Vehicle inspections

In Sweden, it is required to have your vehicle inspected on a regular basis. These inspections are done in order to reduce accidents caused by technical faults, to reduce pollution and to ensure that vehicles do not produce more noise or exhaust gases than is permitted.

Cars and light trucks are to be inspected:

For the first time, no later than 36 months after the month in which the vehicle was first licensed for use.
For the second time, no later than 24 months after the month of the first inspection.
Thereafter, no later than 14 months after the month of the most recent inspection.

Examples

A car that was first licensed for use in May 2022 must undergo its first inspection no later than May 31, 2025.
A car that underwent its first inspection in September 2022 must undergo its second inspection no later than September 30, 2024.
A car that is to be inspected every 14 months, and which was most recently inspected in June 2022, must be inspected again no later than August 31, 2023.

You are responsible for ensuring that your vehicle is inspected in time. If you do not receive an offer from a vehicle inspection company, you must book an inspection yourself.

If you do not inspect your vehicle in time, an automatic driving ban comes into effect. The vehicle may then only be driven the shortest suitable route to a workshop for repair, or to an inspection company for inspection. The driving ban is only lifted after the inspection has been completed.

Faults pointed out during the inspection must be fixed as soon as possible. This also includes faults that do not require an additional inspection. The vehicle may not be used more than necessary for the faults to be fixed.

You are required to have your vehicle inspected on a regular basis

Flying inspections

A flying inspection is when a vehicle is stopped and inspected on the spot, for example to assess its condition and ensure that it meets legal requirements. Flying inspections may be carried out by police officers or vehicle inspectors who have been appointed by Polismyndigheten (the Swedish Police Authority).

If an inspection shows that a vehicle has serious faults and poses a danger to traffic safety, it may be issued with a driving ban and must be towed. Less serious faults may instead need to be fixed within a certain period of time.

Former vehicle inspection rules

Previously, the last digit of a vehicle's registration number governed when it was to be inspected. These rules were changed on May 20, 2018 to the current system.

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