QUICK ANSWER
Whoever is registered as the owner of the car also has to be the policyholder, from day one. If a young driver becomes the owner, it's not enough for a parent to hold the policy in their own name – the car then counts as uninsured.
When a child buys their first car, the family is often involved in more than one way at once: a parent might be paying, helping write the contract, or trying to keep costs down by putting the insurance on their own, cheaper policy. That's exactly the situation that generates the most fees for this group.
The rule is simple, even if the choices aren't always easy
Anyone can pay for a policy, but only the registered owner can be the policyholder. If a son or daughter becomes the owner of the car, the insurance has to be in their name from the same day the ownership change applies – see insurance when changing ownership for how that date is set.
If you'd rather the car formally belongs to the parent for a while, for example before the young driver has a license, that's entirely possible – the parent then needs to be both the owner and the policyholder. What never works is a combination where the owner and the policyholder are two different people.
How to keep costs down anyway
Young drivers often face high premiums, which is a separate issue entirely. Want to lower the cost legally? Compare insurers, ask about a discount from whichever company already insures the family's other vehicles, or look into a lower premium in exchange for a mileage limit or an alcohol interlock. All of that can be done without ever breaking the rule about who's on the policy.
If you're already in this situation
If you discover the policy is in the wrong person's name, move it to the owner's name the same day. That stops new fee days from being added. The fee for days already passed stands, since it's tied to who was the registered owner, not to who actually paid the premium.
Sources: Swedish Motor Insurers' Committee, about vehicle insurance. Swedish Transport Agency, vehicle insurance. Traffic Damage Act (1975:1410) §2. Last checked: 2026-09-21.