New driving licence rules 2026
The following information has been taken from Hasslo Trafikskola website:
“New driving license rules 2026 – how the view of alcohol in traffic will be affected
On January 15, 2026, new rules for driving licenses in 2026 came into effect regarding how alcohol affects the right to hold a driving license. The change is based on the Swedish Transport Agency’s regulation TSF2010:25, with amendments according to TSFS2026:2 , which regulates medical requirements for holding a driving license. The change is not about blood alcohol limits in traffic, but about how the authority assesses people from a medical perspective.
The rules regarding drunk driving are exactly the same as before. You may never drive a car with alcohol in your system. What has changed is how the Swedish Transport Agency makes its medical assessment in driver’s license cases where alcohol could previously have been a factor. Today, an actual diagnosis of alcohol dependence is required for a driver’s license to be revoked for medical reasons.
What has the Swedish Transport Agency changed regarding alcohol and driving licenses?
Previously, Sweden had its own, stricter rules than the rest of the EU regarding alcohol and driving licenses. If a person showed signs of high alcohol consumption through blood tests or medical assessments, this could be enough for the driving license to be revoked, even if the person did not have a diagnosis indicating alcohol dependence.
An example is a person who has never driven drunk but who, in connection with a health check or a medical certificate, provides blood tests that show high alcohol consumption over time. This could previously have led to the Swedish Transport Agency assessing the person as unfit to have a driving license, even though there was no alcohol dependence.
This has changed – new driving license rules 2026
With new driving license rules in 2026, it is required that a person actually has a confirmed alcohol addiction in order for the Swedish Transport Agency to revoke a driving license for medical reasons. It is therefore no longer sufficient to have indications of high consumption or occasional test results that point in the wrong direction. In the event of drunk driving, the driving license will be revoked just as before, immediately and without any connection to these new rules.
The Swedish Transport Agency has adapted the rules to the same level as the rest of the EU, which means that the assessment now focuses on real medical risks and not general assumptions.
This is how it affects you if you have or are going to get a driver’s license
For those of you who already have a driver’s license, this means a clearer and fairer assessment. If you do not have any addiction problems, the risk that a single test result will lead to extensive investigations or extra checks is reduced.
For those of you who are going to get a driver’s license, this means that you will be assessed more fairly from a medical perspective. The new driving license regulations 2026 mean that the Swedish Transport Agency does not set up unnecessary obstacles for people who are otherwise fully suitable as drivers.
It is important to understand that this does not mean any change to the rules regarding alcohol in traffic. The requirement to be completely sober when driving, practice driving and driving up remains unchanged. At the same time, the same responsibility applies as before to not have alcohol left in your body from the day before and to always take responsibility as a driver in matters related to alcohol. The rules regarding drunk driving and sobriety in traffic are exactly the same.
Therefore, the rules regarding alcohol are changing
The background to the change is that the previous Swedish rules were considered to be stricter than necessary and lacked clear support in research when it comes to road safety. People without addiction problems could be affected, even though they did not pose an actual risk in traffic.
The new driving license regulations for 2026 focus instead on those people who actually have a medical problem related to alcohol. This makes the regulations more accurate, fairer and more similar to those in other EU countries.
What you should consider as a student at Hässlö
At Hässlö Trafikskola we closely follow all changes that occur regarding laws and regulations for driving licenses. It is a natural part of our role to stay updated and to provide our students with accurate information.
When it comes to the new rules around alcohol and driving licenses, the message is still clear. You should always be completely sober when driving. You should always use good judgment in traffic. That never changes.
The difference with the new rules for driving licenses in 2026 is that you as a learner or driver do not have to worry about being incorrectly assessed from a medical perspective if you do not have a real alcohol addiction. The rules have become fairer, but the responsibility as a driver is just as great as before when it comes to alcohol and driving.”
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