The Riksdag voted through the law change on Wednesday, according to multiple media reports. The government plans to remove the mandatory introductory course for private driving practice, which has been required since 2006. The removal is based on a Transportstyrelsen report showing the course had little or no effect, according to Minister Andreas Carlsson (M). The Riksdag stated that the course 'has not had the intended effect of improving the planning, structure and content of private driving practice.' The government argued that the course requirement was a threshold for private driving practice and limited the ability to practice with multiple supervisors.
The proposal has met with criticism from traffic safety organization NTF and driving schools, according to multiple media reports. According to SVT Nyheter, Jonas Nilsson, driving school teacher and CEO of Tingvalla trafikskola, described the proposal as 'vote fishing.' According to SVT Nyheter, Anders Kalborg, head of NTF Värmland, said the problem is that supervisors get no guidance when they go out to practice drive, often with their own children. Jonas Nilsson claimed his driving school would lose between 300,000 and 700,000 SEK if the course is removed. NTF Värmland also runs a driving school and would lose revenue, but said traffic safety is the main concern.
The proposal feels like 'vote fishing'.
Minister Andreas Carlsson defended the decision, saying the removal is about removing a threshold and enabling more practice, allowing more people to be supervisors. The introduction course, also known as supervisor training (Handledarkurs), must be completed before submitting the supervision application. The course aims to enhance traffic safety during private practice driving, covering basic knowledge, useful tips, and helping set up a structured approach to private training. The course is taken in groups of up to 30 people and is offered in both Swedish and English.
A driving instructor must be at least 21 years old, have a valid B license for at least three of the last ten years, and have completed polytechnic training as a traffic instructor. The education for driving instructors is a polytechnic degree comprising 300 credits. A supervisor can have a maximum of 5 students at a time, and the student must be at least 15 years and 9 months old. Since 2010, there is no requirement for the supervisor and student to take the course together.
The problem is that supervisors get no guidance when they go out to practice drive, often with their own children.
The exact effective date of the law change remains uncertain. The Riksdagen official record states the amendment will come into force on 1 August 2026, but some media reports have cited August 1, 2025. The discrepancy has not been resolved. It is also unclear what specific evidence the Transportstyrelsen report provided to show the course had little or no effect, and how the removal will impact traffic safety and accident rates among novice drivers. The financial impact on driving schools and traffic safety organizations is also unknown, as is whether any alternative measures will be introduced to ensure supervisors are adequately prepared.