Registration, tax and insurance

Registration certificates

Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) issues a registration certificate for every vehicle registered in Sweden. The registration certificate is comprised of two parts (one blue and one yellow) and contains important information about the vehicle's dimensions, weight, engine type, permitted tyre types and other details. The registration certificate is used, for example, register an off road notification, or when you transfer the vehicle's ownership.

Part 1 (blue) of the registration certificate includes the following:

• Information about who owns or uses the vehicle.
• Technical information about the vehicle.
• Information about leasing or credit purchases.
• An authorization code that is required when making applications to Transportstyrelsen.
• The part that should be used when making a written application to: 
  • licence a vehicle for use
  • make an off road notification
  • order licence plates
  • order Part 2 of the registration certificate

Part 2 (yellow) of the registration certificate includes the following:

• Details about the current owner of the vehicle.
• Details about previous owners/users of the vehicle (no more than three).
• General information about the vehicle.
• The part that is used when applying in writing for: 
  • a change of ownership
  • deregistration

You must possess Part 1 of the registration certificate when driving outside of Sweden.

Part 2 of the registration certificate is a valuable document that certifies the vehicle's owner. It is therefore important to keep it in a safe place and not in the vehicle.

Part 2 of the registration certificate must always be included when applying to transfer the vehicle's ownership.

Registration inspections

If you alter something on your vehicle so that the information in the registration certificate is no longer correct, it must undergo a registration inspection within one month*.

Changes requiring registration inspection are, for example, a modified engine type and assembly/disassembly of:

• Dual controls
• Taxi equipment
• Ethanol conversions
• Hand operated gas and brake controls
• Sunroofs

If you change something on your car it might need to undergo a registration inspection

 * A vehicle that was subject to an off road notification must undergo a registration inspection within one week of it being licensed for use.

Change of ownership and off road notifications

If you have bought or sold a vehicle, you and the other party must make a notification of change of ownership to Transportstyrelsen. If the purchase or sale has taken place at a car dealer, they can often report the change of ownership for you.

You can either report the change of ownership online, via Transportstyrelsen's app Mina fordon or via the vehicle's registration certificate. In the latter case, the original of the latest issued registration certificate must be signed by both the new and previous owners and sent to Transportstyrelsen within ten days. If the registration certificate was issued after September 2004, the change of ownership must be notified on Part 2, the yellow section.

The new owner must take out traffic insurance (sometimes called third party insurance) that is valid from the same date specified by the change of ownership.

If you have bought or sold a vehicle, you and the other party must make a notification of change of ownership

Off road notifications

If you are not going to use a vehicle for a long period of time, you can make an off road notification. In this case, you do not have to pay vehicle tax or traffic insurance.

Making an off road notification for a vehicle should not be confused with deregistration. A vehicle should be deregistered after it has been dismantled, rebuilt or exported.

You can apply for an off road notification in three different ways:

• Via Transportstyrelsen's online service.
• Via Transportstyrelsen's app Mina fordon.
• Via Transportstyrelsen's service telephone on 0771-25 25 25 (Swedish only).
• In writing on your registration certificate.

One common misconception is that a vehicle is automatically subject to an off road notification if, for some reason, a driving ban has been imposed on it. This is not the case. A vehicle is never automatically subject to an off road notification – you must apply to Transportstyrelsen personally to make an off road notification.

A vehicle subject to an off road notification cannot be towed. It may only be driven via the shortest appropriate route to or from the nearest vehicle inspection company. The vehicle must have traffic insurance and there must not be any unpaid vehicle tax. 

Vehicle taxes

For most motor vehicles, a vehicle tax must be paid to Transportstyrelsen so that the vehicle may be used on public roads. If you are not going to use a vehicle for a long period of time, you can make an off road notification so that you do not have to pay vehicle tax or traffic insurance.

You do not have to pay vehicle tax for a vehicle subject to an off road notification

Private cars of model year 2006 or later and private cars that meet the requirements for miljöklass 2005 (Euro 5 standards), miljöklass el (environmental class electricity) and miljöklass hybrid (environmental class hybrid,) are taxed based on how much carbon dioxide they emit.

For private cars that do not meet any of the above requirements, the tax is instead based on the car's tax weight, which is its kerb weight.

For trailers, light trucks, light buses and mobile homes, the tax weight is instead based on the vehicle's total weight, which is the vehicle's kerb weight + maximum load.

Environmentally friendly 'green' cars enjoy a five-year exemption from vehicle tax.

The person registered as the owner of the vehicle is liable to pay the vehicle tax.

Insurance

All vehicles that are licensed for use must have traffic insurance. In the case of an accident this covers certain costs, but far from all costs. In order to increase your protection, you can also take out partial casco insurance and vehicle damage insurance.

If you take out partial insurance you receive both traffic insurance and partial casco insurance.

If you take out full comprehensive insurance you receive all three insurance policies: traffic insurance, partial casco insurance and vehicle damage insurance. Full comprehensive insurance gives you the best protection and covers most car damages, regardless of the cause.

Full comprehensive insurance provides complete protection for you and your car

Home insurance

Compensation for damaged or stolen personal property (luggage, computer, clothing, etc.) requires that you also have home insurance (sometimes called householders' comprehensive insurance).

No-claim bonus

You may receive a discount on your insurance premium based on the number of claim-free years of your membership. Accidents caused by others do not usually affect your bonus. After 10-15 claim-free years (depending on company and insurance) you usually reach the highest bonus class and thus receive the largest discount.

Right of recourse

If you cause an accident and are convicted of aggravated reckless driving or drunken driving, the insurance company can use its so-called recourse right. You will then have to pay back some or all of any compensation you received after the accident.

Traffic insurance

Traffic insurance is compulsory for all vehicles that are licensed for use. It covers many of the costs that may arise after an accident, such as personal injuries to drivers, passengers and others, damage to vehicles that you have collided with, and damage to property such as lamp posts and traffic devices. Traffic insurance, however, does not cover damage to your car.

In the event of a collision between two vehicles, it is the traffic insurance of the person at fault that is to compensate for the damage

If you have not taken out traffic insurance, you will automatically be reported to the Swedish Association of Motor Insurers and will have to pay a penalty fee. This fee is considerably higher than the premium you would ordinarily pay for traffic insurance.

Partial casco insurance

Partial casco insurance is a collective term for a variety of insurance policies that increase your protection. Inclusions vary between different insurance companies but usually cover:

• Breakdowns
• Glass repairs
• Theft and damage resulting from theft
• Legal expenses
• Fire damage
• Roadside assistance and recovery

If you take out partial insurance you receive both traffic insurance and partial casco insurance.

Partial casco insurance increase your protection in the case of an accident

Vehicle damage insurance

Vehicle damage insurance provides compensation for road-traffic accident damages, even if you are at fault, or if no other driver was at fault. For example, you are still covered if you drive off the road or collide with a deer.

You also receive compensation for salvage costs and vandalism, for example if someone breaks a window on your car.

If you take out full comprehensive insurance you receive traffic insurance, partial casco insurance and vehicle damage insurance.

Reporting an accident

After an accident, you should promptly report the incident to your insurance company. You can do this either on your insurance company's website or using an insurance claim form.

Insurance claim forms can be obtained from all insurance companies. In the case of a collision between vehicles one set of forms should be used. Both drivers involved in the accident should fill in and sign the front of the form. Both drivers then keep one copy each which they supplement on the back with more information to their insurance company. If more than two vehicles are involved in a collision several sets of forms should be used.

You should not discuss who is at fault at the scene of an accident. Let the insurance companies investigate it afterwards.

After an accident, you should promptly report the incident to your insurance company