The car: tyres, brakes, roadworthiness test, load and trailers

As the driver, you are responsible for the car being roadworthy when you drive. You do not need to be a mechanic, but you must be able to carry out simple checks and know which rules apply to tyres, roadworthiness tests, load and trailers.

Tyres

The tyres are the car's only contact with the road. Each tyre has a contact area about the size of the palm of a hand, and all the grip when braking and steering goes through them.

Tread depth

• In summer road conditions the tyres must have a tread depth (mönsterdjup) of at least 1.6 mm.
• Winter tyres must have a tread depth of at least 3 mm during the period 1 December–31 March.

These are the minimum permitted levels. A tyre with more tread drains water away better and reduces the risk of aquaplaning.

Winter tyres

During the period 1 December–31 March, cars must have winter tyres (vinterdäck) or equivalent equipment when there are winter road conditions (vinterväglag) (Traffic Ordinance (trafikförordningen) 4 kap. 18 a §). Winter road conditions means that there is snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road. It is the police who decide whether there are winter road conditions at the location.

Studded tyres

Studded tyres (dubbdäck) are permitted 1 October–15 April. Outside that period you may use them if there are, or are expected to be, winter road conditions. Some more rules:

• A car may not have studded and non-studded tyres at the same time.
• If the car has studded tyres, the trailer must also have studded tyres. The reverse does not apply: a car without studs may tow a trailer with studded tyres.

Tyre pressure

The wrong tyre pressure impairs road holding, increases fuel consumption and wears the tyres. The correct pressure for your car is in the owner's manual. Check the pressure often, for example every other time you fill up.

Brakes, steering and safety systems

If the brake pedal feels spongy, goes down further than usual, or if the car pulls to one side when you brake, you must have a garage check the brakes before you continue driving. The same applies if a brake warning light is on.

Modern cars have electronic assistance systems:

• ABS prevents the wheels from locking when you brake hard, so that you can steer at the same time.
• ESC (electronic stability control, antisladdsystem) brakes individual wheels to keep the car on the right course if it starts to skid.

The systems help, but they cannot change physics. On ice the stopping distance is still long.

Lights

The lamps and headlights required for the car must be on when you drive (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 68 §). A broken bulb must therefore be replaced before you drive. Check regularly:

• dipped headlights and main beam,
• rear lights and brake lights,
• direction indicators,
• number plate lighting.

A simple way is to walk round the car with the lights on, or ask someone to look while you brake and indicate.

Periodic roadworthiness test

Cars must undergo a periodic roadworthiness test (kontrollbesiktning) regularly:

• The first time no later than 36 months after the month the car was first put into service.
• The second time no later than 24 months after the month in which the first test was carried out.
• After that no later than 14 months after the month in which the previous test was carried out.

You may have the test done earlier if you want. The next deadline is then counted from the month the test was actually carried out.

Driving ban

• If the car is not tested in time, it automatically gets a driving ban (körförbud). You may then only drive by the shortest suitable route to a garage for repair or to a testing company.
• If the car has defects that mean it cannot be approved, you must fix them and come back for a re-inspection (efterkontroll) within a certain time. If you miss it, the car gets a driving ban.
• If the car is in such poor condition that it cannot be used without obvious danger to road safety, the testing station issues a driving ban immediately. The driving ban applies until the car has been approved at a new roadworthiness test. You may then only drive by the shortest suitable route to a testing body, not to a garage. So the car must be recovered or transported to the garage (Vehicle Ordinance (fordonsförordningen) 6 kap. 16 och 21 §§).

Seat belts and children

Everyone travelling in a car with seat belts must sit in a seat with a belt and use it (trafikförordningen 4 kap. 10 §). As the driver, you must make sure that passengers under 15 years use a seat belt or other safety device (trafikförordningen 4 kap. 10 c §).

Children shorter than 135 cm must use a child car seat (bilbarnstol), a booster cushion (bälteskudde) or another special child safety device (trafikförordningen 4 kap. 10 §). Never place a rear-facing child car seat in front of an activated airbag. The airbag deploys with great force and can seriously injure the child.

The seat belt does not need to be used when the car is stationary or when you are reversing (trafikförordningen 4 kap. 10 d §).

Load and passengers

• You may not carry more passengers than the car is registered for (trafikförordningen 4 kap. 6 §).
• Load must not be placed so that it can injure someone, create danger, drag on the ground or fall off (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 80 §). Secure the load.
• Loose objects in the passenger compartment become dangerous projectiles under heavy braking. Put heavy items in the boot.
• With a heavy load or a trailer, the car may behave differently. The stopping distance becomes longer and the car may become more sensitive to crosswinds.

What may you tow with a category B licence?

With category B you may drive a car or light lorry with a gross weight (totalvikt) of at most 3,500 kg and tow a light trailer (Driving Licence Act (körkortslagen) 2 kap. 5 §).

A trailer counts as light if:

• the trailer's gross weight is at most 750 kg, or
• the trailer is heavier, but the combined gross weight of the car and trailer is at most 3,500 kg.

If you want to tow heavier loads, there are two routes:

• Extended B (utökad B, B96): the combined gross weight of car and trailer may be at most 4,250 kg. You need to pass a special driving test (körkortslagen 2 kap. 7 a §).
• BE: for combinations heavier than that.

Reading the registration certificate

• Gross weight (totalvikt) is the maximum weight the vehicle is built for. It is the gross weight that determines which licence you need.
• Actual weight (bruttovikt) is what the vehicle actually weighs right now, with its load.
• Maximum trailer weight (maximal släpvagnsvikt) shows how heavy a trailer the car may tow, with and without brakes.
• Maximum train weight (maximal tågvikt) shows how much car and trailer may weigh together.

Both the licence and the car's limits must be met. Just because your licence allows a trailer does not mean that your particular car may tow it.

Lower speeds apply with a trailer. See the chapter on speed and distance.

Remember

• Tread depth at least 1.6 mm in summer road conditions and 3 mm on winter tyres 1 December–31 March.
• Winter tyres are required 1 December–31 March in winter road conditions. Studded tyres are permitted 1 October–15 April.
• Periodic roadworthiness test: no later than after 36 months, then 24 months, then every 14 months.
• A missed test automatically leads to a driving ban.
• Children under 135 cm must have a child car seat or booster cushion. No rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
• B: car of at most 3,500 kg plus a light trailer. B96 up to 4,250 kg combined, otherwise BE.