The bonus malus system
The idea of the bonus malus system is to reward vehicles that emit relatively small amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), while burdening vehicles that emit relatively large amounts of CO2 with higher vehicle tax for the first three years: malus. The Swedish Government have decided to end the bonus part of the system on 8 November 2022. You can no longer apply for bonus.
The Government and Riksdag (parliament) of Sweden have decided on a bonus malus system for the following new vehicles:
- private cars class I and class II (campers)
- light buses
- light lorries
The bonus malus system applies as from 1 July 2018 and only to new vehicles that are taxed and insured, and consequently put into use on or after that date according to the Swedish vehicle register. Since 8 November 2022 only the malus part of the system remains. You can no longer apply for bonus.
What is a bonus malus system?
Bonus means good. Malus means bad. The idea of the bonus malus system is to reward vehicles that emit relatively small amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), while burdening vehicles that emit relatively large amounts of CO2 with higher vehicle tax for the first three years: malus. This way, the bonus malus system can serve as a complement to the more general fuel tax, and contribute to reducing the transport sector's oil dependence and climate impact. Since 8 November 2022 only the malus part of the system remains.
The aim is to increase the proportion of low emission vehicles and contribute towards the object of a fossil-free vehicle fleet. CO2 emissions from new cars are expected to decrease faster than has been the case up to now. This will also, indirectly, reduce air pollution.
The following vehicles are covered:
- new private cars class I and class II (campers)
- new light buses
- new light lorries.
"New" refers to vehicles that become taxable (are put into use) for the first time on or after 1 July 2018. The vehicle must not have been in use before, in Sweden or abroad. As regards malus, the car's vehicle year ("fordonsår") must be 2018 or later. The Swedish definition of vehicle year is found in the Swedish Vehicle Ordinance (2009:211). Find here a translation into English of the definition of vehicle year*.
For class II private cars (campers), there is no maximum total weight.
The vehicle tax on cars already in use will remain the same.
* Vehicle year refers to the data in the Swedish vehicle register that state a vehicle's model year or, if there is no such data, the year of manufacture. If there is no data stating either model year or year of manufacture, vehicle year refers to the year in which the vehicle was first put into use.
- The five year vehicle tax relief on the cars previously called environmental cars ("miljöbilar"), has been removed. Cars already covered by the five year tax relief are not affected. But no new cars will be entitled to the tax relief now that the bonus malus system has come into effect.
- The earlier reward for super-environmental cars ("supermiljöbilspremien") has been replaced by the bonus part of the bonus malus system.
- For diesel-powered vehicles put into use for the first time on or after 1 July 2018, the "fuel factor" has been replaced by an "additional fuel charge".
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