Driving test – practical test for a category B licence
The driving test is the test used by the Swedish Transport Agency to assess your practical knowledge of traffic. The test is officially known as a practical test.
The driving test is given by the Swedish Transport Agency and costs 800 kr.
You must have passed the theory test before you can take the driving test.
The driving test
The test car
If you book the test through your driving school, you get to use a driving school car for the test. You will normally meet up with your driving instructor at the driving school and then drive together to the driving test office. The driving school will usually charge a regular lesson fee to accompany you to the driving test.
If you book the test as a private learner, you get to rent a car from the Swedish Transport Agency at a cost of 400 kr (list of Swedish Transport Agency cars). You are also allowed to take the test in your own car, provided it meets the requirements of dual control and additional mirrors. The test car is not fitted with the learner driver sign.
Start of the test and safety check
The person who is giving you the test, the driving examiner, will first check your ID. You will then get a brief explanation of what will happen during the test and how you will be assessed. The actual test begins with an inside or outside safety check.
Driving
You will drive for at least 25 minutes, while the driving examiner looks at around 10 of the following elements:
- Safety check and driving position
- Driving in a lane and changing lanes
- Motorway, dual carriageway or similar
- Effective braking
- Junction
- Entering and driving on a country road
- Parking
- Junction with traffic signals
- Turning off a country road
- Reversing
- Roundabout
- Overtaking
- Starting on an incline
- Passing stationary vehicles
- Limited visibility and darkness
- Turning
- Independent driving towards a destination
- Risky and slippery road conditions
- Use of the controls
- Driving around roadworks
- Built-up area
- Handling the vehicle
- Railway and tramway crossings
- Country road
- Unprotected road users
- Driving on a narrow and winding road
- Situational problems
After driving – did you pass?
The test is over when you have parked at the driving test office and turned off the engine. The driving examiner will tell you right away whether you passed the test or not.
If you pass, it will take around 5 days to make and send you your plastic driving licence. You are allowed to drive before then, however, provided that you have a valid ID with you. Your driving licence has an automatic 2-year trial period, which means that you must retake the driving tests if your licence is revoked during the trial period.
If you do not pass the test, you will be told which elements you failed.
Some tips and advice for the test
- Take off your jacket (the seat belt must be close to your body).
- Keep checking your rear-view mirrors.
- Driving position adjustments and journey preparations must always be made, even if the examiner tells you to do an external check.
- Try not to think about it being a test. Instead focus on driving.
- If you make a mistake, forget it and move on. It is not certain that you failed because of it. Stalling, for example, will not normally lead to failure.
Book a driving test
Book the test via your driving school
If you have been driving a lot at a driving school, they will usually schedule the driving test for you. Your driving instructor will tell you when they think you are ready for the test. If you book the test through your driving school, you get to use their car during the test – i.e. a car that you are used to driving.