Swedish road rules in English
The short answer
In Sweden you give way to traffic from the right unless signs say otherwise, and the limit is 50 km/h in built-up areas and 70 km/h outside them unless signs show another limit. Your lights must be on whenever you drive. The alcohol limit is 0.2 per mille in the blood.
A short English summary of rules that come up often in the theory test, with the Swedish words you will see on signs and in the car. Drivoku's own practice questions are in Swedish.
This text was written with AI help, checked against Trafikverket, Transportstyrelsen and Sveriges riksdag and approved by Fri Vei AS. Last updated .
Checked against Trafikverket, Transportstyrelsen and riksdagen.se · Report a mistake
Our practice questions for Sweden are in Swedish only. We do not have English practice questions for the Swedish test, so this page explains the rules instead and links to the Swedish practice test.
The key rules at a glance
| Rule | In short | Swedish word |
|---|---|---|
| Speed in built-up areas | 50 km/h, unless signs show another limit. | tättbebyggt område |
| Speed outside built-up areas | 70 km/h (the base speed), unless signs show another limit. | bashastighet |
| Crossing paths | Give way to vehicles coming from your right, unless signs or other rules say otherwise. | högerregeln |
| Zebra crossings without lights | Give way to people on the crossing or about to step onto it. | obevakat övergångsställe |
| Lights | Lights on whenever you drive: dipped headlights, or daytime running lights in good daylight. | halvljus, varselljus |
| Phone | You must not hold your phone in your hand while driving. | mobiltelefon |
| Alcohol | Drink driving starts at 0.2 per mille in the blood (0.10 mg per litre of breath). | rattfylleri |
| Winter tyres | Required from 1 December to 31 March when there are winter road conditions. Minimum tread 3 mm. | vinterdäck |
Source: Trafikförordning (1998:1276), lag (1951:649) om straff för vissa trafikbrott and Transportstyrelsen, “Vinterdäck”, checked 4 November 2026.
What is the speed limit in Sweden?
In a built-up area (tättbebyggt område) the limit is 50 km/h. Outside built-up areas it is 70 km/h, called the base speed (bashastighet). Signs can set another limit, so always follow the signs. The limit is a maximum: in fog, rain or on a slippery road you must drive more slowly.
Choose a type of road
Source: trafikförordningen 3 kap. 17 §, riksdagen.se, checked 4 November 2026.
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How long does it take to stop?
The stopping distance is the distance you travel while you react, plus the braking distance. Trafikverket’s figures assume good tyres, a good road surface and good weather. With worn tyres or ice it is much longer.
Choose a speed
The figures are Trafikverket’s: “Stoppsträcka” (updated 16 December 2025), checked 4 November 2026.
Nothing you choose is saved or sent anywhere.
Who gives way at a junction in Sweden?
When two vehicles’ paths cross, the driver who has the other vehicle on their right must give way. This is the right-hand rule (högerregeln). It does not apply where signs or other rules say otherwise, for example when you come out onto a priority road (huvudled) or meet a give way sign (väjningsplikt). Our Swedish guide Väjningsplikt has examples.
Do I have to stop for people at a zebra crossing?
At an uncontrolled zebra crossing (obevakat övergångsställe), where no traffic lights or police officer control the traffic, you must give way to people who are on the crossing or about to step onto it. At a controlled crossing (bevakat övergångsställe), you must still let people who are already on the crossing get across, even if your light is green.
Lights, phones and alcohol
- Lights: when you drive a car on the road, the lights must be on. You use dipped headlights (halvljus), or full beam when you need it and it does not dazzle anyone. In daylight and good weather you may use other lights that make the car easy to see, such as daytime running lights (varselljus), instead of dipped headlights, but not in the dark, at dawn or dusk, or when the weather calls for dipped headlights. Read more in Swedish: Helljus och halvljus.
- Phone: you must not hold a phone or other communication device in your hand while you drive.
- Alcohol: drink driving (rattfylleri) starts at 0.2 per mille in the blood or 0.10 mg per litre of breath. From 1.0 per mille (0.50 mg per litre) it can count as gross drink driving. Read more in Swedish: Rattfylleri.
When do I need winter tyres in Sweden?
From 1 December to 31 March a car must have winter tyres when there are winter road conditions: snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road. The police decide whether winter conditions apply in a place. In that period the minimum tread depth is 3 mm. Read more in Swedish: Vinterdäck.
Mini glossary: Swedish to English
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| körkortstillstånd | learner’s permit |
| handledare | approved supervisor for private practice |
| övningskörning | driving practice |
| riskutbildning | risk course |
| kunskapsprov / teoriprov | theory test |
| körprov | driving test |
| väjningsplikt | duty to give way |
| huvudled | priority road |
| cirkulationsplats | roundabout |
| övergångsställe | pedestrian crossing |
| vägmärke | road sign |
| vinterväglag | winter road conditions |
Can I practise for the Swedish theory test in English?
Not with Drivoku. Our questions for Sweden are written in Swedish, and we have no English versions. You can still use them to learn the Swedish words: try the övningsprov (free practice test, 70 questions) or the vägmärken (road signs) pages, with a Swedish-speaking friend if you can. The real test can be taken in English: see Swedish driving theory test in English.
Frequently asked questions
What is the speed limit in Sweden if there is no sign?
50 km/h in a built-up area and 70 km/h outside built-up areas. Signs can set another limit.
What is the drink-drive limit in Sweden?
0.2 per mille in the blood, or 0.10 mg per litre of breath.
Do I need headlights on in the daytime in Sweden?
Yes. When you drive a car on the road, the lights must be on. In good daylight daytime running lights are enough; otherwise you use dipped headlights.
Are Drivoku’s Swedish practice questions available in English?
No. They are in Swedish only. This page explains key rules in English, and the official theory test can be taken in English.
Sources
(4)
- Trafikförordning (1998:1276), 3 kap. 17, 18, 60, 61 and 68–71 §§ and 4 kap. 10 e §, riksdagen.se. Checked 4 November 2026.
- Lag (1951:649) om straff för vissa trafikbrott, 4 and 4 a §§, riksdagen.se. Checked 4 November 2026.
- Vinterdäck (updated 27 May 2026), Transportstyrelsen. Checked 4 November 2026.
- Stoppsträcka (updated 16 December 2025), Trafikverket. Checked 4 November 2026.
Drivoku is made by Fri Vei AS and is not affiliated with Trafikverket or Transportstyrelsen. This page is a simplified summary, written with AI help and not copied from the law. The authorities and Swedish law always apply.
Practise in Swedish
We do not have English practice questions for Sweden. Our free practice test is in Swedish, so it also teaches you the words in the road signs and the rules.