How to pass the Swedish driving test on your first try

Passing on the first try isn’t about talent.

It’s about how you practice — and where you build confidence.

Driver Simulator Preview

My struggle: Stockholm traffic and 50+ lessons that went nowhere

I started learning to drive in Stockholm in 2015.

I took more than 50 driving lessons at different driving schools. On paper, I was doing everything “right” — but in reality, I was stuck.

Stockholm traffic felt:

• Overwhelming

• Fast

• Full of unspoken rules

• Unforgiving if you reacted half a second too late

My coaches often shouted instructions:

“Do exactly what I say — now!”

That pressure froze me.

I wasn’t unsafe — I was overloaded. And the worst part? As a learner without a license, I couldn’t practice on my own.

A perfect catch-22:

• I needed practice to feel confident

• But I needed confidence to practice

The turning point: a simple driving simulator in Södermalm

Out of frustration, I signed up for a driver simulator course in Södermalm.

By today’s standards, the simulator was very simple:

• A rounded track

• Basic maneuvers

• Repetition, repetition, repetition

But something changed.

Inside the simulator:

• I felt safe

• No shouting

• No pressure

• No risk

And suddenly, my reactions improved.

Simple repetition works.

For the first time, driving felt logical instead of emotional.

Leaving Stockholm changed everything

Eventually, I made a hard decision:I gave up learning in Stockholm and moved my lessons to Västerås.

The difference was night and day.

My new coach:

• Never shouted

• Gave clear, structured instructions

• Let me learn at my pace

After just six lessons, we decided to book a road test with Trafikverket.

Two weeks before my 30th birthday.

A secret weapon: virtual driving before the test

Before test day, I did something unconventional.

I virtually drove through all of Västerås using Google Maps:

• Intersections

• Roundabouts

• Speed changes

• Road layouts

So when test day arrived, everything felt… familiar.

Instead of panic, I felt calm. I even enjoyed chatting with the examiner.

And then:

Pass. First try.

From personal pain to purpose

In 2018, my startup was nominated by NVIDIA as Best AI Startup in Sweden — back when very few people were even talking about AI.

That same year, we were granted two research projects together with:

• Chalmers University of Technology

• RISE

Our mission:

Build a modern driver simulation platform that actually helps learners.

Making simulator training accessible in Sweden

We took our research further and partnered with:

• Solna Trafikskola

• Vinsta Trafikskola

Since 2023, hundreds of students have trained using our simulator.

At FellowBot, the idea is simple:

Practice. Practice. Practice.

But do it:

• Safely

• Affordably

• At your own tempo

Why modern driver simulation works

With modern gaming technology like Unreal Engine 5, we can simulate:

• Wild animal encounters

• Drunk or reckless drivers

• Rare but safety-critical scenarios

• Complex intersections and roundabouts

These are situations you might never meet during lessons —but must get right the first time in real life.

The result: safer, cheaper, smarter learning

With driver simulation like by 95% of students:

• ✅ Up to 50% lower practice costs

• ✅ 100% safe and environmentally friendly

• ✅ Higher chance to pass on the first try

• ✅ Better preparation for real-world driving, not just the test

Final thought

If I had access to today’s simulator technology in 2016,I wouldn’t have needed 50 lessons, stress, or self-doubt.

Confidence doesn’t come from being yelled at. It comes from repetition, clarity, and safety.

That’s what we’re building at FellowBot —because no one should struggle the way I did.