Getting started

Before you can start practising driving, you must apply for and receive a learner's permit (körkortstillstånd). The learner's permit is issued by Transportstyrelsen and is valid for five years.

You must be 16 years old to practice driving with a private car. If you are going to practice driving a car with a coupled trailer or with a light truck, you must be at least 17 years and 6 months old.

You must have turned 16 and have a valid learner's permit to practice driving a private car

If you are going to practice driving privately, you must have an approved instructor. An instructor must be at least 24 years old and hold a valid driving licence for the category you are practising for. When practising for category B, the supervisor must therefore hold a B class licence.

The supervisor must meet Transportstyrelsen's requirements in order to be approved. Among other things, the instructor must have held the appropriate driving licence category for the type of vehicle you will be practising with for a total of at least five of the last ten years.

All private practice driving must be done with an approved instructor

To obtain a B class driver's licence, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You have a valid learner's permit.
2. You are a permanent resident of Sweden, or have studied here for at least six months.
3. You are at least 18 years old.
4. You have taken the risk course and both parts are valid.
5. You have passed the driving tests (theory and practical).
6. You do not have a driver's licence from another EEA country. If you already have one, it can be exchanged for a Swedish licence.

B class driver's licence

When you obtain a category B driver's licence, you normally begin a two-year probationary period. This also applies if you have previously held an AM licence.

The probationary period does not mean that you are penalised more harshly or more leniently if you commit a traffic offence. However, it becomes important if your driver's licence is revoked.

If your driver's licence is revoked during the probationary period, you must normally retake the driving test, meaning both the theory test and the practical driving test, before a new licence can be issued.

When you get a B class licence, you normally have a two-year probationary period

You must renew your B class driver's licence every ten years. This is only an administrative renewal, so you do not need to retake either the theory test or the driving test. When it is time to renew your licence, Transportstyrelsen automatically sends an application form to your registered address.

You should always have your licence with you when driving. If you are taking your car abroad, you must also bring Part 1 (the blue part) of both the car and any trailer's registration certificate.

With a B class licence, you may drive:

• Private cars and light trucks with a total weight of no more than 3,500 kg (with a light trailer)
• Mopeds class 1 and 2
• Tractors class a and b
• Motorised equipment class 1 and 2
• Off-road motor vehicles
• Three and four-wheeled motorcycles*

* To drive a three-wheeled motorcycle over 15 kW, you must be at least 21 years old.

If you have a licence limited to automatic transmissions you may not drive cars with a manual transmission. If you have a standard B class driver's licence, you may drive cars with either manual or automatic transmissions.

Some people choose to get a driver's licence limited to automatic transmissions. Remember that such a licence does not entitle you to drive cars with manual transmissions

Revoked driver's licence

If you drive too fast or commit another traffic offence, you risk receiving a fine and having your driver's licence revoked.

If your driver's licence is revoked, you must not drive any vehicle that requires a driver's licence during the disqualification period, that is, the period for which your licence is revoked. What you need to do to obtain a new driver's licence depends, among other things, on why your licence was revoked, how long the disqualification period is and whether you are still within your probationary period.

If the disqualification period is one year or less and your licence has, for example, been revoked for speeding or driving through a red light, Transportstyrelsen can normally issue a new driver's licence without you having to take a new driving test.

If the disqualification period is longer than one year, you must retake the driving test, meaning both the theory test and the practical driving test, before a new driver's licence can be issued. You must also complete the risk course again.

In some cases, you must also apply for a new driver's licence permit. This applies, among other things, if your licence has been revoked because of drink-driving, aggravated reckless driving or another serious offence other than a traffic offence.

If you commit an offence during your probationary period that results in your driver's licence being revoked, you need a new driver's licence permit and must retake the driving test before you can obtain a new driver's licence. You must also complete the risk course again.

If your driver's licence is revoked with a disqualification period of more than one year, or because of an offence committed during your probationary period, you must retake the driving test before you can obtain a new driver's licence

Traffic offences that can lead to a revoked driver's licence

• Ignoring a stop sign.
• Driving through a red light.
• Overtaking at a pedestrian crossing.
• Driving dangerously or recklessly.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Driving more than 30 km/h above the speed limit*.
• Leaving the scene of an accident you have been involved in.
• Repeated traffic offences.

* On roads where the speed limit is 30 km/h or lower, there is a high risk that your driver's licence will be revoked if you drive more than 20 km/h above the limit.

It is not only traffic offences that can cause you to lose your driver's licence. Other serious offences, such as aggravated assault and serious drug offences, can also result in your driver's licence being revoked.

Fines

Not all traffic offences lead to a revoked driver's licence. Many instead result in a fine. However, it is important to understand that even minor offences can have consequences, especially if they are repeated.

Examples of traffic offences that can lead to fines:

• Not wearing a seat belt.
• Not indicating when turning.
• Crossing a solid line.
• Driving in the wrong lane.
• Driving without lights in darkness or poor visibility.
• Driving with an unreadable registration plate.
• Driving an untaxed vehicle.
• Driving with insufficient tyre tread depth.

Even less serious offences can lead to a revoked driver's licence, especially if they are repeated.

Speeding can lead to both heavy fines and a revoked driver's licence