Automatic or Manual Driving Test in Sweden: Code 78

One of the most practical choices in the Swedish category B process is whether to train and take the driving test in an automatic or a manual car. The choice affects how many lessons you need, how relaxed you feel on test day and which cars you are allowed to drive afterwards.

If you take the driving test in a car with automatic transmission, Trafikverket adds condition 78 to your licence. It means you may only drive cars with automatic transmission. If you pass in a manual car, there is no such condition and you may drive both types.

What code 78 looks like in practice

Code 78 is printed on the licence card next to category B. It is not a lower licence or a "learner" licence. You have the same B entitlement as everyone else, with one condition: the car must have automatic transmission. Electric cars and most hybrids have no clutch pedal, so they count as automatic in daily life.

The condition matters when you rent a car abroad, borrow an older car from family, or take a job that involves driving company vehicles. Many rental companies and employers still have manual cars in their fleet, especially outside Sweden.

Why learners choose automatic

Automatic cars remove clutch and gear work from the learning process. That frees attention for what the examiner actually assesses: speed adaptation, road position, observation, risk awareness and how you interact with pedestrians and cyclists.

Automatic can be a good choice if you:

feel nervous in traffic and want fewer things to handle at once
already drive an automatic or electric car in your household
want to keep the number of paid lessons down
learned to drive in a country where automatic cars dominate

The share of new cars sold in Sweden with automatic transmission has grown quickly with electric cars, so for many people an automatic licence covers everything they will realistically drive.

Why learners choose manual

If you pass in a manual car, your licence has no transmission condition. That gives the most flexibility for work, rental cars, older second-hand cars and driving in other countries.

Manual training usually takes longer, because clutch control, hill starts and choosing the right gear take practice. Trafikverket notes that a single engine stall during the test does not have to mean a fail if it does not create danger, but repeated stalls suggest you need more practice with manoeuvring.

Removing code 78 later

If your licence has condition 78 and you later want to drive manual cars, Trafikverket states that you need to take a new driving test, this time in a manual car. You will also be photographed again, because a new licence card is produced.

According to Transportstyrelsen, you do not need a new learner's permit to practise for removing the automatic condition, and a private supervisor can be approved for this purpose. You still need enough clutch and gear practice to pass a full driving test, so plan some lessons or supervised practice in a manual car before booking.

How to decide

Ask yourself three questions:

Which cars will you drive in the next five years? If the answer is a family electric car, automatic is usually enough.
Do you have access to a manual car for private practice? Without one, every manual hour is a paid lesson.
How much stress can you handle while learning? Fewer tasks often means faster progress in traffic judgement.

Choose automatic if your main goal is safe everyday driving and you want to reduce learning load. Choose manual if future flexibility matters more than the extra lessons.

Typical mistakes

Choosing manual only because "a real licence is manual". Code 78 is a full B licence with one condition. If you will never drive a manual car, the extra lessons are money spent on a skill you will not use.
Practising privately in a manual car but testing in an automatic. Habits like looking down at the gear lever or rolling into junctions in the wrong gear can carry over. Train in the type of car you will be tested in.
Forgetting the condition when renting a car abroad. Booking a manual rental car with an automatic-only licence can leave you without a car at the counter, and driving it would breach the licence condition.
Expecting the automatic test to be easier on traffic rules. The examiner assesses the same traffic behaviour in both cars. Only clutch and gear handling disappear.

FAQ

What does code 78 mean on a Swedish driving licence?

Code 78 means you may only drive cars with automatic transmission. Trafikverket adds it when you pass the category B driving test in an automatic car.

How do I remove code 78 from my licence?

You take a new driving test in a car with manual transmission at Trafikverket. If you pass, a new licence without the condition is produced and you are photographed again.

Is the driving test easier in an automatic car?

The traffic part is assessed the same way. An automatic car simply removes clutch and gear work, which helps many learners focus on observation, speed and planning.

Practise theory in Körkort Hero

Whichever gearbox you choose, the theory test is the same. Körkort Hero lets you practise Swedish category B theory questions in 16 languages, so you can build the knowledge behind good driving decisions while you decide between automatic and manual.

Continue with these closely related topics in the same language: