How many mil is too much for a used car in Sweden?
A yardstick from official statistics, and how to check a car's recorded mileage.
Short answer
The average Swedish passenger car drove 1,243 mil in 2025, about 12,430 km, according to Trafikanalys, which gives a yardstick for judging a used car's mileage against its age. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars drove about 1,700 mil, petrol cars just under 1,000. Transportstyrelsen's SMS service shows the odometer reading from the latest inspection.
Why
- Trafikanalys says a Swedish-registered passenger car drove 1,243 mil on average in 2025.
- Trafikanalys says plug-in hybrids and electric cars drove about 1,700 mil on average, while ethanol and petrol cars drove just under 1,000 mil.
- Transportstyrelsen says the SMS reply to bes. and the registration number shows the odometer reading registered at the latest inspection.
Details
SCB describes that driving distances are estimated from odometer readings recorded at periodic vehicle inspections, which is also why the inspection reading is a useful check. The SMS reply also shows the date of the latest approved inspection and the date by which the next one is due. Konsumentverket's advice for a used car is to examine it thoroughly and check for debts, see car dealerships in Stockholm and driving and traffic rules in Sweden.
Tip
Compare the odometer reading with the car's age and with the reading at the latest inspection, which you get by sending bes. followed by the registration number to 71640.
What may differ
The same mileage means different things for different fuel types, because Trafikanalys reports about 1,700 mil a year for electric cars and plug-in hybrids against just under 1,000 mil for petrol cars.
Common misconception
The odometer reading of a used car cannot be checked.
What actually happens
Transportstyrelsen's SMS service shows the odometer reading registered at the car's latest inspection, and it is free apart from your mobile operator's fees.
People also ask
- How many mil is too many for a used car?
- How many miles can a car last in Sweden?
Sources
- Trafikanalys: Körsträckor 2025 (driving distances)Checked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: SMS service for inspection dataChecked at:
- SCB: KörsträckorChecked at:
- Konsumentverket: Our best tips when buying a carChecked at:
Information checked on 28 October 2026.
Driving and traffic rules in SwedenRelated 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.