Exporting a Swedish-Registered Car 2026: Transportstyrelsen Deregistration and Tax Refund

Transportstyrelsen export deregistration step by step

To take a Swedish-registered vehicle abroad permanently you must file an export deregistration (avregistrering för export) with Transportstyrelsen before the vehicle leaves Sweden. The process is fully digital via Transportstyrelsen’s e-service at transportstyrelsen.se, with BankID authentication required.

Required: Swedish vehicle registration certificate (registreringsbevis del 1 och del 2), valid kontrollbesiktning (MOT) within last 12-24 months, no outstanding fordonsskatt (annual vehicle tax), no parking fines or congestion-tax debts, and the buyer’s information if vehicle is being sold abroad. Cost: SEK 0 for the export deregistration itself; export plates (exportskyltar) cost SEK 320-450. The system issues confirmation immediately, and exportskyltar are mailed in 3-5 business days, valid for the chosen export-driving period (15-90 days).

Fordonsskatt refund and vehicle taxation context

Sweden has no autovero-equivalent (Finland’s purchase tax on first registration). Swedish vehicle taxation is mainly through annual fordonsskatt and CO2-based bonus-malus on new registrations. Annual fordonsskatt is refunded pro-rata for the unused portion of the year following export deregistration — Transportstyrelsen calculates the refund automatically and credits to the bank account on file within 4-8 weeks.

The refund is typically modest (SEK 100-3,000 depending on vehicle type and time of year). Diesel cars and high-CO2 vehicles have higher fordonsskatt and therefore larger pro-rata refunds. For company cars and leasing vehicles, the refund goes to the registered owner, not the user — coordinate with the leasing company before initiating export.

Customs and the EU/EEA distinction

EU/EEA destination: No customs duty or VAT in destination if you can prove the car was registered in your name in Sweden for at least 6 months before move and you are establishing residency under removal-goods exemption. Each destination has its own re-registration deadline: Finland 30 days, Germany 6 months for personal-use, Spain 30 days, Norway 30 days. Re-register promptly; driving on Swedish plates beyond the destination’s tolerance period is illegal and voids insurance.

Non-EU destination: Full import duty and local VAT typically apply unless covered by removal-goods exemption (UK ToR1, Switzerland Wohnsitzwechsel, Norway flytteguds). Removal-goods rules generally require: ownership of vehicle for at least 6-12 months before move, residence change documented, vehicle imported within 12 months of relocation. Verify with destination customs authority before shipping — wrong assumptions cost thousands.

Swedish vehicle export documentation table

Driving on exportskyltar: the time limit

Exportskyltar are valid for the period chosen at application (15, 30, 60, or 90 days). Trafikförsäkring (third-party insurance) covering the export-driving period and route is mandatory; driving with expired plates or without insurance is a criminal offence. If you cannot complete cross-border journey and re-registration in the chosen period, options are:

Apply for new exportskyltar with renewed insurance — possible but costly and only if vehicle has not entered destination country’s vehicle register. Re-register in destination country first on local temporary plates if available, then drive on local plates — the cleaner path. Most EU countries allow temporary import on Swedish plates for 30-90 days from arrival, after which local plates are required.

Selling vs exporting: financial comparison

Run the numbers before assuming export is right answer. Selling in Sweden typically yields more money than exporting due to: (1) Swedish second-hand market is reasonably efficient for SEK 50,000-500,000 cars; (2) Export and re-registration in destination country can cost SEK 5,000-30,000 in fees, taxes and homologation; (3) Most destination countries impose conformity tests (Spain ITV homologación, Germany Einzelabnahme by TÜV) costing SEK 3,000-20,000 if Swedish car was not type-approved for destination; (4) Right-hand-drive considerations if moving to UK/Ireland/Malta; (5) CO2-based malus or import tax in some destinations (e.g. Norway’s high registration tax).

Selling is almost always financially better unless: car has high sentimental or specialty value (classic, modified, rare); destination has very high local prices for same model; or move is short-term (under 3 years) with intent to return car to Sweden.

Returning the car to Sweden later

If you bring a Swedish-origin car back to Sweden after temporary residence abroad, no specific exemption is needed — you simply re-register. The car must pass kontrollbesiktning if more than 24 months since last MOT, and the registreringsbevis is updated with new owner status (if changed) and new address. Trafikförsäkring is mandatory from re-registration date.

Note: if you previously claimed pro-rata fordonsskatt refund on export, no double benefit — the new fordonsskatt year starts fresh from re-registration. Customs and import VAT do not apply for EU/EEA returns; for non-EU returns, the removal-goods exemption from EU regulation 1186/2009 applies if you owned the car abroad for at least 6 months and are returning to Swedish residence.