Zweden
Travelling by car to Sweden
By car
To Sweden
Recently, we went by car to Sweden for TravelBase’s The Canoe Trip. We therefore receive very many questions about toll roads, the quality of the roads and the sometimes different traffic rules. We are happy to answer all these questions in this blog article.
Toll roads
Perhaps surprisingly but in Sweden you don’t have toll roads. You do have some bridges around Gothenburg and the Öresunds Bridge that you have to pay for. This bridge is unavoidable if you are entering the country through Denmark (ferries excluded). You pay 45 euros here each time you cross this bridge. A rather high price that we ourselves did not expect. Someone with a caravan or mobile home will even have to pay up to 90 euros. You can pay at these bridges both in cash and with the cardn.
congestion tax
You do have to pay a congestion tax in and around the cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg. This is a tax to ensure that the roads in and around this city remain of high quality by making the users pay for them. You don’t have to do anything for this tax because it is automatically sent to your home based on your license plate. So you don’t have to stop at a toll gate. The use of these roads or bridges is between 1 and 5 euros per passage. Every tax road in Sweden is well marked.
traffic and regulations in Sweden
Traffic in Sweden is not that different from any other country in Europe. Still, there are some things to keep in mind because the rules are slightly different. For example, there is a maximum allowable blood alcohol level of 0.2 promille, which is extremely low. In addition, your car must be visible in Sweden. Because of this, the low beam lights must always be on while driving even if you are driving around during the day. For those with small children, keep in mind that children up to the age of 7 are required to be in a child seat.
Attention! Hikers must walk on the left side of the road in Sweden if no road is provided. So keep in mind here that pedestrians do not walk on the right.
Risks in Sweden
Those who travel to Sweden by car will find a lot of signs warning of crossing wildlife along the way. And so, unlike some other countries, these road signs are justified here. We ourselves have had to stop a few times in the forests of Värmland for crossing deer. Statistics show that more than half of the accidents in Sweden are caused by crossing deer.
Winter tires
In Sweden, it is mandatory to use winter tires during winter precipitation. This period goes from December 1 to March 31. You are also required to use winter tires during rain and temperatures below zero degrees. When there is no winter precipitation, the use of regular summer tires is allowed. Snow chains are allowed in Sweden and are even recommended during heavy snowfall.
Refuelling in Sweden
You can just fill up in Sweden as you can in any other European country. You can pay by credit card, Maestro and cash. Make sure you fill up in time because the gas stations in Sweden are slightly further apart than in, say, Belgium or Germany. Those who need LPG had better check beforehand where they can or cannot refill it. In fact, not every gas station offers this. It is also best to check charging stations for electric cars in advance.
Ferries to Sweden
Going to Sweden by car can also be done by ferry. This is not the cheapest solution but it is often the one that ensures that you have to drive much less. You can take a ferry from Germany as well as Denmark. Booking in advance is recommended. You can find the different routes below.
The cheapest route to Sweden
Anyone going to Sweden by car is automatically looking for the cheapest route. With changing gasoline prices, the cheapest route to Sweden may well change. But usually the cheapest option will be this of the toll bridges. If gasoline prices continue to rise as they are in 2022, it may well be cheaper to travel by ferry in the future. Currently, this is not the case.
