Most learners in Sweden do not have to choose one or the other. The usual and often cheapest route is a mix: lessons at a driving school (trafikskola) plus private practice (övningskörning) with an approved supervisor, a handledare. The trick is to use each for what it does best.

What a driving school is good at

  • Structure. A school follows the category B curriculum and knows what the test requires.
  • Professional feedback. An instructor spots habits that a parent or friend may not notice, or may share.
  • Safety-critical skills. Motorway entry, overtaking, complex junctions and city traffic are easier to start with dual controls and an experienced teacher.
  • Test readiness. Mock tests with an instructor show whether you are actually ready to book.

A school also handles risk education bookings for its students and can usually lend its car for the driving test.

What private practice is good at

  • Volume. Skill becomes stable through repetition, and private hours cost little compared with lessons.
  • Variety. Practising at different times of day, in rain, darkness and on unfamiliar roads builds judgement.
  • Confidence. Relaxed repetition of a skill you were taught in a lesson helps it become automatic.

Rules for private practice in 2026

Private practice is only legal when the setup is approved. According to Transportstyrelsen:

  • The learner needs a valid learner's permit (körkortstillstånd). For a passenger car you may practise from age 16.
  • The handledare must be at least 24 years old, hold a valid licence for the vehicle and have held it for at least five of the last ten years.
  • Approval per learner. The supervisor needs a separate approval from Transportstyrelsen for each learner, and can supervise at most five learners at a time. The approval (handledarbevis) is valid for five years.
  • No introductory course since 1 August 2026. The compulsory introductory course (introduktionsutbildning) for private practice in category B has been abolished. Older articles may still mention it.
  • The supervisor is the driver in law. The handledare is responsible during practice and counts as the driver, which also means they must be fit to drive. They must carry the handledarbevis.
  • Sign on the car. The car must show the green ÖVNINGSKÖR sign, clearly visible from behind.

Practising with a supervisor who is not approved counts as unlicensed driving, and the learner's permit can be withdrawn.

How to combine them

Use a simple loop:

  • Lesson: the instructor introduces or corrects a skill, for example lane choice in roundabouts.
  • Ask for homework: "What should I practise at home before next time?"
  • Private practice: repeat that exact skill calmly, several times, on suitable roads.
  • Next lesson: show the instructor and move on, or fix what is still wrong.

Start private practice in quiet areas and add difficulty step by step. Ask your supervisor to read the same theory as you, because rules and recommended techniques may have changed since they learned to drive.

Typical mistakes

  • Random driving. Driving to the shop and back is not training. Each private session needs one clear goal.
  • Conflicting advice. If the handledare and instructor disagree, follow the instructor and ask them to explain why. Old habits from decades ago are a common source of conflict.
  • Too much too soon. Heavy city traffic in the first weeks creates stress and teaches little.
  • Copying the supervisor's habits. Rolling stops, one-handed steering and late indicating are easy to inherit.
  • Charging for supervision. If a private supervisor takes payment, it can be treated as running an unlicensed driving school.
  • Skipping lessons entirely. Without professional feedback, many learners discover only at the mock test that they practised the wrong technique for months.

FAQ

Do you still need an introductory course to practise driving privately in Sweden?

No. For category B, the requirement was abolished on 1 August 2026. Your supervisor still needs to be approved by Transportstyrelsen before you practise together.

Who can be a handledare in Sweden?

Someone who is at least 24, holds a valid licence for the vehicle and has held it for at least five of the last ten years, and who is approved by Transportstyrelsen for that specific learner.

How many driving lessons do I need if I also practise privately?

There is no fixed number. It depends on experience and how structured your private practice is. Many learners use lessons for new skills and mock tests, and private practice for the repetition in between.

Keep theory in step with Körkort Hero

Good practice in the car starts with understanding the rules. Körkort Hero lets learners and supervisors go through Swedish category B theory in 16 languages, so both of you work from the same rules during private practice.

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