How do you rent a car in Sweden?
Documents, age, card and the checks to make before you drive away.
Short answer
To rent a car in Sweden you need a valid driving licence, an ID or a passport and a payment card, according to Sixt and Hertz. Sixt requires a licence held for at least one year, each company sets its own minimum age, and Hallå konsument advises you to find out the excess before you collect the car.
Why
- Sixt says you need a valid driver's licence held for at least one year, plus an ID or passport.
- Hertz says only physical payment or credit cards with chip and PIN are accepted at its stations, and that the card is authorised for the rental cost plus at least SEK 2,000.
- Hallå konsument says to find out how large an excess you must pay if something happens to the car, and that the company reserves an amount on your card regardless of insurance.
Details
Show your licence and ID or passport when you collect the car. Transportstyrelsen says a licence from an EEA country is valid in Sweden if it is valid in the issuing country, and that a licence not designed according to the international conventions and not issued in English, German or French is valid only with a certified translation. Sixt adds that a licence in a non-Roman alphabet such as Cyrillic also needs an international driving permit. For more on foreign licences, see foreign driving licences in Sweden, and for rental offices see car rental in Stockholm.
Tip
Read the rental agreement before you collect the car, check which insurance is included and compare the reserved amount on your card with the one in the agreement, as Hallå konsument advises. For rules on the road itself, see driving and traffic rules in Sweden.
What may differ
Each company sets its own minimum age, and Sixt says some car categories have a higher minimum age than others.
Common misconception
You need an international driving permit to rent a car in Sweden.
What actually happens
Sixt says an international driving permit is needed with a licence in a non-Roman alphabet such as Cyrillic, and Transportstyrelsen says a licence from an EEA country is valid in Sweden.
People also ask
- How do I rent a car in Stockholm?
- What do I need to hire a car in Sweden?
Sources
- Sixt: Car rental in SwedenChecked at:
- Hertz: General rental terms, SwedenChecked at:
- Hallå konsument: Renting a carChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Foreign driving licences in SwedenChecked at:
- Hertz: Payment and deposit requirementsChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the rental company before you book.
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.