Glossary of Swedish motor insurance terms

Common Swedish terms used on this site and in TFF's and the Swedish Transport Agency's own material, in plain English.

Trafikförsäkringsavgift — in English: Motor insurance fee: The fee the Swedish Motor Insurers' Committee (TFF) charges per day to the owner of a vehicle that lacks motor insurance, under §34 of the Traffic Damage Act.
Trafikförsäkring — in English: Motor insurance: The mandatory basic insurance covering personal injury and property damage a vehicle causes to others. Required for every registered, active motor vehicle.
TFF: An association jointly owned by Sweden's motor insurance companies. Compensates people injured by uninsured, unidentified, or foreign vehicles, and charges the motor insurance fee.
Vägtrafikregistret — in English: The vehicle register: The Swedish Transport Agency's register of every registered vehicle in Sweden: who owns it, whether it's active or off the road, and what insurance applies. The source TFF relies on.
Påställd — in English: Active / registered for use: A vehicle's status in the vehicle register when it's in traffic and therefore requires motor insurance.
Avställd — in English: Off the road: A vehicle's status in the register when it's not in traffic, following an off road notification. A vehicle that's off the road needs no motor insurance. The notification can't be backdated.
Ägarbyte — in English: Change of ownership: When a vehicle is registered to a new owner in the vehicle register. Applies from the reported date (app/e-service) or, on paper, from the date on the form if the report arrives within ten days.
Registrerad brukare — in English: Registered user: Someone who, in addition to or instead of the owner, is listed as the user of a vehicle in the register, for example under private leasing. Carries the same insurance responsibility as an owner.
Försäkringstagare — in English: Policyholder: The person or company an insurance contract is held with. Has to be the same person as the vehicle's registered owner for the vehicle to count as insured.
Kontraheringsplikt — in English: Duty to contract: Insurance companies' obligation, with few exceptions, to sell motor insurance to anyone who requests it. Means you can't be refused the basic policy.
Avbetalningsplan — in English: Payment plan: An arrangement with TFF to pay a fee in instalments instead of a lump sum, usually to avoid the fee going to debt collection.
Dödsbo — in English: Estate: The deceased's combined assets and debts after death. Inherits responsibility for the deceased's vehicle until it's taken off the road, sold, or scrapped.
Registreringsbevis — in English: Registration certificate (parts 1 and 2): The vehicle's ownership document. Part 1 (blue) is used to report an off road notification, part 2 (yellow) for ownership changes and permanent deregistration.
Trafikskadelagen — in English: Traffic Damage Act (1975:1410): The law that sets out the motor insurance requirement and the basis for the motor insurance fee in Sweden.
Preskriptionslagen — in English: Limitations Act (1981:130): The law that determines how long a debt, such as this fee, can be pursued before it expires.
Inkasso — in English: Debt collection: A company's or agent's recovery of an unpaid debt, a step that normally comes after a payment reminder and before the Enforcement Authority.
Betalningsföreläggande — in English: Payment order: The Enforcement Authority's process for establishing that a debt is unpaid and valid, if the debtor neither pays nor disputes it.
Kronofogden — in English: The Enforcement Authority: The Swedish authority that enforces unpaid debts, including through payment orders and seizure of assets.
Betalningsanmärkning — in English: Payment default entry: A note with credit reporting agencies that a debt wasn't paid on time and went to the Enforcement Authority. Normally visible for three years for individuals.
Veteranfordon — in English: Classic vehicle: A vehicle 30 years or older. Generally gets a 50 percent lower fee, except for mopeds, tractors, motorized equipment, and off-road vehicles.
Gröna Kort-systemet — in English: The Green Card system: An international arrangement between motor insurance organizations that makes a policy valid when travelling between member countries.

Last checked: 2026-09-21.