THE SHORT ANSWER
A car registered for use must have motor third-party insurance, even when it is not being used. This covers personal injuries and certain damage to other people's property. It does not pay for damage to your own car.
Partial and comprehensive insurance cover more events. They are distinct from the legal requirement. Check the scope of the agreement for the particular car, motorcycle or moped you own. [1][2]
Keep these points in mind
- Motor third-party insurance is the legally required cover.
- Comprehensive insurance adds own-damage cover.
- A guarantee and an insurance policy are different agreements.
STEP BY STEP
How to check your cover
Check the registration and start date
Check that the registration number and owner are correct. For a vehicle registered for use, insurance must apply from the day you become the owner. Leaving the car unused or at a workshop does not itself remove the requirement. Taking it off the road must be officially registered.
[1]Read what partial insurance includes
Beyond third-party cover, partial car insurance usually includes areas such as fire, theft, glass, roadside assistance and certain mechanical damage. Age, mileage and excesses can limit a part of the cover. Check which parts your document actually lists, rather than treating partial as a fixed list.
[3]Find own-damage cover and any guarantee
Comprehensive insurance also includes own-damage cover, for example for damage to your own car in a collision. A newer car may have an own-damage guarantee, called vagnskadegaranti. Check its expiry date and excess separately. Read both documents before concluding that comprehensive cover is missing.
[3][4]Distinguish the types of vehicle
Motorcycles and class I mopeds are also subject to the third-party insurance requirement. A class II moped needs third-party insurance when used, even though it is not registered. A description of partial and comprehensive car insurance, however, is not the policy wording for your motorcycle or moped.
[2]
Optional additions are not automatically gaps
Hire car cover, excess reduction and other additions are optional. Their absence is different from missing legally required third-party insurance. Also check any specific requirements in your lease if the car is leased.
[3]Follow your policy between renewals
My Forsio shows vehicle insurance details when they are available in retrieved or uploaded documents. You can open the documents and see a price change when comparable renewal information is available. Forsio does not check your car's registration status with the Swedish Transport Agency for you.
Fictional example
Two agreements describe the cover for one car.
The policy document and guarantee certificate are read together.
- Car insurance
- Partial cover
- Third-party insurance
- Included
- Own-damage guarantee
- Separate guarantee certificate
Partial insurance does not leave the own-damage question unanswered here. The guarantee's validity and restrictions must be read separately.
Common questions
Does a car registered as off the road need third-party insurance?
A vehicle officially registered as off the road and not used does not need third-party insurance. Fire and theft are separate risks; taking a car off the road does not automatically give it cover for those events. [2][1]
Does comprehensive insurance mean everything is covered?
No. Comprehensive insurance still has excesses, exclusions and restrictions. The product name tells you the level you have, not what every possible claim would pay. [4]
MY FORSIO
Start with the policies you already have.
Bring your documents together in My Forsio and see what the information shows. Free for individuals.
Sources and references
Sources checked
This guide explains general principles of Swedish insurance. Your policy schedule and terms set out what applies to you.