How do you check if a car has debts before buying it in Sweden?
How to check debts that are tied to a car before you pay.
Short answer
Ask the seller to show you the car's debts in Transportstyrelsen's service Fordonets skulder, because unpaid vehicle debts can follow the car to a new owner. You can also call Transportstyrelsen on 0771-14 15 16 and say ägaruppgifter, at any hour. If a debt has gone to Kronofogden, call them on 0771-73 73 00.
Why
- Transportstyrelsen says the person registered as owner when a tax or fee was decided is the one who must pay, and that this does not change if the vehicle changes owner.
- Kronofogden says it can take a vehicle if there are vehicle-related debts, even if the buyer did not cause them, and the rule covers debts decided after 1 July 2014.
- Transportstyrelsen says its service shows congestion tax, vehicle tax, parking fines and infrastructure charges, and that neither it nor Kronofogden can give a fully up-to-date picture.
Details
The seller logs in to Fordonets skulder with the vehicle's behörighetskod or an e-ID and can show you the result. Transportstyrelsen notes that a congestion tax decision comes the month after the passages and a parking fine can take about a week to register, so a clean result does not rule out new debts. Konsumentverket also advises you to check for debts and, when you buy from a private seller, to confirm with Transportstyrelsen that the seller owns the car. For more on fines see parking and fines in Sweden, and for the wider buying process see driving and traffic rules in Sweden.
Tip
Ask to see the result before you pay, and if a debt has already gone to Kronofogden, ask Kronofogden for the full amount, because it adds a fee per case.
What may differ
Transportstyrelsen's SMS service on 71640 can also show markers such as leasing or credit purchase (kreditköp) next to the owner details, which are worth asking about before you buy.
Common misconception
A debt belongs only to the person who caused it, so a buyer cannot be affected.
What actually happens
Transportstyrelsen warns that a new owner can end up with Kronofogden taking the vehicle even though the previous owner is the one who owes the debt.
People also ask
- How can I check if a car has debts in Sweden?
- How do I check a car's loan or lien before buying?
Sources
- Transportstyrelsen: Vehicle-related debtsChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Checking unpaid vehicle-related debtsChecked at:
- Kronofogden: What happens if I buy a vehicle with unpaid debts?Checked at:
- Kronofogden: How do I check for debts linked to a car?Checked at:
- Konsumentverket: Our best tips when buying a carChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Transportstyrelsen and Kronofogden before you buy.
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