The road to your licence

No more than two months before you apply for a learner's permit, you must take an eye test (vision screening) at a licensed optician or licensed traffic school.

You must have a visual acuity of at least 0.5. If you require glasses or contact lenses to reach that level, you must use them when driving.

It is the person conducting the eye test who reports your eye test certificate to Transportstyrelsen.

Whether you are going to practice driving privately or at a traffic school, you must apply for a learner's permit. The learner's permit is issued by Transportstyrelsen and is valid for five years.

You apply for a learner's permit via Transportstyrelsen's E-service. Unfortunately, it is only available in Swedish. When applying, Transportstyrelsen assesses your suitability as a driver by checking different registers. You will also be asked to complete a declaration of health. It is also only available in Swedish, but you can find an English translation here.

Go to the E-service

If you are going to practice driving privately, you must first undergo an introductory course. If your instructor, that is, the person you are going to practice with, has not already completed the introductory course in the last five years, he or she must also do so.

An instructor must be at least 24 years old and must have a driver's licence for the vehicle you are going to practice driving with. The instructor must have held a driver's licence for at least five of the previous ten years. Their licence must not have been revoked for more than three months in the last three years. The instructor must also not have had alcohol interlock conditions on their licence within the past three years.

If you are only going to practice driving at a traffic school you do not need to undergo an introductory course.

You can undergo the introductory course from the age of 15 years and 9 months. The introductory course is valid for five years from the day it was completed (for both student and instructor).

The introductory course is at least three hours and contains three parts:

• The aims, content and regulations regarding driver education.
• How to plan and structure driver education.
• Important traffic safety and environmental factors.
  

During the course you will also receive information about the instructor's responsibility, how the theory test and practical driving tests work and how you are assessed.

The price of the introductory course varies as it is set by the educator, but usually ranges between 300-400 kr per participant.

Find an approved educator (in "Tillståndstyp, choose "Introduktionsutbildare")

After the course, the educator registers that you, and possibly your instructor, have completed the training directly to Transportstyrelsen. Thereafter, your instructor can apply for approval online.

Apply to become an instructor

To gain full access to everything you need to pass the theory test, you should become a member of iKörkort.nu. Membership gives you access to our full database of 1,400 theory questions, our game platform The License Game, five different types of tests, detailed test statistics and much more!

All content on iKörkort.nu is the same as in our award-winning app iKörkort, which has received over 5,000 five-star ratings on the App Store and Google Play.

Content and features

• 1,400 theory questions with pictures and videos of real traffic situations.
• Explanations to all questions that will quickly help you understand even the most difficult questions.
• Five different types of test: smart practice tests, road signs tests, topic tests, theory tests and your own custom tests where you choose all the settings yourself.
• Educational marking and results that link every question to the driver's license theory.
• Test statistics that track your progress and show which topics you need to practice on.
• Ability to pause and resume tests as well as review all completed tests and saved questions.
• Game mode that makes driver's licence study easier and more fun.
• Compete against other users, earn rewards and win prizes.
• Easy-to-read driver's licence theory with lots of pictures and examples and the option to test your knowledge after each chapter.
• Smart checklist that guides you through all the steps you need to complete to get your driver's licence.
• Searchable encyclopedia of all Swedish road signs.
• Ability to switch between Swedish and English.
• Works on all types of devices and screen sizes.
• Fast customer support.
• No automatic renewal.
• No ads.

Use the code IKÖRKORT15 when you create an account to get a 15% discount on all subscriptions!

Read more about membership here.

The sooner you start studying theory, the better prepared you will be when it's time to take the real test. If you have the chance, you should mix study with driving practice. This will make you acquire new knowledge as quickly and efficiently as possible.

As a member of iKörkort.nu you can study the theory in a very structured and effective way by playing The Licence Game. It is fun and will teach you everything you need to learn to pass the theory test!

If you prefer to study in your own way, you can create your own study plan instead.

Start by reading

If you are going to study with iKörkort.nu in your own way we recommend that you start by reading the driver's licence theory on our website. It is easy to read, educationally structured and contains all the knowledge you need to pass the theory test.

Test your knowledge

When you feel ready, it is time to start testing your knowledge by taking tests. You can choose between taking smart practice tests, road signs tests, topic tests, theory tests that are designed in the same way as the real test. You can also create your own custom tests where you choose all the test settings yourself.

Practice tests adapt to your knowledge level and are perfect when you just want to take a few quick tests without any time pressure. Practice tests contain 20 questions that are corrected continuously, so that you can immediately see if you have answered correctly or incorrectly. After you have answered a question, an easy-to-understand explanation is presented below the question.

Custom tests are designed to help you repeat or practice topics and questions that you find difficult. For example, you can create a test with only the question categories that you want to practice on. You can also create a test that only contains questions that you have previously answered incorrectly or have saved yourself.

