16.2 Before using a motor vehicle

16.2.1 Compulsory road traffic insurance

Third-party liability insurance is compulsory and must be taken out with a company based in Sweden. Failure to do so will be reported to Swedish Motor Insurers, which has the right to charge the vehicle owner for the period not covered by insurance (the longer the period, the higher the charge, visit the Swedish Motor Ìnsurers website). 

Swedish Motor Insurers - external website,

Proof of insurance will be sent to the Swedish Transport Agency directly by the insurance company for registration. Until registration has been finalised, insurance coverage may be temporary. For vehicles undergoing customs processing, temporary insurance policies can, if desired, be purchased at Swedish Customs.Information on compulsory road traffic insurance in Sweden is available on the Swedish Transport Agency website.

Insurance - Swedish Transport Agency  - external website,

Missions, diplomats and career consular officers are not exempted from tax on traffic insurance premiums, as it is the insurer, and not the policy-holder, who is liable to pay the insurance premium tax under Section 3 of the Tax on traffic insurance premiums act (2007:460). Nor are they entitled to any refund of the premium by virtue of Swedish tax legislation.

16.2.2 Registration

The owner of a motor vehicle is required to register it. In order to obtain diplomatic licence plates, the motor vehicle must be registered and have received the regular licence plates, and thus also be insured.

The Swedish Transport Agency carries out registration upon receipt of the approval of the registration inspection from the motor vehicle inspection company and insurance notification from the insurance company. The Swedish Transport Agency will then assign a registration number to the motor vehicle and issue regular, white licence plates. Upon receipt of registration certificate and plates, registration must be finalised by the Swedish Transport Agency.

Swedish Transport Agency - external website,

16.2.3 Diplomatic licence plates

Motor vehicles that are registered in the name of a mission or an international organisation, or in the name of a diplomatic agent, career consular officer, administrative and technical staff or consular employee who is not a Swedish citizen or permanent resident of Sweden carry blue diplomatic licence plates. To obtain diplomatic licence plates, the motor vehicle must have first received the regular licence plates, and thus also be insured.

To request diplomatic licence plates, the mission must send a note verbale to the Protocol Department, containing the registration number of the regular white licence plates and the make and model of the motor vehicle. A new registration number will be assigned to the motor vehicle according to the codes found in Annex 1 to the Swedish Transport Agency's regulation - external website, (in Swedish). The plates will be delivered to the owner after receipt of payment.

It is possible to obtain diplomatic licence plates for a leased car if the duration of the leasing agreement is at least one year. A copy of the contract must be attached to the application for diplomatic licence plates.

The blue diplomatic plates replace the white plates originally issued by the Swedish Transport Agency. Note that in order to obtain the diplomatic licence plates, the motor vehicle must have been registered and have received the regular licence plates. The white plates should be kept by the owner. as they must be returned to the Swedish Transport Agency (address: Transportstyrelsen, Trafikregistret, 701 88 Örebro) immediately upon the export, transfer or sale of the vehicle, or its dismantling.