Which side of the road do they drive on in Sweden?
Right-hand traffic in Sweden and the rules that follow from it.
Short answer
Sweden drives on the right-hand side of the road, as it has done since 3 September 1967. Vehicles keep to the right when they meet other vehicles, and overtaking is normally done on the left. In a roundabout, traffic circulates anticlockwise, and a driver entering must give way to vehicles already inside.
Why
- According to Visit Sweden, Swedes drive on the right side of the road, like most European countries.
- The Traffic Ordinance says a vehicle must keep to the right when meeting other vehicles (3 kap. 30 §) and that overtaking is to be done on the left (3 kap. 31 §).
- Stockholmskällan says that on 3 September 1967 at 05.00 all buses, cars and bicycles in Stockholm changed sides, and Sweden went from left-hand to right-hand traffic.
Details
Transportstyrelsen says that a driver entering a roundabout must give way to vehicles already inside it, and that traffic in the roundabout circulates anticlockwise. If you arrive by car over the bridge from Denmark, see how much it costs to cross the Öresund Bridge. For more rules, see driving and road rules in Sweden.
Tip
If you are used to left-hand traffic, take extra care at your first junctions and roundabouts, and check after each turn that you end up on the right-hand side.
What may differ
Overtaking is done on the right when the driver ahead is turning left or clearly preparing to turn left, according to the Traffic Ordinance (3 kap. 31 §).
Common misconception
Sweden drives on the left, like the United Kingdom.
What actually happens
Sweden changed from left-hand to right-hand traffic on 3 September 1967, according to Stockholmskällan. Visit Sweden says Swedes drive on the right.
People also ask
- Does Sweden drive on the left or right?
- What side of the road do you drive on in Sweden?
Sources
- Visit Sweden: Driving in SwedenChecked at:
- Traffic Ordinance (1998:1276), riksdagen.seChecked at:
- Stockholmskällan: The 1967 switch to right-hand trafficChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: RoundaboutsChecked at:
Information checked on 28 October 2026.
Driving and road rules in SwedenRelated questions
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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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