Theory tests are designed to simulate the real theory test. They contain the same amount and type of questions as the real theory test and are about as difficult.

Deepen your knowledge

After every test you have the opportunity to go through your answers and read an easy-to-understand explanation for each question. In addition, most explanations are linked to a relevant part of the driver's licence theory. By reading more about what you find difficult, you will quickly gain a much deeper understanding of the theory and all traffic rules.

In the test statistics, you can see which categories and individual topics you need to practice more on. By clicking on a topic, you can choose to either read more about it or to start a test with questions on the topic.

When you have learned enough to regularly pass the theory test on iKörkort.nu, you are most likely ready to take the real theory test!

When it is time to start to practice driving, you have to decide whether you want to do it privately or at a traffic school. For the vast majority, the best and most effective way is to combine a lot of private practice driving with lessons at a traffic school.

Set out a strategy

Before you start to practice driving, you should set out a clear strategy and have clearly formulated goals. Decide when you want to get your driver's licence, how you are going to succeed, how much you can and want to practice driving privately and at a traffic school as well as how much everything can cost.

With a strategy and a clear goal, it is easier to stay motivated and your chances of getting your driver's licence increase!

Avoid learning incorrectly

If you have the chance, you should take some driving lessons at a traffic school early in your driving education. Preferably as soon as you can manoeuvre the car without stalling the engine.

By taking a few lessons early, you will learn the most important basics correctly and reduce the risk of learning incorrectly from the start.

How many hours of practice driving are required?

To increase the chances of passing the driving test you should start to practice driving early – both privately and at a traffic school – and distribute your driving lessons evenly throughout your entire educational period.

On average, those who pass the driving test have practiced driving for more than 70 hours (13 hours at a traffic school and 60 hours privately). On average, those who pass the driving test after only practicing privately spend 3.5 times as much time on practicing as those who have only practiced at a traffic school.

Keep in mind that the most important thing is not how much you practice, but in what way you practice. It is not always those who have had the most practice who perform the best on the practical driving test.

Curriculum

All traffic schools are obligated to follow Transportstyrelsen's curriculum. The curriculum states the direction and objectives of the B class driver education. If you are going to practice driving privately a lot, both you and your instructor should read the curriculum and base your education on it. Unfortunately, the curriculum is only available in Swedish.

Read the curriculum

The instructor is considered the driver

During all practice driving, the instructor is considered the driver. This means that the instructor is responsible for everything the student does. Car insurance therefore applies in the same way as when someone who has a driver's licence drives the car.

Practice driving sign

Find an approved educator (in "Tillståndstyp", choose "Riskutbildare - B1 (Personbil teori)"; and "Riskutbildare - B2 (Personbil praktik)")

The compulsory risk course has two parts, which must be completed and valid when you take your theory and practical driving test. You should book both parts of the risk course before you book the driving test, so that you have enough time to complete them.

Part 1

Part 1 of the risk course is theoretical – no driving is required – which means that you can carry it out at any time before the driving test. The course must be at least 3 hours long and usually costs about 500-800 kr.

Part 2

Part 2 of the risk course is practical and places tough requirements on your driving experience and understanding of various traffic situations. This means that you should carry it out when you are fairly close to taking your driving test. The course is usually 3-4 hours long and costs about 1,800-2,200 kr.

Valid for 5 years

A completed risk course is valid for five years. However, the validity period will expire on the same day that your driver's licence is issued. This means that if your driver's licence is revoked and you have to pass the driving test once more, you also have to complete the risk course again.

If you are attending a traffic school, the school will book the risk course for you. If you are practising privately, you must book the risk course yourself.

Find an approved educator (in "Tillståndstyp", choose "Riskutbildare - B1 (Personbil teori)"; and "Riskutbildare - B2 (Personbil praktik)")

The driving test consists of two parts: a theory test and a practical driving test.

You have to pass the theory test before you are allowed to take the practical driving test. A passed theory test is valid for four months. This means that you must pass the driving test within six months to receive your licence. Otherwise, you will have to retake both tests.

The fee for a theory test is 325 kr. On weekends and after 18:00 on weekdays, the fee is 400 kr.

The fee for a practical driving test is 800 kr. On weekends and after 18:00 on weekdays, the fee is 1,040 kr.

If you are attending a traffic school, the school will book the tests for you. If you are practising privately, you must book the tests yourself.

If you want to you may book both tests at the same time. But you have to pass the theory test before you are allowed to take the practical driving test.

Book your test

Part 1 of the risk course is theoretical – no driving is required.

The purpose of the first part of the risk course is to increase your awareness of dangerous behaviours and attitudes in traffic and to give you insights and knowledge that will help you become a more responsible driver.

The first part of the risk course mainly focuses on how alcohol, drugs and fatigue affect your driving ability. But the course also addresses how stress, passengers and mobile phones can affect you and make you a worse, or even dangerous, driver.

