The path to the B driving license in Umeå – step by step
This guide covers the steps for the B driving license: from the driving license permit and eyesight certificate to risk training and the tests at the Swedish Transport Administration. The steps can be done in slightly different order and combined, and you do not need to wait with the theory until the driving practice is complete, for example.
1. Arrange driver's license permits and visual acuity certificates
To get practice driving, even during driving lessons, you need a valid driver's license. You apply for it at the Transport Agency, free of charge, either in their e-service with e-identification or with a form. For a B driver's license, a visual acuity certificate is also required. A licensed optician can submit it digitally, and it must not have been issued more than two months before the application.
The processing normally takes up to four weeks once all the documents have been received, so it is a good idea to apply well in advance. The permit is valid for five years. You arrange this yourself with the authority and the optician. Read more at The Transport Agency's page about driving license permits.
2. Choose automatic or manual and get started
The choice of gearbox determines which cars you can drive. If you take the driving test in an automatic car, the driving license condition is 78 and only applies to cars with automatic transmission. With a manual car, you can drive both. Read more Automatic UK driving licence oh B driving licence manual.
You get started by booking in our webshop, calling, emailing, or coming to visit us. The webshop has a special category for new students. At the first lesson, you will receive a presentation of the course, and you can ask your teacher for a documented training plan with cost estimates. The course is individual and the plan can be modified as your development progresses.
3. Driving training, theory and private driving practice
The driving lessons are adapted to your needs. If you are completely new to driving, you start with the basics, and if you have previously practiced driving, the teacher will assess what you need to work on further. You do not need any previous driving experience to start. Read more about driving lessons in Umeå.
You can combine driving lessons with private practice driving. As of August 1, 2026, no instructor course is required, but the instructor must be approved by the Transportstyrelsen for you as a student. Here you can find ours guide for instructors and private driving lessons. You can read the theory in parallel with the running training, and the theory material is available in the webshop.
How many lessons you need is individual and depends on your driving experience, how much you practice and how you develop. If you want to complete the training in a shorter time, you can read about our intensive course.
4. Risk education – Riskettan and Risktvåan
Risk training consists of two mandatory parts. Risk Team is theoretical and deals with alcohol, drugs, fatigue and other risky behaviors. To be approved, you actively participate in exercises and discussions. Risk Team is practical and is conducted on a slippery surface. There, you practice, among other things, speed, safety, and driving in difficult road and weather conditions.
Both parts must be completed and valid when you take the knowledge test. The training lasts until you get your driver's license, but for a maximum of five years. See how to book on the page Riskettan and Risktvåan in Umeå.
5. Knowledge tests and driving tests
Next, you take a knowledge test and a driving test at the Swedish Transport Administration. To book the test, you need a driving license permit and completed risk training. You book and pay for the test in the Swedish Transport Administration’s booking service, and you must have a valid ID with you. For a B license, you must be 18 years old.
An approved knowledge test is valid for one year, and during that time you need to take an approved driving test. Read more about How the knowledge test is structured. If you take the driving test in an automatic car, the driving license condition is 78. Current requirements and booking rules can be found on The Swedish Transport Administration's page on driving licenses for passenger cars. You can use the traffic school vehicle during the driving test, and if you contact us you will be informed of the regulations.
6. Cost, time required, and next steps
The length of the training and the cost depend on your previous driving experience and what you need to practice, and therefore it is not possible to specify a common sum. Current prices can be found on The pricing side.
Ready to get started? Book your first driving lesson, or Contact us if you want help planning the training.
Common questions
What do I need to arrange before the first driving lesson?
You need a valid driver's license to practice driving, and a visual acuity certificate is included in the application. Apply in good time, as the processing usually takes up to four weeks.
Can I combine private driving practice with driving school?
Yes. Then you need an instructor who is approved by the Transport Agency for you as a student. As of August 1, 2026, no instructor course is required.
Do I have to be able to drive before I start?
No, you don't need any previous driving experience. Beginners start with the basics.
How do I know if an automatic or manual model is right for me?
With an automatic transmission, you don't have to change gears and manage the clutch; however, the driver's license only applies to cars with automatic transmissions. With a manual car, you can drive both. Read more vending machine oh manual.
