Driving a hire car in Sweden

With a hire car in Sweden, congestion tax in Stockholm and Gothenburg and bridge charges in Motala, Sundsvall and on Skurubron are billed automatically to the car's owner; ask the rental company whether they are included or charged afterwards. From 1 December to 31 March winter tyres are compulsory whenever there are winter road conditions.

Official sources read on 30 October 2026.

Find a rental car

Congestion tax in Stockholm and Gothenburg

Stockholm: congestion tax is charged on weekdays, Monday to Friday, for driving into and out of the city centre and on Essingeleden. It is not charged on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, some days before a public holiday, or in July except its first five weekdays.Source: Transportstyrelsen – "Trängselskatt i Stockholm"
Stockholm amounts: SEK 11 to SEK 45 per passage in the city centre in peak season (up to SEK 35 off-peak), charged between 06:00 and 18:29. The maximum is SEK 135 per day and vehicle in peak season and SEK 105 off-peak. Peak season runs from 1 March to the day before Midsummer Eve and from 15 August to 30 November.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Hours and amounts in Stockholm"
Gothenburg: SEK 9 to SEK 22 per passage, at most SEK 60 per day and vehicle. A vehicle passing several control points within 60 minutes is taxed only once, at the highest amount. No tax on public holidays, days before a public holiday or in July.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Hours and amounts in Gothenburg"
The owner of the vehicle is responsible for paying the tax on time. Passages are added up month by month, and an extra fee of SEK 500 is added if the tax is not paid on time.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Paying and notification of congestion tax"
With a hire car, the Swedish Tax Agency advises asking the rental company first whether congestion tax is included in the rental price or charged separately.Source: Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) – "Min bil är på verkstad. Går det att få en hyrbil befriad från trängselskatteplikt?"
The tax also applies to vehicles registered outside Sweden: a notification partner identifies the owner and sends the invoice via EPASS24.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Congestion taxes in Stockholm and Gothenburg"

Bridge charges and the Øresund Bridge

Infrastructure charges apply on the bridges in Motala (SEK 5 per crossing for a car), Sundsvall (SEK 9) and, since 1 October 2023, Skurubron between Stockholm and eastern Nacka and Värmdö (SEK 4). They are charged 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and you cannot stop and pay at the control point.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Infrastructure charges"
The charge is registered automatically and a payment slip is sent to the vehicle's owner at the end of each month; foreign-registered vehicles are invoiced via EPASS24.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Infrastructure charges"
Øresund Bridge between Malmö and Copenhagen: a car up to 6 metres pays DKK 470 per single trip at the toll station (regular price, VAT included, valid from 14 September 2026). A return trip costs twice the single fare, and tickets can also be bought online in advance.Source: Øresundsbron (Øresundsbro Konsortiet, owned by the Swedish and Danish states) – "Øresund Bridge prices"
If you plan to take the hire car to Denmark or another country, tell the rental company when you book so it can provide the right documents, insurance and breakdown cover.Source: Your Europe (European Union) – "Hiring a car"

Winter tyres and studded tyres

From 1 December to 31 March, cars must have winter tyres or equivalent equipment whenever there are winter road conditions, meaning snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road. The police decide whether conditions are wintry, and the rule also applies to cars registered abroad.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Winter tyres"
Winter tyres must carry the Alpine symbol (a three-peak mountain with a snowflake) or be studded, and the tread must be at least 3 mm deep in winter road conditions.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Winter tyres"
Studded tyres are allowed from 1 October to 15 April, and at other times if winter road conditions apply or are expected. Studded and non-studded tyres must not be mixed on the same vehicle.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Winter tyres"

Streets where studded tyres are banned

Stockholm bans studded tyres on Hornsgatan, Fleminggatan and Kungsgatan between Sveavägen and Birger Jarlsgatan; you may cross these streets. From 1 October 2027 the ban will also cover Sveavägen, Birger Jarlsgatan, Vasagatan and Torsgatan.Source: Stockholms stad (City of Stockholm) – "Dubbdäck"
Gothenburg bans studded tyres on Friggagatan and Odinsgatan. If the police catch you, the fine is SEK 1,000.Source: Göteborgs Stad (City of Gothenburg) – "Dubbdäcksförbud"
Uppsala bans studded tyres on Kungsgatan between Strandbodgatan and S:t Olofsgatan and on Vaksalagatan between Storgatan and Kungsgatan.Source: Uppsala kommun – "Dubbdäck i stan"

Environmental zones (miljözoner)

Since 1 January 2020 municipalities can introduce environmental zones of class 1, 2 or 3. Class 1 covers heavy trucks and buses. Class 2 covers cars, light buses and light trucks: petrol cars must meet Euro 5 or Euro 6, diesel cars Euro 6. Class 3 admits only electric, fuel-cell and gas vehicles.Source: Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) – "Miljözoner"
In Stockholm, class 2 applies on Hornsgatan, where diesel cars must meet Euro 6.Source: Stockholms stad (City of Stockholm) – "Miljözoner"
A class 3 zone planned for the area inside Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Hamngatan and Sveavägen is not in force: the county administrative board revoked it on 19 May 2026 and the city has appealed to Transportstyrelsen.Source: Stockholms stad (City of Stockholm) – "Miljözon klass 3"

Headlights and alcohol

Dipped headlights must be used when driving a motor vehicle on the road. Daytime running lights may be used instead, but not in darkness, at dawn or dusk, or when the weather or other circumstances call for dipped headlights.Source: Sveriges riksdag – Trafikförordning (1998:1276), chapter 3, sections 69 and 71
The drink-driving limit is 0.10 mg of alcohol per litre of exhaled air, about 0.2 per mille in the blood. From 0.50 mg per litre (about 1.0 per mille) it is gross drink-driving.Source: Polisen (Swedish Police) – "Rattfylleri och sjöfylleri"

Frequently asked questions

Who pays the congestion tax with a hire car in Stockholm or Gothenburg?

The tax is billed to the vehicle's owner, month by month. The Swedish Tax Agency advises asking the rental company whether congestion tax is included in the rental price or charged separately.

How much is the congestion tax in Stockholm?

SEK 11 to SEK 45 per passage in the city centre in peak season (up to SEK 35 off-peak), with a maximum of SEK 135 per day (SEK 105 off-peak). It is not charged at weekends, on public holidays, or in July except its first five weekdays.

When are winter tyres compulsory in Sweden?

From 1 December to 31 March whenever there is snow, ice, slush or frost on the road. The tyres must carry the Alpine symbol or be studded, with at least 3 mm of tread.

Can I drive with studded tyres in central Stockholm?

Not on Hornsgatan, Fleminggatan or Kungsgatan between Sveavägen and Birger Jarlsgatan, though you may cross them. From 1 October 2027 the ban also covers Sveavägen, Birger Jarlsgatan, Vasagatan and Torsgatan.

How much does the Øresund Bridge cost by car?

DKK 470 per single trip at the toll station for a car up to 6 metres, from 14 September 2026; a return trip costs twice that.

What is the drink-driving limit in Sweden?

0.10 mg of alcohol per litre of exhaled air, which corresponds to about 0.2 per mille in the blood.