Sweden Driving Advice and Car Hire Info
Driving in Sweden
Sweden drives on the right and you can use the photo licence of any EU country to drive here, providing it’s written in Roman alphabet. Drivers from other countries need their own licence plus an international driving permit. Speed limits range from 120/110kmh on motorways to 90kmh on other roads and 50kmh in urban areas. It’s compulsory to use snow tires between December 1 and March 31 and you must have headlights switched on, at all times, day and night.
Sweden has a well maintained road system with a limited motorway network. Roads with some sections of multi-laned motorway are-
The E4 runs from North to South through Sweden, passing most major cities including Stockholm from Haparanda on the Finnish border, to Trelleborg on the southern coast of Sweden.
The E6 follows Sweden’s West coast from Trelleborg and through Malmö, Helsingborg, Halmstad, Gothenburg, before crossing the border at the Svinesund Bridge into Norway.
The E18 crosses used to be the European route which ran from Northern Ireland, Scotland and England before crossing via ferry from Newcastle to Norway . The ferry no longer runs. The road now enters Sweden at Töcksfors, then follows the route – Karlstad – Örebro – Västerås – Stockholm / Kapellskär.
The E20 used to run from Northern Ireland, through England, Denmark,Sweden, Estomia and into Russia before ferries from Hull to Denmark ceased operation. In Sweden it runs from the Öresund Bridge in Malmö to Nääs 30 km east of Gothenburg.
E22 was another European route running from UK through to Russia, which is no longer viable. The Swedish section now runs Trelleborg – Malmö- Norrköping.
E45 – Also knows as Inlandsvägen, after the Inlandsbanan railway line which follows the road this is the longest road in Sweden. It runs from Karesuando on the Finnish border to Gothenburg.Though there are some multi carriageway sections, it’s mostly a standard road.
E65 starts in Malmo and runs to Ystad, it then crosses the Baltic sea via ferry to Poland whereit joins the European road network and travels south through Europe, eventually reaching Greece.
Roads are generally in very good condition in Sweden, even minor roads, though if driving abroad in Sweden in winter you should be prepared to drive in snow and ice. Petrol stations in rural areas can be far apart and some are unattended and require a credit card with a chip to purchase fuel. Driving standards are usually very good and drivers usually abide by road rule. Police often carry out random alcohol tests and the legal limit is low at 0.2. You should be aware that there are a high volume of moose related traffic accidents in Sweden (average 16 per day according to recent figures). May and September are the most likely times to encounter moose but you should exercise caution at all times, especially when driving in the dark.
The Scandinavian countries are notoriously expensive destinations for food and drink (especially alcohol!). For that reason, many travellers opt for a campervan/motorhome holiday. This saves on hotel costs and allows you to be self sufficient in terms of food and drink. The Scandinavian countries are perfect for campervan and caravan holidays as, away from main Cities, the roads are quiet and in good condition, and camp sites are plentiful and have good facilities.
Also, all the countries abide by whats known as ‘Everymans Law’. (In Sweden its allemansrätten– Everyman’s right) This varies by country but generally provides a ‘right to roam’ eg the opportunity to hike across or camp on another’s land , boating on someone else’s waters, and picking wildflowers, mushrooms and berries. However — with the rights come responsibilities; that is, an obligation neither to harm, disturb, litter, nor to damage wildlife or crops. Allemansrätten gives a person the right to access, walk, cycle, ride, ski, and camp on any land—with the exception of private gardens, the immediate vicinity of a dwelling house and land under cultivation. Restrictions apply for nature reserves and other protected areas.
Although I try and keep the information in the site updated as much as possible, in a rapidly moving world, situations can change daily. Therefore please use the site as an approximate guide, and in conjunction with other resources in order to form your view on driving conditions, roads, safety etc.
Sweden Car Rental –
Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Alamo, National,Avis, Budget, have branches here.Also usually features on Car rental broker sites s and Web discount sites such Expedia.
We currently have no local car rental partners in Sweden. If you are a local car rental company who would like to feature on DriverAbroad.com please check details on our Partnering page or contact us on ADriverAbroad@Outlook.com
Sweden Self Drive Rules
All companies will allow cars to be driven into other Scandinavian countries and one way rentals should also be allowed for an additional fee, with most companies allowing one way rentals to mainland European countries. There are restrictions on taking cars into Eastern European nations from most firms. You should check exact terms when making your reservation.
