Sweden has a good public transport system, but when travelling to the countryside and the wild coast, it's definitely more convenient to travel by car. Buses to the mountains and national parks either don't run at all or the timetable is tailored to schools and commuting.
Sweden has right-hand traffic.
How and where to book a car in Sweden
Most multinational car rental companies operate in the country, and all local airports have scheduled services.
In Sweden, it doesn't make much difference whether you book a car 14 days or 5 months before your trip, depending mainly on the season. Rental prices in summer tend to be up to 50% higher than in winter, especially at the smaller airports in the mountains of northern Sweden.
To book, we recommend using the comparison engine of most car rental companies, which will sort the results according to your chosen criteria:
Travellers have good experiences with Europcar, Budget or Sixt, for example.
Car rental prices in Sweden
Car rental in Sweden is not expensive and is one of the cheapest in Europe.
The price depends on the length of the rental (the longer the longer, the cheaper the daily rental price) as well as the season and especially the location of the rental. Usually, the smaller the airport, the higher the prices are (due to little competition).
Examples of prices are given below.
- Weekly rental (small car) in Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö: from 180 eur
- Weekly rental (small car) at Kiruna or Östersund airport: from 390 eur
- Weekly rental (4x4 SUV) at Kiruna or Östersund Airport: from 450 eur
There are several international or tourist airports in Sweden where car rental is most popular.
- Book a car at Arlanda Airport (ARN)
- Book a car at Gothenburg Airport (GOT)
- Book a car at Malmö Airport (MMX)
- Book a car at Kiruna airport (KRN)
- Book a car at Östersund Airport (OSD)
- Book a car at Sälen (SCR)
Always read the rental conditions and especially the insurance conditions in detail. Some rental companies include insurance in the final price, elsewhere you will have to pay extra, between 5 eur and 10 eur per day depending on the type of car and length of the rental.
International driving licence and other documents
Sweden is part of the European Union, so there is no need for an international driving licence. The rental company will also accept a national driving licence from any EU country.
Car rental companies usually require a credit card to rent a car, but will often lend you a debit card, but either on less favourable terms or with a very high deposit, often in excess of 1 000 eur.
An international driving licence is only required for non-EU travellers.
Petrol prices
Petrol and dieselprices in Sweden are above the European average.
On average, you will pay about 17,50 sek to 20 sek per litre of petrol , but prices change frequently. You can find out the current price of petrol, for example, on the website: fuel-prices.eu/Sweden.
There is a good density of petrol stations and you can find petrol stations in every major town and even in the countryside.
If you rent an electric car, there is no need to worry. There are significantly more charging points for electric cars in Sweden than conventional petrol stations, and they are often located in really small towns far from civilisation.
How do petrol stations work in Sweden?
Petrol stations in Sweden are self-service and operate in the same way as in continental Europe.
First you pump your own petrol and then pay inside the store or, more often, with a card and a self-service terminal right at the pump.
Toll and motorway charges
All motorways and roads are free in Sweden. The exception is the toll on the three bridges.
A special toll is also charged for entering central Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Detailed information on tolls can be found on the official website of the Swedish Transport Agency: transportstyrelsen.se/road-tolls.
Bridge tolls
A toll is charged for crossing three bridges within Sweden and also for crossing the Öresund Bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden.
- Sundsvallbron - the bypass of Sundsvall runs over a toll bridge. The bridge can easily be bypassed through the centre of Sundsvall (about 20 minutes extra).
- 9 sek - Cars up to 3.5 tonnes
- 20 sek - cars and caravans over 3.5 tonnes
- Motalabron - the bypass of Motala town centre in central Sweden can be bypassed via the town centre (+ 15 minutes extra)
- 5 sek - cars up to 3.5 tonnes
- 11 sek - cars over 3.5 tonnes
- Skurubron - bridge in the east of Stockholm towards Värmdö, no way around
- 4 sek - all cars
Øresundsbron bridge
The famous Öresund Bridge combined with an underwater tunnel connects Copenhagen with the Swedish city of Malmö. You have to pay a toll when travelling here by car.
For up-to-date information, visit the official website of the bridge operator: oresundsbron.com
Detailed information can be found in the How to get here chapter.
Congestion charge - Stockholm and Gothenburg
The entrance to the centres of Sweden's two largest cities is sensed by toll gates and the exact amount paid to get in varies according to the time of day.
- Gothenburg - from 9 sek to 22 sek
- Stockholm - from 15 sek to 45 sek
How is the toll paid?
If you rent a car from a rental company, you don't have to worry about anything. Tolls on bridges and in the centres of Stockholm and Gothenburg work by reading the number plate. You don't stop anywhere and you don't physically pay anything.
The toll is either budgeted into the total rental price, or you receive a final bill from the rental company at the end of the month, which includes the toll you have paid along with the rental.
If you're heading to Sweden with your own car, you'll need to register with EPASS24, which will show the total amount you've paid at the end of the month.
Traffic and traffic regulations
In Sweden, driving is on the right and the metric system is used. All speeds are in kilometres per hour and distances in kilometres.
The rules here are very similar to other European countries, so there's no need to prepare for any tricky things.
What are the speed limits?
The following speed limits apply in Sweden:
- 50 km/h in the village, but in many places the speed is reduced to 30 km/h.
- Outside the municipality on normal roads - 70 km/h (in many places it is raised to 90 km/h or even 100 km/h by a sign)
- Highways - 110 km/h (may be raised to 120 km/h by a sign)
Driving priority
Vehicles travelling from the right have the right of way at unmarked junctions.
Public transport buses always have the right of way when leaving a bus stop if the speed limit is 50 km/h or less at that location.
Pedestrians always have the right of way over motor vehicles at crossings.
Roundabouts
Roundabouts are common in Swedish cities. A vehicle driving on a roundabout has the right of way over a car entering the roundabout.
If the roundabout has two lanes (which is very common), the vehicle in the inner lane always has the right of way over the vehicle in the outer lane.
At a roundabout you are obliged to use your indicators as follows:
- If you are leaving the roundabout by the first exit, you flash your right before entering the roundabout.
- If you are leaving by the second exit (i.e. de facto going straight on at the junction), you only flash right from about the level of the first exit.
- If you take the third (last exit), you will flash left before entering the roundabout. Only at the level of the penultimate exit do you start flashing right.
Other rules
- Alcohol - tolerated up to 0.10 per mille
- Telephoning - driving is strictly prohibited and is often subject to police checks. It is only allowed if using hands-free.
- Lights - are mandatory throughout the day (daytime in low visibility, nighttime in low visibility)
- Traffic lights - it is not permitted to turn right on red unless the additional green arrow is illuminated
Swedish drivers are very considerate and careful to obey the rules. Even with the high fines and frequent radar measurements, it is not worth breaking the rules in Sweden.
Road quality and driving in winter
The main roads are mostly in excellent condition with no major potholes. Signs are well maintained.
Many rural roads, especially in the mountains and the north of the country, are gravel only.
Driving in Sweden during the winter has specific features. Due to the often very low temperatures and nature conservation, gritting salt is only used on motorways and on the main routes, especially in the south of the country.
Otherwise, roads are only treated by ploughing. So expect to drive on packed snow in Sweden during the winter. Winter tyres are compulsory when snow falls.