Destinations / Sweden
Driving in Sweden as a visitor
Usually yes. Sweden expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Sweden expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| 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 | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| 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?
Usually yes. Sweden expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Sweden accept?
Sweden recognises the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Sweden ask for one?
Stockholm desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.