Destinations / Sweden
Driving in Sweden as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Sweden drives on the right with daytime headlights mandatory year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and the alcohol limit is among Europe's lowest.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Sweden expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 120 km/h motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in SEK. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Lights | Daytime headlights mandatory at all times. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.02% alcohol limit: near zero. |
| Tyres | Winter tyres mandatory Dec–Mar. |
| City zones | Congestion tax in Stockholm and Gothenburg. |
On the road in Sweden
At the pump
Petrol (95) runs around EUR 1.59/litre and diesel about EUR 1.85/litre; stations are overwhelmingly self-serve and card-operated, with many unmanned pumps that may not accept all foreign cards.
After a crash
Call 112 for injuries; exchange details and complete a European Accident Statement for minor crashes, and report to police if there are injuries, disputed fault, or damage to public property or wildlife (a duty to report animal collisions applies).
Sources: transportstyrelsen.se · transportstyrelsen.se · polisen.se · fuel-prices.eu
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Sweden?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Sweden drives on the right with daytime headlights mandatory year-round; non-EU visitors should carry an IDP, and the alcohol limit is among Europe's lowest.
Which translation format is used for Sweden?
Sweden uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Sweden ask for a translation?
Stockholm desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Sweden?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.