Sweden is easy caravan country once you’re on the road. What catches visitors out is the paperwork: a speed limit lower than at home, a licence rule based on combined weight, and winter and overnight rules that reach the caravan itself.
When you need this
- You’re planning a first caravan trip to Sweden from Germany, the Netherlands or Denmark.
- You want to know whether your licence covers your car and caravan together.
- Your caravan is Tempo 100-approved at home and you’re wondering whether that counts here.
- You’re booking the Øresund Bridge or a ferry with a caravan behind the car.
- You’re towing in autumn or winter, when the tyre rules reach the caravan.
Speed: 80 km/h, motorways included
Swedish law caps any car towing a braked caravan at 80 km/h, and that includes 110 and 120 km/h motorways. The same 80 applies to a light unbraked trailer, one of at most 750 kg that weighs no more than half the car’s kerb weight. Heavier unbraked trailers drop to 40 km/h, or 30 if the trailer outweighs the car. A lower posted limit always wins.
The fine follows your vehicle’s limit, not the road’s. Doing 100 on a 110 motorway is 20 km/h over, and the fixed fine is calculated from 80. Fines and cameras are covered in our guide to speed limits in Sweden.
Coming through Denmark? The Danish limit with a trailer is also 80 outside built-up areas. Only a caravan that meets Denmark’s own Tempo 100 conditions may do 100 on Danish motorways. The whole route is in driving to Sweden from Germany.
Tempo 100: proposed, not in force
On 3 July 2026 the Swedish government proposed letting cars with certain caravans do up to 100 km/h on motorways and motortrafikleder (expressways). A combination would only qualify after a special suitability inspection, and the proposed start date is 1 March 2027. It went out for consultation, and several news sites write about it as if it were already decided. It isn’t. A German or Danish Tempo 100 approval doesn’t raise your Swedish limit today.
Licence: add the two weights
The licence question uses the totalvikt (maximum authorised mass) printed on the registration documents of both car and caravan, not what they weigh on the day. Add the two together.
| Combination | Licence you need |
|---|---|
| Caravan of at most 750 kg | B |
| Heavier caravan, car + caravan at most 3,500 kg | B |
| Car + caravan over 3,500 kg, at most 4,250 kg | Extended B (B96), after a special driving test |
| Caravan up to 3,500 kg behind a B car, above those limits | BE |
The driver must hold a licence for the trailer as well as the car, and a combination your licence doesn’t cover counts as driving without a valid licence. A licence from an EEA country is valid in Sweden according to the categories printed on it. Many pages quote the B limit as a flat 750 kg, which leaves out the 3,500 kg combination rule.
New EU licence rules will eventually allow some heavier B-licence combinations, up to 5,000 kg after training or a test. Most of those rules apply from 26 November 2029, and Sweden hasn’t decided how the training will work yet.
Before you leave: mirrors, gas and power
Weights. Your car’s registration document shows the maximum braked trailer weight (högsta vikt bromsat släp). Never tow more than that. Transportstyrelsen’s online trailer calculator (släpvagnskalkylatorn) helps you check car and licence together.
Mirrors. Transportstyrelsen tells you to check that your mirrors are good enough with the caravan hitched. If the caravan is wider than the car and hides the road behind, fit caravan extension mirrors.
Gas. Swedish rescue services say a leisure caravan may carry at most two gas bottles of up to 30 liters each, secured and reachable only from outside. Pack full bottles for the whole trip: a foreign exchange bottle can’t usually be swapped in Sweden. Our LPG and gas bottles guide covers refills and adapters.
Power. Campsite hook-ups use the blue round CEE plug. Bring a proper hook-up cable of no more than 25 m, not a household extension cable. See power sockets in Sweden.
Bridges, ferries and city charges
The caravan changes the price class wherever length decides the fare. On the Øresund Bridge a car with a caravan pays about double the car rate, and a car-only ticket doesn’t cover it. Ferries also price by length, so measure car and caravan together before you book. Our Øresund Bridge guide has the booking options.
On board, close the caravan’s main gas valve before you drive onto the ship. Operators set their own limits: Stena Line, for example, allows at most three cylinders weighing 47 kg in total.
In Stockholm and Gothenburg, trailers are exempt from congestion charges. The car pays its normal charge and the caravan adds nothing.
Where to stay overnight
Allemansrätten, the right of public access, covers a tent but not a caravan with its towing vehicle. Driving onto open ground is illegal. Your nights happen at campsites, signed caravan sites or legal parking.
| Sign | Means | Caravans? |
|---|---|---|
| H11 Campingplats | Campsite for tents and vehicles | Yes |
| H12 Husvagnsplats | Site for vehicles with living space | Yes |
| H28 Husbilsplats | Site for motorhomes only | No |
That last row catches caravanners out: a ställplats (motorhome stopover) signed H28 is for motorhomes only, so look for H11 or H12. Swedish campsites need no camping card, and a free Camping ID covers check-in. See Swedish campsites.
