While urban public transport and the national rail network is very good, renting a car in Sweden gives travelers greater flexibility, as well as access to one of the country’s most celebrated features: the natural landscape. Driving allows for exploration of beautiful pine forests and medieval towns, not to mention many of the preserved Viking sites, such as Arkils Tingplats and the Vallentuna church. A popular route is to drive the length of the country from north to south, taking in cities like Stockholm, Malmo, and Gothenburg.
If you rent a car in Sweden and spend some time driving in cities, it is important to be aware of local parking regulations. On-street parking is available in most urban areas, with parking meters that operate from around 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Many cities operate on the Datumparkering (date parking) system, whereby on odd-numbered days it is not permitted to park on the side of any road with odd numbers, and on even-numbered days you can’t park on any roads with even numbers. Parking fines can be up to 1,400 SEK (150 USD), so if in doubt, it is best to ask a local.
In Sweden, it is mandatory for children up to 15 and shorter than 135 cm (53 in) to be seated in an age-appropriate car restraint. They may only travel in the front seats if the passenger airbag is deactivated. Most rental agencies are able to provide child seats for an additional fee—for example, Enterprise, which charges between 60 SEK (6.30 USD) and 120 SEK (12.60 USD), depending on the size of the seat.
Most rental agencies will allow a car rented in Sweden to be driven into neighboring countries like Denmark, Norway, and Finland without written permission usually required for other Western European countries. Toll bridges operate between Norway and Denmark, and there is usually a daily surcharge for cross-border travel. Europcar, for example, charges a cross-border fee of approx. 360 SEK (38 USD) for travel to Scandinavian countries.
25% of our users found rental cars in Sweden for ₪168 or less
Book your rental car in Sweden at least 4 weeks before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Off-airport rental car locations in Sweden are around 37% more expensive than airport locations on average
Compact rental cars in Sweden are around -101% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Sweden
Compact (Volkswagen Golf SportWagen or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Sweden.
The roads in Sweden are considered to be among the safest and best in the world, making driving on them a pleasant experience. In Sweden, traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, with the exception of trams, which should be passed on the right. Headlights must be used at all times of the year and even during daylight hours, and it is compulsory for all vehicles to carry a warning triangle and snow shovel; anyone choosing to rent a car in Sweden should check that the vehicle contains these items.
To rent a car in Sweden, drivers need to be at least 18 years old and must have held a valid domestic driver’s license for at least two years. Some agencies charge an extra daily fee for young drivers, such as Hertz, which levies around 100 SEK (10.50 USD) per day for drivers age 19 to 24. Domestic driver’s licenses printed in the Roman alphabet are accepted from most countries, but anyone with a license in a different script will need to present an International Driver’s Permit (IDP).
Petrol stations are plentiful in Sweden, though when traveling in remote northern areas, it is recommended that you fill up at every opportunity. Most operate from around 7:00 am to 10:00 pm and have an automatic pump for extra hours, which will accept bank notes. Expect to pay around 17 SEK (1.79 USD) for a liter of petrol and 16 SEK (1.69 USD) for a liter of diesel, or 6.77 USD and 6.39 USD for a gallon of petrol and diesel, respectively.
Anyone who decides to rent a car in Sweden should pay close attention to speed limits, which vary depending on the quality of the road. In general, though, expect to travel at a maximum of 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas, 90 km/h (55 mph) on open roads, and 110 km/h (68 mph) on the highway.
The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for car rentals for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 24 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car rentals listed or dates of travel. Some car rental providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the car rental providers' sites.