Sweden license plate (S) in 2026 ✅
Swedish car number plates since 1972 have used the standard European size in black letters on a white background. The Euroband with the code S is displayed on the left side of the Swedish number plate. The configuration has been three letters, two numbers and one letter since 2019.
Language: Swedish
International code: S
In Sweden they drive on the right
First plate was registered on: 1905.
There are 5 2 0 cars per 1000 inhabitants.
Continent: Europe
Table of contents of Sweden license plates
Current Sweden Car License Plates
Sweden car license plates (known as Ruotsalainen rekisterikilpi in Swedish) have used a three-letter, two-number and one-letter configuration, AAA 00A, since 2019. The colors used on Swedish license plates vary depending on the type of plate and the service or purpose of the vehicle, while ordinary vehicle registration plates use black characters on a white background. Swedish license plates have had no regional code since 1972. The current Sweden license plate size is 520x110 mm, while motorcycle plates measure 170x150 mm. The first group of three characters on Swedish car license plates consists of three letters. Until 2013, these were issued sequentially, with some small backwards adjustments to reuse combinations that had previously fallen out of use. The letters I, Q and V are not used. Swedish license plates have used the Euroband with the international code S since April 1, 2003. In 2014, a new typeface was introduced, and the complete vehicle identification number was also displayed in the upper-left part of the registration plate. The current system was introduced in 2019. In Swedish, Sweden license plates are known as Registreringsskyltar i Sverige.
Old Sticker Used on Sweden License Plates Until 2009
Until 2009, Sweden used a sticker in the center of the rear license plate to identify the month of expiry. After the first group of characters, a large sticker was placed on Swedish rear license plates showing a number identifying the month when the license plate and vehicle inspection expired. The sticker also displayed the expiry year in small characters, with its color varying according to the year.
Current Personalized Sweden License Plates
Personalized Sweden license plates have been permitted since 1988. Since 2003, Swedish personalized license plates can use up to 7 characters. The letters I, H, V, Q, Å, Ä and Ö are permitted on Sweden personalized license plates. The price can be around 640 euros. Swedish license plates use the national coat of arms as a security hologram, so when a personalized plate does not have a Euroband, this is the only way to identify the nationality of a Swedish vehicle with a personalized registration plate without an international band. Personalized license plates containing offensive combinations of any kind are not permitted. The Swedish authorities officially recommend not using personalized license plates when traveling abroad and instead using the standard registration plate. They also recommend carrying the original license plate in addition to the personalized plate in case the destination country does not accept the personalized registration plate for any reason. You can check whether a Swedish personalized license plate is already in use here.
Special Sweden Car License Plates
Sweden currently uses several types of special license plates. These special Swedish car and motorcycle registration plates are identified by different background colors, as shown below. The following section provides the main types of special Sweden license plates currently in use and explains their characteristics.
Yellow Sweden Taxi License Plates
Current Swedish taxi license plates are characterized by their yellow background. These registration plates came into use in 2019 with a small design change compared with the previous system. From 1990 until 2019, Swedish taxis used the same basic type of license plate as the current system, but with a smaller letter T on the right side of the plate. Personalized taxi license plates are also permitted, although before 2019 the letter T was not displayed on these personalized plates.
Green Sweden Dealer Vehicle License Plates
Current Swedish dealer vehicle license plates have a green background with black characters. Since 2017, dealer vehicle plates have displayed the letter B on the right side of the plate and/or the vehicle registration expiry date. For motorcycles, the letter M is used. T identifies tractors and S identifies trailers.
Red Temporary Sweden License Plates
Swedish red temporary license plates have used white characters on a red background since January 2014. The configuration is the same as the ordinary system. These red temporary Sweden license plates are used for exports, imports and temporary tourist vehicles. The expiry day and month are displayed on the left side of the plate, while the expiry year is displayed on the right. Swedish red temporary license plates measure 520x110 mm, or 170x150 mm when the plate is a two-line design.
Old Temporary, Import, Export and Temporary Tourist Sweden License Plates
In January 2014, temporary license plates used for temporary tourism, imports and exports adopted a new configuration and design, while retaining the white characters on a light red background used on Swedish import license plates until that time.
On the left side, a red band displayed the day (above) and month (below) of expiry. This information was separated from the registration number by a vertical white band, while the expiry year was displayed on the right. Until 2001, Swedish export license plates were similar to Finnish export plates, consisting of black characters on a white background with two red bands on the plate, one on each side of the registration number. The last two digits of the year were shown on the right and the month on the left. Temporary tourist plates were similar but used red characters on a white background and ended with the letter S, while import plates used white characters on a red background and did not have a Euroband.
Orange Sweden Competition License Plates
On January 1, 2016, Sweden introduced a new license plate system exclusively for competition vehicles such as rally cars. This system is characterized by orange license plates measuring 300x110 mm. On the left side of the plate, a half-size Euroband is displayed with the letter S in a reduced size.
