Learn more about the following topics here:

• Getting your learner’s permit (körkortstillstånd)
• Driving practice at a driving school
• Private driving practice – different vehicles, different rules
• Introduction course (introduktionsutbildning)
• Helpful tips for driving practice

Getting your learner’s permit (körkortstillstånd)

You aren’t allowed to practise driving in Sweden without a learner’s permit. You can apply for a learner’s permit for cars, motorcycles, class I mopeds, heavy trailers, or tractors via the Swedish Transport Agency’s (Transportstyrelsen) website. To do so, you’ll need a Bank-ID electronic ID. If you don’t have a Bank-ID, you can download a form that you can complete and send in instead. Your application will consist of the application form and a health declaration that you fill in yourself.

You’ll also need to take an eye test when you apply for a learner’s permit. You can take this test through an optician or at a driving school that offers this service. To apply for a learner’s permit to drive a lorry, bus, or taxi, you’ll also need to include a medical certificate with your application.
Information published by the Swedish Transport Agency is available in English here.

Driving practice at a driving school

Practising at a driving school is the best way to learn to drive and to handle driving in traffic. Taking lessons with a trained instructor means you’ll learn correctly from the start. You’ll learn how to drive your vehicle the right way and what things you need to be alert to when operating a vehicle. Later, you can practise everything you’ve learnt at your driving school privately, if you’d like.
Find a driving school in Sweden that offers training in English.

Private driving practice – different vehicles, different rules

“Private driving practice” means driving practice together with someone who isn’t a driving instructor, but who has a valid approval certificate (handledarintyg) to act as an accompanying driver. Approval certificates are issued by the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen).

Different rules apply to driving practice depending on the type of vehicle you want to get a licence for. For example, if you want to get an AM licence to drive a class I moped, no private driving practice is allowed. You may only practise driving at a driving school with a licensed driving instructor. When learning to drive any other vehicle, it’s important that you have an accompanying driver with you who has been approved by the Swedish Transport Agency. Your accompanying driver must always have their approval certificate with them when you practise.

If you want to practise driving a car privately, both you and your accompanying driver must attend an introduction course (introduktionsutbildning) before they can receive their approval certificate. Your private accompanying driver must also be experienced in driving a car in Sweden and know Sweden’s traffic laws.

Introduction course (introduktionsutbildning)

If you plan to practise driving privately in a car or light lorry, both you and your accompanying driver must first complete an introduction course at a driving school. Your accompanying driver can then apply for their approval certificate (handledarintyg) from the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen). The course will be held on a single occasion and will take at least three hours. It will teach you about which rules apply when practising driving, road safety and eco-friendly driving. You’ll also get lots of good tips on how to practise driving successfully.
Find local driving schools that offer introduction courses here.

If you plan to practise driving a motorcycle privately, you and your accompanying driver won’t need to attend an introduction course. Your accompanying driver will still need a valid approval certificate, however.

Helpful tips for driving practice

For your private driving practice to be really successful, it’s important to start off the right way. Be aware that your accompanying driver can pass on their own driving weaknesses to you, and that it can take a long time to erase these bad habits.

Follow the course plan from your driving school and practise the skills you’re currently learning in your driver training. Many driving schools will allow your accompanying driver to ride along in your driving-school car during one lesson to get an understanding of what a good driving lesson looks like.

Remember – private driving practice should never cost money! Be alert to illegal driving schools.
Learn more about what to avoid here.