How long does it take to get a driving licence in Sweden?
The fixed time limits and age limits on the way to a car licence.
Short answer
The total time depends on you, but a permit normally takes up to four weeks and a passed theory test stays valid for one year. Supervised practice in a car can start at 16, and the licence itself is issued from 18. Risk training has to be done before the tests.
Why
- According to Transportstyrelsen, a körkortstillstånd normally takes up to four weeks once all requirements are met and all documents have arrived, and an investigation can take longer.
- According to Trafikverket, a passed car theory test is valid for one year from 19 August 2026, and a passed driving test is needed within that time; before that date the limit was four months.
- According to Transportstyrelsen, risk training is valid until you take your licence or for at most five years, and it must be completed before the tests.
Details
The steps are a permit, risk training, a theory test and a driving test. Trafikverket suggests booking both tests at the same time but taking them a few weeks apart. The pages checked give no number of driving lessons, so ask a driving school, for example one of the driving schools in Stockholm, and see driving and traffic rules in Sweden for the rules after the licence.
Tip
Apply for the permit early, because tests cannot be booked without it and the permit normally takes up to four weeks.
What may differ
You must be 18 for a B licence, and you must be permanently resident in Sweden or have studied here for at least six months. A holder of a licence from another EEA country cannot take a Swedish licence.
Common misconception
A passed theory test is only valid for four months.
What actually happens
According to Trafikverket, the validity of a passed B theory test was extended from four months to one year on 19 August 2026.
People also ask
- How long does getting a driving licence take in Sweden?
- How quickly can you get a driving licence?
Sources
- Transportstyrelsen: Frågor och svar, Ta körkortChecked at:
- Trafikverket: Car and light lorry licenceChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Riskutbildning för bilChecked at:
- Riksdagen: Driving Licence Act (1998:488)Checked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: B, personbil och lätt lastbilChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Trafikverket and Transportstyrelsen before you book.
Driving schools in StockholmRelated questions
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.