Rest areas allow up to 24 hours in principle, but Trafikverket says they’re for rest, not for long-term parked caravans. On municipal streets in built-up areas and on public roads, a vehicle may stay at most 24 hours in a row on weekdays. The details are in overnight RV parking in Sweden.
Winter: the caravan needs winter tyres too
From 1 December to 31 March, whenever there are winter road conditions, a trailer towed by a car needs winter tyres like the car does. The rule applies to foreign vehicles.
- Studs match: if the car is studded, the caravan must be studded too. Studs are allowed from 1 October to 15 April.
- Tread: at least 3 mm on car and caravan in the winter period.
- M+S tyres: caravans up to 3,500 kg may still use M+S tyres designed for winter driving until 30 November 2028.
Most campsites close in winter, so check that your destination stays open. The full rules are in winter tyres in Sweden.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Speed limit with a caravan | 80 km/h, motorways included |
| Tempo 100 | Proposed from 1 March 2027 for approved combinations; not in force |
| Øresund Bridge, car + trailer up to 15 m | 940 DKK toll station, 840 online, 364 with ØresundGO (from 14 September 2026) |
| Øresund Bridge, car + trailer over 15 m | 1,655 DKK toll station, 1,485 online, 725 with ØresundGO |
| Congestion tax on the caravan | 0 kr — trailers exempt |
| Speeding fine | From 1,500 kr, calculated from 80 km/h |
| No winter tyres when required | 2,000 kr (driver) |
| Studless caravan behind studded car | 1,000 kr |
| Ferries and campsites | Vary by operator, length and season — check live |
FAQ
Can I tow a caravan on a B licence in Sweden?
Yes, if the combination is light enough. A B licence covers a caravan of at most 750 kg, or a heavier one when the car’s and caravan’s maximum authorised masses add up to no more than 3,500 kg. Extended B (B96) raises the combined limit to 4,250 kg; above that you need BE. Your licence counts according to the categories printed on it.
What is the speed limit with a caravan in Sweden?
80 km/h, even on 110 and 120 km/h motorways, for any car towing a braked caravan or a light unbraked trailer. A heavier unbraked trailer lowers the limit to 40 or 30 km/h. A lower posted limit always applies. If you are caught speeding, the fine is calculated from 80, so 100 on a motorway is 20 over.
Can I drive 100 km/h with a Tempo 100 caravan in Sweden?
Not yet. Sweden has no Tempo 100 rule in force, so a German or Danish approval does not raise your limit. On 3 July 2026 the government proposed 100 km/h on motorways and expressways for combinations approved at a special suitability inspection, from 1 March 2027. Until that is decided and in force, the limit is 80.
Does my caravan need winter tyres in Sweden?
Yes, between 1 December and 31 March whenever there are winter road conditions, the trailer needs winter tyres just like the car. If the car has studded tyres, the caravan must be studded too. Caravans up to 3,500 kg may still use M+S tyres designed for winter driving until 30 November 2028. The rules apply to foreign vehicles.
Where can I stay overnight with a caravan in Sweden?
At campsites and signed caravan sites (husvagnsplats), or where parking is legal. Allemansrätten does not cover a caravan with its towing vehicle. A sign reading husbilsplats marks a site for motorhomes only. Rest areas allow up to 24 hours in principle, but Trafikverket says they are for rest, not for long-term parked caravans.
How much does the Øresund Bridge cost with a caravan?
From 14 September 2026, a car with a trailer or caravan up to 15 m long pays 940 DKK per crossing at the toll station, 840 DKK online or 364 DKK with an ØresundGO agreement. Over 15 m the prices are 1,655, 1,485 and 725 DKK. A car-only ticket does not cover a caravan. Check the operator’s price page before you travel.
How many gas bottles can I carry in a caravan?
Swedish rescue services say a leisure caravan may carry at most two gas bottles of up to 30 liters each, secured and reachable only from outside. Ferry operators set their own limits: Stena Line allows at most three cylinders weighing 47 kg in total. Close the main gas valve before you drive on board.
Related guides
- Speed limits in Sweden: the full fine table and how cameras work.
- Winter tyres in Sweden: studs, tread and dates if your trip crosses 1 December.
- Driving to Sweden from Germany: bridges, ferries and the Danish trailer rules on the way.
- Swedish campsites: booking, the free Camping ID and what a pitch includes.
- Sweden by motorhome: the planning hub for travel with living space.
Facts verified 2026-09-24. Sources: Sveriges Riksdag (Road Traffic Ordinance, Driving Licence Act, Road Traffic Definitions Act), Transportstyrelsen, Regeringen, Åklagarmyndigheten, Polisen, Naturvårdsverket, Trafikverket, Øresundsbron, Räddningstjänsten Jämtland, Stena Line — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.