Will you pay congestion tax if you rent a car in Stockholm?
Who is invoiced and what rental companies may charge.
Short answer
Yes, congestion tax applies to rental cars in Stockholm, and the invoice goes to the vehicle owner, so the rental company may charge the cost to you. Hertz, for example, says in its Swedish terms that it invoices the actual congestion tax and infrastructure charges for the rental period.
Why
- The Swedish Transport Agency lists only certain vehicles as automatically exempt, such as motorcycles, diplomatic, military and emergency vehicles and buses of at least 14 tonnes, and rental cars are not on the list.
- An invoice is sent to the vehicle owner, according to the Swedish Transport Agency.
- If you drive a rental car, the rental company may charge you a fee, according to Visit Sweden.
Details
Hertz's country-specific terms for Sweden say the company invoices the actual congestion tax and infrastructure charges for the rental period and may add an administrative fee. The document shows no date, so check the current terms with your rental company. In a related question about replacement cars, the Swedish Tax Agency says to start by checking with the rental firm whether congestion tax is included in the hire price. For renting a car in the city, see car rental in Stockholm, and for the tax itself see the congestion tax basics.
Tip
Ask the rental company before you drive off whether congestion tax and bridge charges are billed to you and how, and note the pick-up and return times, because the charges relate to the rental period.
What may differ
A foreign-registered rental car is invoiced through the notification partner via EPASS24, because the tax covers both Swedish and foreign-registered vehicles.
Common misconception
Rental cars do not pay congestion tax.
What actually happens
Rental cars are not on the Swedish Transport Agency's list of automatically exempt vehicles, and Visit Sweden says the rental company may charge you a fee.
People also ask
- Do I pay congestion tax in a rental car in Stockholm?
- Who pays trängselskatt for a hire car?
Sources
- Swedish Transport Agency: Exemptions from congestion taxChecked at:
- Swedish Transport Agency: Congestion tax paymentChecked at:
- Visit Sweden: Sweden's congestion taxes and bridge tollsChecked at:
- Hertz: Country-specific terms, SwedenChecked at:
- Swedish Tax Agency: Replacement hire car and congestion taxChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the Swedish Transport Agency and your rental company before you drive.
Car rental in StockholmRelated questions
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How often does a car need inspection in Sweden?
A passenger car is inspected first within 36 months of the month it was put into traffic.
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Can you take a Swedish rental car to Denmark or Norway?
Sixt says its rental cars may be taken from Sweden to Denmark, Finland and Norway, while Hertz and Avis require written permission before you drive outside Sweden.
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Do you need a credit card to rent a car in Sweden?
Hertz accepts debit cards, but a renter paying with one must also show a credit card at pickup, so a credit card is the safe choice.
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Where can you find EV charging stations in Stockholm?
You find EV chargers in Stockholm with apps and maps such as ChargeFinder and PlugShare, or in an operator's app such as Vattenfall InCharge.