RoadVisa Beta

How to get a driving licence in Sweden

Getting a car licence from scratch, country by country.

Car licence, category B

Getting your licence in Sweden

Theory questions (65 scored)70
Pass mark52 correct
Time for the theory test50 min
Theory test feeSEK 420
Driving test feeSEK 1,000
Licence cardSEK 375

Daytime prices. After 6 pm and at weekends the tests cost SEK 520 and SEK 1,400.

Before you start driving

2
Learner's permitYes (körkortstillstånd), needed before any practice driving. Valid 5 years.
Medical checkA health declaration and an eye test.

Required lessons

3
Risk course (riskutbildning)Compulsory, in 2 parts: alcohol, drugs and fatigue, then speed and slippery roads. Valid 5 years.
Private practiceWith an approved accompanying driver aged 24+. You both take a short introduction course first.
Driving schoolOptional.

Good to know

8
Minimum age18 for category B. You can start practising at 16.
Licence validity10 years.
Exam languagesTheory test in Swedish or 15 other languages, including English, Arabic, Finnish, German and Persian. The driving test is in Swedish.
If you failBook and pay for a new test.
Automatic or manualPassing in an automatic limits your licence to automatic cars (code 78). To drive manual cars later, you take a new driving test.
New driversA 2-year probationary period. Losing your licence in that time means a new learner's permit and both tests again.
Already have a licence from abroad?EEA licences stay valid. UK, Swiss and Japanese licences can be exchanged. Others are valid for 1 year after you register, then you take the tests. See the Abroad tab.
Also worth knowing
  • A passed theory test is valid for 1 year: pass the driving test within that time.
  • Practice questions online aren't the real test questions. Study the whole subject, not just answers.
  • No car for the test? You can rent one from Trafikverket for SEK 800.

Step by step

  1. Learner's permitApply to Transportstyrelsen with the health declaration and eye test.
  2. PracticeAt a driving school or privately with an approved companion and the green L sign.
  3. Risk courseBoth parts, before the tests.
  4. Theory testAt a Trafikverket test centre.
  5. Driving testSafety check, manoeuvres and driving in traffic. Your licence comes by registered post.

Tips From driving schools and examiners

  • The most common reason for failing is not anticipating what will happen next in traffic. In 2025 it was behind over 77,000 failed tests, according to Trafikverket.
  • Spotting risks early and handling the controls and gears smoothly are the next most common problems.
  • Practise in city traffic and unfamiliar places, not only on roads you know. The driving instructors' association says only about 1 in 3 learners who practise only privately pass.
  • If you practise privately, your supervisor should ride along on a driving school lesson first, to see what to work on.

Based on: Börskollen: 77,000 failed for the same mistake (Trafikverket figures, July 2026, Swedish) ↗

Official links

Transportstyrelsen: I'm going to take my driving licence ↗Riksdagen: Driving Licence Act 1998:488 (Swedish) ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026
Wrong information? Help us fix itTell us what's incorrect and we'll check it against the official sources.

About: This page

Frequently asked questionsCoverage, sources and how RoadVisa works.

Why isn't my country listed?

RoadVisa is still growing. It covers 42 countries and all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. so far, and more are added step by step. Each country is checked against its own official sources, in its own language, before it goes live.

Why isn't Africa covered?

Many African licensing authorities publish little detail about their driving rules online, so we can't yet check the answers against official sources. We'll add African countries as official information becomes available.

Where does the information come from?

From official sources only: licensing authorities, ministries, police and government websites, read in each country's own language. Every answer links to its sources and shows when it was last checked.

What's the difference between Visiting and Moving?

Visiting covers short stays such as holidays and business trips, when you keep your home licence. Moving covers becoming a resident, when most countries want you to exchange your licence or take tests by a deadline.

What is an International Driving Permit?

A translation of your licence in a standard format. It's only valid together with your own licence, and you get it in the country that issued your licence, usually from a motoring club or the licensing authority. RoadVisa tells you when a country expects one.

Does RoadVisa cover motorcycles or trucks?

Not yet. The answers are about car licences: category B in Europe, and the local equivalent elsewhere, such as Class C or D in most US states. Other licences may follow later.

Is RoadVisa official?

No. RoadVisa is an independent guide and isn't linked to any government or licensing authority. The authority that handles your application always has the final word.

Is RoadVisa free?

Yes, RoadVisa is free to use.

I found a mistake. What should I do?

Use "Wrong information? Help us fix it" above. We check every report against the official sources and correct the answer.

About RoadVisa and disclaimerWho we are, and how to use this information.

An independent guide. RoadVisa is a private project. It is not run by, linked to or approved by any government, licensing authority (such as a national road traffic agency or a US DMV), embassy or driving school.

Information only, not legal advice. RoadVisa sums up official rules in plain English. It does not replace the official rules, and it is not a decision about your case. Only the authority that handles your application can decide that.

Rules change. Every answer shows when it was last checked and links to the official source. Check that source before you drive, book a test, move or apply. If RoadVisa and the official source differ, follow the official source.

Your situation matters. The answer can depend on your residence status, licence category, age and when your licence was issued. If you're unsure, ask the licensing authority or your embassy.

Car hire and insurance. Car hire companies and insurers can set their own rules, for example asking for an International Driving Permit even where it isn't required. Check with them too.

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