Booking the Swedish category B tests is not only about grabbing the first free date. Your learner's permit, risk education, photo, ID and training level all have to line up, and the theory and driving tests are connected by a validity window.

What must be ready before you book

Trafikverket will not let you book without the basics in place:

  • A valid learner's permit (körkortstillstånd). It is not possible to book a test without one. The permit is valid for five years.
  • Both parts of the risk education. Riskettan and risktvåan must be completed and registered before the theory test, and they must still be valid when you arrive. Risk education is valid until you get your licence, or for at most five years.
  • Mobilt BankID or help from a driving school. You book in Trafikverket's online booking service, or your driving school books for you.

If anything is missing, the test cannot go ahead, even if you feel ready.

Book both tests at the same time

Trafikverket recommends booking the theory test and the driving test together, with a few weeks between them. The gap gives you time to retake the theory test if it does not go well, because you must pass the theory test before you are allowed to take the driving test.

For category B, the theory test is taken first. You get the result on screen immediately after the test, and it also appears in the booking service.

How long a passed theory test is valid

This rule changed in 2026, so check which date applies to you:

  • Passed before 19 August 2026: the theory test is valid for four months.
  • Passed on or after 19 August 2026: the theory test is valid for one year (Transportstyrelsen regulation TSFS 2026:47).

In both cases you must pass the driving test inside that period. If you do not, you must take the theory test again. Transportstyrelsen can extend the validity only for special reasons, for example a documented illness or if Trafikverket could not offer you a test time, and the application must arrive before your result expires.

The longer window makes planning easier, but it is not a reason to pass theory a year early and then forget it. The knowledge you need on the theory test is the same knowledge the examiner expects to see on the road.

Timing the driving test

Book the driving test when your driving is stable in varied traffic, not only on familiar streets. Before the date you should be comfortable with roundabouts, signalled junctions, lane changes, rural roads, motorway driving, overtaking and meeting traffic, parking and reversing, and driving independently to a destination.

The slot Trafikverket sets aside for the test is 45 minutes. If your driving school books for you, ask how they judge your readiness. If you book yourself, ask your instructor or supervisor to do a mock test first.

Paying, cancelling and rebooking

  • Fees: current prices for tests, photo and car hire are listed on Trafikverket's price page. Evening and weekend slots cost more than weekday daytime slots.
  • Under 18: if you are under 18 when you book, the fee must be paid at least 25 hours before the test, or the booking is cancelled automatically.
  • Cancelling: cancel or rebook at least 24 hours before the test and the fee is refunded automatically. Later than that, or if you do not show up, you pay the full fee, even if the reason was a traffic jam.
  • Illness: you can ask for a refund with a medical certificate. Do not turn up sick, because you may be refused.
  • One test per day: you can only take one test per day for the same licence category.

Photo and ID on test day

Trafikverket photographs you before your first theory test, so you do not need to bring a photo. Bring a valid, approved identity document. Without it you cannot take the test and you still pay the fee. Arrive at least 30 minutes early for the theory test so the photo and check-in do not eat into your nerves.

Typical mistakes

  • Booking because a date is free, not because you are ready. An early date can create pressure that leads to rushed, shallow preparation.
  • Booking the theory test before risk education is registered. The course provider reports completion, and the test cannot go ahead without it.
  • Leaving no gap between theory and driving test. If you fail theory on Monday, a driving test on Tuesday is lost.
  • Mixing up the old and new validity rules. A theory pass from before 19 August 2026 still has only four months.
  • Cancelling late. Under 24 hours means paying the full fee.

FAQ

How long is the theory test valid in Sweden?

For category B, a theory test passed on or after 19 August 2026 is valid for one year. A pass before that date is valid for four months. You must pass the driving test within that time.

Can I take the driving test before the theory test?

No. For category B you must pass the theory test before you take the driving test. Trafikverket recommends booking both at the same time a few weeks apart.

What happens if I cancel my test late?

If you cancel or rebook less than 24 hours before the test, you still pay the fee. Cancel earlier and the fee is refunded automatically.

Practise in Körkort Hero before you book

The best time to book theory is when you pass practice tests consistently, not when you have seen every question once. Körkort Hero lets you take category B practice tests in 16 languages and shows which topics still need work, so you can choose a test date with confidence.

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