1.77

Hiring a Car

With our Drive Smart guide you're fully prepared to hire a car in Sweden and stay safe on unfamiliar roads.
Chloe Demaret
Posted by Chloe Demaret
About the Author -

Travel writer, social media guru, Chloe keeps our readers and customers up to speed with all the car rental and travel trends on our blog. Favourite destination: Dubai.

Visitor Comments

  • 30/10/2018

    John Gilmour

    If you hire a car in Sweden can you drive it into and back out of Norway?
  • 30/10/2018

    Josef Rudenlöv

    Hi! I often use your pages to check for local regulations when travelling, they're well structured and easy to find the right info. I decided to check on my home country and noted some corrections are needed... I'll provide them here if you want to update: - Motorways - 110-120 km - "dipped headlights at all times" actually, DRL (Daytime Running Lamps) are allowed without dipped headlights in daylight. They are not allowed to use together. - "outside of towns you should use the horn and flashing headlights to indicate you're overtaking." DEFINITELY NOT. This will upset most Swedes to the extreme! flashing can be used as any type of warning or call for attention if necessary, but horns can cause a lot of anger and road rage if used where there's no danger. - On the spot fines can often be payed with credit card nowadays. - Mobile phones: correct, with addition to that using anything that creates a distraction from your driving is not permitted. The police officer will determine if your behavior causes distraction - so this law is applied at police discretion but as police are not corrupt it will only happen when this is clear to all parties. Stockholm congestion charge applies Mondays to Fridays, 06.30 to 18.30 and varies between 11-35 SEK, being most expensive during rush hours. There are signs at the checkpoints telling you the current price. Higher prices and more cities are planned to be included. Cars registered outside of Sweden will also be charged as possible Phrase "I have broken down" translates currently to a phrase meaning that you're emotionally broken down. The phrase used would be "Bilen har gått sönder", translating literally "The car has broken down". Hope this helps! Enjoy the weekend! Best regards, Josef Rudenlöv
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