Roadworthiness tests

A roadworthiness test is conducted to ensure that a vehicle is both in the condition and has the equipment required from an environmental and road safety perspective.

Roadworthiness tests are conducted by various inspection bodies, depending on the kind of vehicle involved. For more information about inspection bodies, please visit SWEDAC.

The Swedish Motor Vehicle Inspection Company will send you a notice of inspection appointment when it is time to test your vehicle. For some kinds of vehicles, the Swedish Transport Agency will issue a notification informing you that a test is due. However, you are personally responsible for ensuring that your vehicle is tested. This even applies if the notification from the Swedish Motor Vehicle Inspection Company or the notification issued by the Swedish Transport Agency regarding the vehicle inspection fails to reach you for some reason.

Roadworthiness tests for passenger cars, light vans/lorries and small buses (with a total weight of no more than 3 500 kg)

The roadworthiness of vehicles with a total weight of 3.5 tonnes or less must be first tested during the period for vehicle inspection in which the recommended month falls 34 months after the month in which the vehicle was first put into use. The second roadworthiness test is required during the period for vehicle inspection in which the recommended month falls two years after the preceding recommended month.

After this, the roadworthiness of the vehicle must be tested annually within its period for vehicle inspection. The period for vehicle inspection comprises the recommended month and the two immediately preceding and following calendar months.

The last digit of your registration number determines when the vehicle should be tested, that is, the vehicle's period for vehicle inspection. NOTE: The roadworthiness of some new vehicles must be tested annually, for example emergency vehicles, rental cars, driving school vehicles and vehicles used for commercial passenger transport.

Grace period

In some cases a 21-day grace period (respite) for roadworthiness tests may be granted if a vehicle subject to an off road notification is licensed for use, but is subject to a driving ban because it has not been presented for a roadworthiness test. This means that the vehicle may be driven for three weeks from the date on which it was licensed for use before it becomes subject to a driving ban. The following conditions must be satisfied:

The vehicle 

• must be a passenger car, light van/lorry or small bus with a total weight of no more than 3 500 kg,
• must be subject to a driving ban because the period for vehicle inspection has expired, 
• must have been notified as being subject to an off road notification from and including the recommended month, 
• must have passed a test after the start of the preceding period for vehicle inspection.

Heavy vehicles

The roadworthiness of heavy vehicles, such as passenger cars, lorries, buses and accompanying trailers, with a total weight of over 3 500 kg, must be tested within 12 months after the vehicle has been licensed for use for the first time. The roadworthiness of the vehicle must subsequently be tested no later than 12 months after the latest preceding full roadworthiness test.

Testing the roadworthiness of motorbikes and trailers for towing by automobiles having a total weight below 3 500 kg

The roadworthiness of these vehicles must be tested for the first time no later than 48 months after the month in which they were first licensed for use and subsequently no later than 24 months after the preceding full roadworthiness test.

Driving bans

If your vehicle is not tested in time, a driving ban will automatically be imposed ('automatic driving ban'). The vehicle may then only be driven along the shortest appropriate route to a repair workshop and for the roadworthiness test.

A driving ban may also be imposed on a vehicle if it has been found to be in such a poor condition at a police check or roadworthiness test that it is a threat to traffic safety (a 'notified driving ban'). The vehicle must then be towed from the site. The vehicle may subsequently only be driven along the shortest appropriate route to the test.

Orders

If your vehicle has defects that mean that it cannot pass its roadworthiness test, but these defects are not so serious as to warrant a driving ban, you will be ordered to undergo another roadworthiness test. You must then rectify the defects and go back for a retest within a specified period of time. If the retest is not carried out within the period specified, a driving ban will be imposed on your vehicle.

You can also ask an accredited (approved) workshop to conduct a retest. The workshop will rectify the defects and send us a certificate of completion. Your vehicle will be subject to a driving ban if the certificate is not received in time or if the certificate is not approved.

Please note that a vehicle that has not passed a roadworthiness test may not be used until the defects have been rectified.

Order for a registration inspection

If a roadworthiness test or a 'spontaneous roadside vehicle inspection' shows that a vehicle has been rebuilt or modified in some other way, the vehicle may be ordered to be presented for a registration inspection within one month. A registration inspection aims to 

• identify a vehicle, 
• determine the details that should be entered in the Swedish Road Traffic Registry, 
• check that the vehicle satisfies the requirements imposed on the vehicle.

The vehicle will be subject to a driving ban unless a registration inspection is conducted within the period specified.

Vehicles subject to special test rules

Some vehicles are subject to special test rules and their roadworthiness must be tested in a way that is different from the normal test. The following vehicles (with a total weight of less than 3 500 kg) must be tested every year: 

• emergency vehicles, 
• vehicles used for driving practice at driving schools, 
• vehicles powered by gas from gas plants; for example, vehicles running on producer gas, 
• vehicles and trailers used for commercial passenger transport, 
• trailers constructed for the transport of sick or injured people, 
• vehicles used for rental operations, 
• vehicles used for non-commercial school transport services, 
• buses, 
• all-terrain motor vehicles used for commercial transport or for rental operations.

The last digit of the registration number indicates when the vehicle should be tested (via the period for vehicle inspection).

Other vehicles subject to special test rules:

• Historic vehicles

  A roadworthiness test is not normally required for vehicles with a model year of 1950 or earlier. However, they may be ordered to be presented for a test following a 'spontaneous roadside vehicle inspection'. NOTE: This exemption does not apply to vehicles used for commercial passenger transport, driving practice at driving schools, rental operations, the transport of sick and injured people, emergency vehicles, school transport services or buses.

• Special interest vehicles

  Vehicles having a total weight of at most 3 500 kg, manufactured after 1950 and being at least 30 years old (known as ‘hobby vehicles’ in Sweden) must be tested no later than 24 months after the preceding full test was conducted. 

• Rally cars

  A roadworthiness test is not required for rally cars. Vehicles that are subject to an exemption from tests should have the text codes T71X, T71Y, T71Z, T71ZE, T71ZK or T71ZS in their registration certificate (see the vehicle's registration certificate). 

• Class 1 mobile machinery and accompanying trailers

  Class 1 mobile machinery (that is, mobile machinery with a design speed of more than 30 km/h) must undergo a roadworthiness test. The first roadworthiness test must be conducted no later than 36 months after the vehicle was licensed for use for the first time. After this time, the roadworthiness of the vehicle must be tested no later than 24 months after the preceding full roadworthiness test. Trailers pulled by Class 1 mobile machinery are subject to the same rules. Mobile machinery belonging to Class 2 does not have to be tested. 

• EPA tractors and 'A' tractors
  

  An 'EPA' tractor is a vehicle rebuilt as mobile machinery and which has undergone a registration inspection prior to 1 April 1975. It must be tested annually during its period for vehicle inspection, which is governed by the last digit of its registration number. Note: 'A' tractors (that is, vehicles that have been rebuilt as tractors) are exempt from roadworthiness tests.