How often should you wash your car in winter in Sweden?
Why salt matters, what to wash and where to do it.
Short answer
Wash the car regularly during the salting season and include the underbody, because Trafikverket says road salt can increase the rust problem. Opus Bilprovning recommends an underbody wash at a regular car wash but gives no fixed interval. Göteborgs Stad says you should not wash the car on the street, the yard or the car park.
Why
- Trafikverket says salt can also increase the rust problem, and that it salts mainly the busy roads, usually when temperatures drop to about -6 to -10°C.
- Opus Bilprovning says regular washing removes salt and dirt, and recommends an underbody wash at a regular car wash.
- Göteborgs Stad says wash water carries pollutants to storm drains, lakes and seas, and that a car wash collects and cleans the water first.
Details
Opus adds that rust can become so severe that an inspector must make a remark. Trafikverket says about a quarter of its nearly 10,000 mil of state roads are salted. In drinking water protection areas, Göteborgs Stad says washing on the street with shampoo or degreaser is completely prohibited. See when winter starts in Sweden, car washes in Stockholm and winter tyres and studs.
Tip
Use a car wash with an underbody wash rather than washing at home, and do it regularly while the roads are salted.
What may differ
Trafikverket says less-trafficked roads are sometimes salted, mainly at the start and end of the winter season, so how much salt your car meets depends on the roads you drive.
Common misconception
Washing the car in winter is pointless or bad for it.
What actually happens
Opus Bilprovning advises washing even in winter to avoid rust, with an underbody wash at a regular car wash, and Trafikverket says salt can increase the rust problem.
People also ask
- How often should I wash my car in winter?
- Can you wash your car in freezing temperatures?
Sources
- Opus Bilprovning: Wash the car in winter to avoid rustChecked at:
- Trafikverket: Road saltChecked at:
- Göteborgs Stad: Washing the carChecked at:
Information checked on 28 October 2026.
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