To pass the course, you must attend and actively participate in the discussions. You must also be able to provide a valid form of identification in order for your participation to be registered with Transportstyrelsen.

The purpose of the second part of the risk course (often called halkbanan) is to teach you how to handle risky situations, primarily on slippery road conditions, and to make you understand and respect the risks of driving as well as the car's, and your own, limitations.

The course layout may vary slightly depending on where you take the course. But it is usually organized in the following way:

• Alcohol testing and identification
• Introduction, purpose and goals of the exercises
• Practical exercises:
  • Evasive manoeuvre in slippery road conditions
  • Braking in slippery road conditions
  • Hard braking until full stop on asphalt
  • Hard braking until full stop in slippery road conditions
  • Acceleration and skid in slippery road conditions
• Concluding discussion and reflection

To pass the course, you must follow the instructor's instructions and actively participate throughout the course. You must also be able to handle the car properly and in a safe manner. If you are unable to do so, you might have to redo the course at a later date.

You must bring a valid form of identification in order for your participation to be registered with Transportstyrelsen.

The theory test determines whether you have the knowledge required to be a safe and environmentally conscious driver. You have to pass the theory test before you are allowed to take the practical driving test.

Preparations

You perform much better after a good night's sleep. In other words, do not stay up the night before to study – if you have studied properly and feel confident in your knowledge of the driver's licence theory, getting a good night's sleep is much more important than studying road signs and traffic rules for a few more hours.

Knowledge requirements

The test assesses your knowledge within five areas:

• Vehicle knowledge and manoeuvring
• Environment
• Traffic safety
• Traffic rules
• Individual conditions

How the test works

• You must bring a valid identity document with a photo.
• Before the test, you must pledge to not use any unauthorized aids or otherwise cheat on the test.
• Before the test, you will be shown a video that describes how the test is carried out.
• The test is taken on a computer.
• You may borrow a calculator (but you may not bring your own).
• The test is available in over 10 languages.
• You can choose to listen to the questions read in Swedish.
• You can apply to take the test verbally, to get additional test time or to take it with an interpreter or a sign language interpreter
• The test time is 50 minutes. This means that you have just under 43 seconds per question.
• The test consists of 65 questions (plus five trial questions, which are not included in the final result).
• You need to answer 52 of the 65 questions correctly to pass the test. In other words, you need to score 80% to pass the test.
• Your result is shown on the screen immediately after the test.
• Your result is also sent to your email address.

During the test

When taking the test, it is important to read each question and all the options carefully. The options can be very similar, so it is therefore important that you truly understand the question before answering.

Do not stress, but try to not get stuck on any question for too long either. After all, you only have 43 seconds per question, on average, and you have to answer all questions before the time runs out. If you get stuck on a question, it is better to mark it and return to it later, once you have answered the other questions.

If there is time left when you have answered all the questions, you should review the questions again to ensure that you have not misunderstood something or have chosen the wrong option by mistake.

Pass/Fail

If you pass the theory test, you have six months to pass the practical driving test.

If you fail the theory test you have to book a new test and try again. It is important that you study more before taking the next test.

If you have already booked a practical driving test you have to cancel or reschedule the test at least 24 hours before the test. If you cancel or reschedule too late, you will still have to pay the test fee.

Read more

In the driver's license theory on iKörkort.nu you can read about the content of the theory test in more detail.

When you take your practical test, you must show that you can manoeuvre the vehicle in traffic and that you can drive safely, with consideration and in an eco-friendly way. The practical test assesses whether you have the necessary skills to be able to drive in traffic.

Vehicle requirements

The practical driving test must be carried out with a suitable private car or light truck. For example, the car must be equipped with dual controls for braking and an extra rear view mirror for the front seat passenger.

If you are registered for the test through a traffic school, the school's car is usually used. If you are registered privately, you may use one of Transportstyrelsen's cars for a fee of 400 kr.

Assessment

The examiner will base their overall judgement of your driving on five skills areas:

• Vehicle knowledge
• Manoeuvring
• Environment and economical driving
• Traffic rules
• Traffic safety and behaviour

The examiner will inform you directly after the test if you have passed and will send the results to Transportstyrelsen.

Pass/Fail

If you pass the practical driving test you will be informed that your driver's licence has been issued.

If you fail the practical driving test, the examiner tells you why the test was not approved and what you did wrong. You also get the test protocol sent to your email address.

If there is any time left before the theory test's six-month period of validity expires you may book a new practical driving test and try again. It is important that you study more before taking the next test.

Read more

In the driver's license theory on iKörkort.nu you can read more about the different parts of the driving test, what the tests assess, how you should prepare and what is most important to think about when taking the test.

Shortly after you have passed the practical driving test, your licence will be sent to your nearest postal agent. You must collect the licence yourself within two weeks and you must present valid identification when you collect it.

Until you have collected your licence, you must always carry valid identification when you drive. The right to drive with regular identification applies for a maximum of two months.