Sweden on an Indian Licence — Side Switch, IDP & a Near-Zero 0.02 Limit

Sweden has some of the best-maintained roads and most disciplined drivers in Europe, which makes it a relaxing place to drive once you’ve cleared the first hurdle — and for an Indian visitor that hurdle is the side of the road.

India drives on the left; Sweden drives on the right. You’ll sit on the left of the car, change gear with your right hand, and every reflex at a junction initially points the wrong way. Roundabouts turn anticlockwise, the opposite of home. The good news is that Swedish traffic is calm and lane discipline is excellent, so you have space to adjust — take your first half-hour on quiet roads and the new pattern settles within a day.

Then come the three things that are specific to Sweden. The first is winter. From 1 December to 31 March, winter tyres are legally required whenever winter conditions exist, and in the north that season runs longer; if you’re renting in the cold months the car will be fitted, but never assume bald summer tyres are legal on a frosty morning. The second is wildlife — those yellow moose warning signs are not decorative. A full-grown elk on the road at dawn or dusk is a serious collision, so slow down at first and last light, especially on rural roads through forest, and scan the verges. The third is alcohol: Sweden’s limit is a near-zero 0.02 BAC, below even India’s 0.03, with penalties that can include prison. Treat it as zero.

Your Indian licence is valid for up to a year here but must be paired with an International Driving Permit as a non-EU visitor — arrange it before you fly and confirm the requirement with our Driving Permit Checker.

The driving itself is gentle: 50 km/h in towns, 70 on rural roads and 110 on motorways, all heavily camera-enforced, with a typical speeding fine around SEK 2,000 (roughly EUR 175). Daytime running lights are mandatory at all times. Fuel is about $1.88 a litre and 112 covers every emergency. For toll and congestion-charge details in Stockholm and Gothenburg, read the full Sweden driving guide before you travel.