Roadworthiness Inspection

In order to reduce hazardous emissions and the number of accidents caused by technical faults, it is a legal requirement that cars regularly undergo a roadworthiness inspection.

Vehicles with a total weight of a maximum of 3.5 tonnes shall be inspected for the first time after 3 years. The car shall then be inspected after two more years, and every 14 months after that. These rules regarding inspection apply from May 2018.

Driving ban

Your car will automatically be given a driving ban if it is not inspected within the inspection period. This means that the vehicle may not be used until the roadworthiness inspection has been carried out.

Vehicle spot inspection

Police officers and car inspectors are entitled to stop you on the roads at any time and inspect your vehicle. This is called a vehicle spot inspection.

If any minor defects are discovered on the car, the driver will be given an order to have the vehicle repaired. The vehicle must then be inspected at a Bilprovningen inspection garage or some other accredited garage.

If major defects are discovered the vehicle will be issued with a driving ban. This means that the vehicle will need to be towed away from where it was stopped.

Registration

Certificate of registration

Each registered vehicle is issued with a certificate of registration. This document shall be considered a valuable document and stored in a safe place. The registration certificate is divided into two parts.

Part 1 contains technical and general information about the vehicle, information about the owner or user of the vehicle, measurements, weight and what kinds of trailers the vehicle can tow. Part 1 is used for starting up and laying up.

Part 2 contains information about who owns the vehicle and who has owned it previously. Part two is used when the vehicle changes ownership or when it is deregistered.

Change of ownership

When a car changes ownership, both the old owner and the new owner need to submit notification of the change to the Swedish Transport Agency. This must be done within ten days of the change being made.

Laying up

If you are not going to be using your vehicle for a time, then you can lay it up. To do this, you should visit the Transport Agency’s website (www.transportstyrelsen.se) or send in a written application using part 1 of the certificate of registration. You do not need to pay road tax or car insurance during the time that a vehicle is laid up.

Important! If your vehicle is issued with a driving ban, this does not mean that it is automatically laid up. You must always lay up your vehicle yourself.

Vehicle modifications

If you modify your vehicle so that the information in the certificate of registration is no longer correct, then your car must undergo a registration inspection within one month.

Installation of a sunroof, change of engine and import of vehicle require registration inspection.