Parking and Reversing in Sweden: Rules and Test Tips

Parking questions are some of the most "number heavy" on the Swedish theory test, and reversing is a fixed part of the practical driving test. The good news is that the rules are logical once you see why they exist: a parked car must never hide a pedestrian, block a junction or leave a train with nowhere to go.

Stopping versus parking

Swedish law separates two things, and the theory test often checks that you know the difference.

Stopping (stannande) is standing still for a short time, for example to let a passenger in or out or to load or unload goods.
Parking (parkering) is leaving the vehicle standing, with or without a driver, for any other reason.

Standing still because of traffic, or to avoid danger, is neither. Some places ban only parking, others ban stopping too.

Where and how to park on a road

The basic rules in Trafikförordningen (chapter 3) are:

Stop or park on the right-hand side in your direction of travel. On a one-way road you may also use the left side, and you may use the left side if there are rail or tram tracks on the right.
Park parallel to the road and as far from the middle of the carriageway as possible.
Park outside the carriageway if the road conditions allow it.
In a marked parking space, no wheel may be outside the markings.
Do not park so that another vehicle is blocked in or cannot drive away.

When you leave the car, make sure it cannot roll away and that nobody else can use it without permission. Doors must not be opened in a way that causes danger, for example into the path of a cyclist.

Where you may not stop or park

You may not stop or park:

on a pedestrian crossing, cycle crossing or cycle passage, or within 10 metres before it
in a junction, or within 10 metres of the nearest edge of the crossing carriageway
within 10 metres before a crossing cycle path or footpath
in a tunnel or underpass
on or near a hill crest, or in or near a curve where visibility is limited
along a solid lane line if the gap between your car and the line is less than 3 metres (unless a broken line runs between you and the solid line)
in a cycle lane, a hatched restricted area (spärrområde), a roundabout or a bus lane
on a level crossing, or where your car hides a road sign or traffic signal

At a bus or tram stop you may only stop briefly to let people in or out, and only without disturbing the bus or tram. If the stop has no road markings, this applies from 20 metres before to 5 metres after the bus stop sign E22.

You may not park (but may stop briefly):

within 30 metres of a level crossing
in front of a driveway or property entrance
on a priority road (huvudled)
next to another vehicle that is already parked or stopped at the edge (double parking)
in a passing place marked with sign E18

Signs and time limits

The signs that come up most often:

Sign	Meaning
C35	No parking
C39	No stopping or parking
C36 / C37	No parking on odd / even dates
C38	Date parking (odd and even sides by date)
C40	Designated space, for example a loading place
E19	Parking allowed

A C35 or C39 sign applies on the side of the road where it stands, from the sign to the next junction unless a supplementary plate says otherwise.

On public land inside built-up areas run by the municipality, and on public roads, you may park for no more than 24 hours in a row on weekdays, except the weekday before a Sunday or public holiday. Local rules and signs can set shorter limits.

If a parking disc (parkeringsskiva) is required, set it to the next half hour after you arrived. A ticket or disc goes at the front of the car, inside if possible, and must be readable from outside.

Reversing safely

The law is short: you may reverse or turn around only if it can be done without danger or obstruction to other road users. On a motorway and on a motor traffic road (motortrafikled) reversing and turning are not allowed at all, and you may only stop or park at signed parking or rest areas.

In practice, good reversing means:

Look all around before you move, including the blind spots behind the rear pillars.
Keep to walking pace or slower, so you have time to react to children and cyclists.
Keep checking while moving. The front swings out when you reverse with the wheels turned.
Stop and correct rather than keep going when you are unsure.

What the examiner looks for on the driving test

According to Trafikverket, you will have to reverse during the B driving test, and the examiner tells you clearly where and how far. You should also be able to park in different ways, for example in a parking space or in a parking bay along the road, and you tell the examiner when you have finished. The test time is 45 minutes.

You may use a reversing camera and other aids that the car has, but Trafikverket describes the camera as a complement to your own observation.

Typical theory test traps

10 metres versus 30 metres. Pedestrian crossings and junctions use 10 metres and ban stopping too. Level crossings use 30 metres and ban parking.
C35 versus C39. C35 means no parking, so a quick stop to drop someone off is fine. C39 bans stopping as well.
Priority road. Parking on a huvudled is banned even without a sign, but a short stop for a passenger is allowed if the place is otherwise legal.
Left-side parking. It is only allowed on one-way roads or when tracks are on the right. "There was space on the left" is never the reason.
Parking disc time. Arrive at 13:10 and the disc shows 13:30, not 13:00.

FAQ

Can I park on the pavement in Sweden?

No. Vehicles other than two-wheeled bicycles and light mopeds (class II) may not stop or park on a footpath or cycle path, and inside built-up areas you may not stop or park on public open ground (terräng) either.

Do I have to reverse into a parking space on the driving test?

Trafikverket does not name one fixed manoeuvre. You will reverse and should be able to park in different ways, so practise bay parking, parallel parking and straight-line reversing.

Is it allowed to get out and look while parking on the test?

Yes. Trafikverket's learner podcast says you may adjust a parking by opening the door or getting out to look if needed.

These distances and signs are easy to mix up under test pressure. You can drill them in Körkort Hero, which has category B theory questions in 16 languages, so you can check your understanding in your own language and then in Swedish.

Continue with these closely related topics in the same language: