16.3 Using a motor vehicle

16.3.1 Compulsory regular roadworthiness test

All motor vehicles registered in Sweden must, periodically, undergo a roadworthiness test in order to maintain their registration. The tests are undertaken to ensure that a vehicle has the necessary equipment and meets environmental and traffic safety standards. Regardless of where or when the motor vehicle was purchased, it must undergo the motor vehicle test regularly. The owner is personally responsible for ensuring that the vehicle has been tested.

Swedish Transport Agency - external website,

16.3.2 Motor vehicle tax and congestion tax

Diplomatic agents, career consular officers, administrative and technical staff and consular employees who are not Swedish citizens or permanent residents are exempt from motor vehicle tax and the applicable congestion tax in Stockholm and Gothenburg.

However, congestion tax will be charged as long as the vehicle carries regular, white licence plates, i.e. until the vehicle has been registered with blue diplomatic licence plates. The Swedish Transport Agency is unable to reverse decisions on congestion tax. If congestion tax has been issued before diplomatic licence plates have been received, or in the case of an undue demand for payment of congestion tax, it is possible to request a review by the Swedish Tax Agency via post (Skatteverket, Trängselskattesektionen, 701 87 Örebro) or email ([email protected]). Request for a review must arrive at the Swedish Tax Agency no later than 60 days after the decision.

Please note that the congestion tax must be paid even if a review is requested. A request for a review should specify the vehicle’s registration number, the date of the decision, the reason for requesting a review and the name and address of the owner.

16.3.3 Driving licence

Applicable rules on driving licenses in Sweden are set out under the Swedish driving licence act and the Swedish driving license ordinance.

Swedish transport Agency - external website,

Staff members of embassies or consulates and their family members who are not Swedish citizens or permanent residents are required to hold a driving licence that is valid in the country of issuance. If the license is not designed in accordance with either of the international conventions on road traffic signed in Geneva on 19 September 1949 or in Vienna on 8 November 1968, and has not been issued in English, French, German, Swedish, Danish or Norwegian, the licence is only valid together with a certified translation into one of these languages. A driving licence without a photograph of the license holder is only valid together with an identity document with a photograph. A Swedish driving licence is generally not necessary for individuals who are not registered in the Swedish population register, as is the case for most staff members of embassies or consulates and their family members.

Different rules apply for individuals who are registered in the Swedish population register, like most officials of international organisations and their family members. Driving licences that are issued in countries outside of the EEA are not valid if the holder of the driving licence has been registered in the Swedish population register for more than one year. The one-year rule does not apply to driving licences issued within the EEA. The Swedish Transport Agency may under certain circumstances grant an exception from the one-year rule and decide that a driving licence issued in a country outside the EEA is valid for a longer period than one year. The Transport Agency makes an assessment in each individual case based on the information in the application and decides whether an exception should be made.

There are no special forms for applying for an exception from the one-year rule. Applications can be made in English or Swedish and should include:

1. a letter from the applicant with a description of the purpose of the stay in Sweden, specifying the applicant's personal identity number, name and contact details of the applicant,
2. a copy of the foreign driving license (if the driving license is not issued in English, German, French, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish, it is also necessary to attach a certified translation of the driving licence), and
3. a contract of employment from the international organisation in Sweden, which should specify the length of the intended posting Sweden.

Applications for exceptions should be sent to Transportstyrelsen, 701 97 Örebro.

Further information on driving licences, including on how to exchange a driving licence from an EEA country or how to obtain a Swedish driving licence is available on the Swedish Transport Agency website.

Driving licences - Swedish Transport Agency - external website,

Questions relating to driving licences in Sweden may also be directed to the Swedish Transport Agency via the following telephone number: 0771-81 81 81.

16.3.4 Traffic rules

The driver of a motor vehicle is expected to follow all Swedish traffic rules. The same applies to mission staff in accordance with the Vienna Conventions. Below are a few examples of traffic rules to follow.

Seat belts and child seats

The driver of a motor vehicle, and all passengers, must use seat belts at all times when driving.

All children with a height below 135 cm should use an appropriate child safety seat. Until the child as reached four years of age, they should be transported in a rear-facing child safety seat. If a child safety seat is used in the front seat, the air bag must be deactivated. Make sure that the child safety seat is valid in the EU according to EU directives and ECE regulation 44-03, or the latest version.

More information on car safety for children is available on the Swedish Transport Agency website.

Swedish Transport Agency - external website,

Parking rules

Diplomatic missions are expected to follow parking rules and pay for any parking tickets received. More information on parking tickets can be found on the Swedish Transport Agency website. 

Swedish Transport Agency website - external website,

Speeding

See section 11.2 Speed violations.

Drunk driving

See section 11.1 Consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol, medicines or drugs .

16.3.5 Winter tyres

From 1 December to 31 March special requirements apply regarding which type of tyre certain vehicles must have when there are wintry conditions on the road. Studded tyres are permitted on Swedish roads between 1 October and 15 April. It should be noted that motor vehicles with studded tyres are not permitted on certain streets in Stockholm, e.g. Kungsgatan, Hornsgatan and Fleminggatan.

Further information on winter tyres can be found on the Swedish Transport Agency website.

Swedish Transport Agency website - external website,