Car Hire in Sweden
A short guide to Driving in Sweden and Car Hire in Sweden.
Are you going on holiday to Sweden? To see as much as possible and to get the most out of Sweden, the best way of transport is certainly by car. But of course you will have to abide by Sweden's law of driving. Below you will find some useful information about driving in Sweden.
Documents you need when driving in Sweden
To drive a foreign registered car legally in Sweden you must have the following documents with you, which are your current full driving licence, valid insurance certificate a minimum Third Party cover, Green Card is highly recommended. Failure to produce these documents on request to the authorities will result in on-the-spot cash fine.
Special rules you must follow
When driving in Sweden all vehicles must carry a warning triangle, it is also recommended to carry a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in all vehicles. The police are able to issue and collect 'on the spot fines' for not obeying these rules. For all passengers it is compulsory to wear both front and rear seatbelts.
Minimum age
The minimum age of a driver in Sweden is 18 years. Children under 12 years of age and must not be seated in the front of a vehicle.
Parking
Parking in Sweden is similar to Britain with car parks and parking meters. Always park your car on the right-hand side of the road. If parking your vehicle on the street overnight, remember to check the signs to be sure you are not parking on a street that is to be cleaned that night. A yellow sign with a red line across the bottom means that parking is somehow restricted in the vicinity. In Sweden there are incredibly high fines for parking illegally.
A few basic rules
In Sweden, they drive on the right hand side and overtake on the left, pay full attention especially at roundabouts. It is not necessary to report every accident to the police, although if someone is injured you must report it. The use of the horn is restricted to emergencies only. You must use your dipped headlights all the time 24 hours a day. Your driving licence should be carried at all times. Snow chains/tyres may be required in winter. Be aware of moose and deer in the countryside. Always give way to pedestrians on crossings.
Speed limits
Near schools where posted: 30 kph (18 mph)
Built-up areas: 50 kph (31 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 70 kph (44 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 90 kph (56 mph)
Motorways around towns: 70 kph (44 mph)
Motorways: 110 kph (68 mph)
Bus
There is an express coach service and local buses, which are run by Linjebuss where there are cheap and efficient links, are available to all towns. There are many special offers available from the coach operators on tickets on weekends from Friday to Sunday.
Taxi
Taxis are available in all towns and at airports. There are also intercity taxis available. Taxis are widely available where large taxi companies are cheaper than independents.
Urban
Public transport is efficient and very good. In the capital Stockholm there are bus, trams, metro and local rail services. Multi-tickets and passes are pre-purchase are sold, single tickets can also be obtained on the buses. In several of the main cities in Sweden, particularly Stockholm, there are boat excursions and services
Travel times
The following chart below gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Stockholm to other major cities/towns in Sweden.
Road
Gothenburg 6.00
Malmö 8.00
Östersund 8.00
Karlstad 5.00
Luleå 20.00
Mora 6.00
Driving in Sweden will be a pleasurable experience as long as you remember you are in their country and abide by their laws. Please remember it is not a good enough excuse to plead ignorance, as you are a foreigner, you are the driver and it's your responsibility to know the law.