Black Swedish Military License Plates
Current Swedish military license plates consist only of yellow numbers on a black background. These plates use the previous design that was used until 1972.
Swedish Royal Family License Plate
The Swedish Royal Family uses a special license plate for important events, in a similar way to royal families in other countries. This special registration plate consists of a crown on a white background. The Swedish Royal Family belongs to the House of Bernadotte, and this special plate is used exclusively by the royal family. An example is shown below.
Current Swedish Diplomatic Corps License Plates
Swedish Diplomatic Corps car license plates currently use black characters on a blue background. The first two letters of Swedish diplomatic license plates identify the country or diplomatic mission. They are followed by three numbers and one letter. This final letter identifies the diplomatic status. The first two letters identify the country. (See embassy and diplomatic mission codes below.) The country names were selected in alphabetical order in French. For this reason, the first country is South Africa (Afrique du Sud).
What Does the Final Letter on Swedish Diplomatic License Plates Mean?
Below you can find the meaning of the final letter on Swedish diplomatic license plates.
| Final letter | Identifies |
|---|---|
| A | Ambassador |
| B | Embassy (vehicles belonging to the embassy) |
| C | Diplomatic Corps |
| D | Administrative and Technical Staff |
| E | Consular Corps |
| F | Consul |
| G | Consular Technical Staff |
| H | International Organization |
| I | Head of International Organizations |
Old Sweden License Plates (1906-1972)
Old Swedish license plates used between 1906 and the end of 1972 were smaller than current plates and had black characters on a white background. These historical Sweden license plates began with one or two letters identifying the region, followed by a series of numbers. For example, Stockholm used the codes A, AA and AB.
When Was the First Sweden License Plate Registered?
The first Sweden license plate was registered in Stockholm in 1905 and consisted of the letter A followed by a series of numbers. In other parts of the country, vehicles had not yet been registered, making this the first Swedish vehicle officially registered with a license plate.
Sweden License Plates from 1906 to 1972
From 1906 to 1972, Sweden used an older license plate system similar to the one used before 1906, with black characters on a white background. The plates began with one or two letters identifying the region, followed by up to five numbers. For example, the letters A, AA and AB were used in Stockholm.
Sweden License Plates from 1973
Since 1973, Swedish license plates have maintained a three-letter and three-number design until 2019, with the series starting at 001 rather than 000. In 2003, the Euroband with the international code S was introduced. In 2009, the stickers on rear license plates were discontinued. In 2014, a new typeface was introduced. In 2019, the current design was introduced, ending the registration number with a letter.
☛ Which code identifies cars from Sweden?
The code S identifies Sweden. The license plates of Sweden may be used with the international registration code S next to it on the back part of the car.
Example of a car with the international recognition code of Sweden
Below you can find a car with the oval code and international recognition of Sweden which is S.
Questions and answers about car license plates in Sweden 🥇
Where is the code S in a license plate from?
The international code S identifies Sweden, in Europe.
Which country uses the code S on its license plate?
The country that uses the code S on its car license plate system is Sweden.. The letter or letters S always identify Sweden. The international code S must always be displayed on the rear of the vehicle inSwedenSpain in an oval in black characters on a white background when travelling abroad, except in very rare cases.
When did Sweden have its first ordinary car license plate?
The date of the first car license plate registration officially issued in Sweden was in 1905.
Which side of the road do people drive on in Sweden?
In Sweden, you drive on the right side of the road.
On which continent is Sweden located?
Sweden is located in the continent Europe. You can check how are the license plates of Europe following the link to the general section within matriculasdelmundo. Car license plates in Europe
What are license plates from Sweden called in other English-speaking couuntries?
In English, license plate of Sweden is commonly called a license plate of Sweden in the United States and Canada. In the UK and Australia, it’s often known as a number plate of Sweden. Another term, registration plate of Sweden, is understood globally and is slightly more formal. All these terms refer to the same vehicle identification plate of Sweden, with usage varying by country. Car plate of Sweden can be used in more technical situations.
Is it the same a license plate of Sweden and a registration plate of Sweden?
Yes, both license plate of Sweden and registration plate of Sweden can be used to refer the same vehicle registration unique number of Sweden.
Cite this section about the license plates of Sweden
Matriculasdelmundo. License plates of Sweden. Reviewed and updated information. Matriculasdelmundo.com. Retrieved on 13/09/2026 from https://
License plates from other states and territories that you may be interested in:
Map of the Sweden license plates
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Official Sources on License Plates of Sweden
All the information about the license plates of cars and motorcycles in Sweden and vehicle plates shown here has been extracted from official state archives (such as the BOE and the DGT in Spain), from personal sightings, by contacting automobile clubs from other countries, or through media or files referenced in the text. This information on car and motorcycle plates in Sweden has been collected since 2009, so we hope you find the information you're looking for about Sweden license plates.
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