Overseas Quick Guide

Welcome to your delivery experience at the birthplace of Volvo.

We wish you a safe and smooth journey. Here are some tips before you start your Swedish adventure in your new Volvo.

Tip #1: Vehicle preparedness

Set your seat

The car’s front seats have a range of setting options in order to enhance comfort. Set your desired sitting position using the control on the front seat’s seating section.

In cars with four-way lumbar support*, turn the multifunction knob up/down to set the various comfort functions. In cars with two-way lumbar support*, use the round button to adjust the lumbar support forward/backward*. Raise / lower the front seat cushion by adjusting the up/down control. ‎Raise / lower the rear end of the seat by adjusting the up/down control. ‎Move the seat forward / backward by adjusting the forward/backward slider. Change the tilt of the backrest by adjusting the forward/reverse control.

Warning! Adjust the position of the driver’s seat before setting off, never while driving. Make sure that the seat is in locked position in order to avoid personal injury in the event of heavy braking or an accident. Only one movement (forward/back/up/down) can be done at a time. The backrest in the front seats cannot be fully folded forward.

*If equipped.

Connect a phone

Connect a phone using Bluetooth so that you can make calls, send/receive messages, play media wirelessly and connect to the internet.

Make your phone discoverable via the Bluetooth settings on the phone.

In the center display of your Volvo, press Connect your phone and then press Connect. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ If no phone has previously been connected to the car, press Pair a new device. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ If a phone has previously been connected to the car, press Edit devices to select a difference device to ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ connect to.

Touch the name of the phone that shall be connected.

Check that the specified digits in the display match the ones on the phone. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ If so, choose to accept in both places.

In the center display, choose to accept or reject any selections for the phone’s contacts, messages, media and internet source.

Signing in to Google

Once you are in your vehicle and have your center display on: ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Go to settings ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Select Profiles ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Select Accounts ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ Select Google ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There will be three ways to sign into your Google Account. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ For any of the selected options, follow the prompts on the display and on your mobile device. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ A confirmation message will appear on the display when successfully signed in.

** Pair the Volvo Cars app to your Google built in vehicle: https://volvo.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10426/year/2023/model/XC90

Google Assistant Functions

You can ask Google to send text messages, play music, add an appointment to your calendar and more.

There are three different ways to activate Google Assistant: ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ by saying the “Hey Google” or “OK Google” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ by pressing briefly on the steering wheel button for voice control ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ by tapping on the microphone in the center display

Tip #2: Driving in Sweden

Attention! Important information about driving in Sweden

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Minimum legal driving age in Europe is 18. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ In order to be eligible to drive in Sweden, you need a valid driver’s license. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ All drivers and passengers are required by law to use their dedicated seat belt. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ All children up to 5 years old are required to sit in a child’s safety seat. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It is prohibited by law to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

The letter P for parking

Parking

This sign indicates a dedicated parking area. In most areas in Sweden you are required to pay for parking, by credit card or cash payment. Make sure you are able to pay the fee and do not violate any parking restrictions or you risk being towed at your own expense.

Right pointing arrow

One-way traffic

This sign indicates one-way traffic. You will not encounter oncoming traffic on this road.

Camera pointing left

Speed camera

This sign indicates an automated speed camera along your route. In the event of speeding, the camera will capture your license plate, and a fine will be imposed on the owner of the vehicle.

Arrows cycling in roundabout

Roundabout

This sign indicates the mandatory direction in the upcoming roundabout. Make sure to yield right of way to vehicles already in the roundabout before you enter.

Gas station

Gas station

All gas stations in Sweden are self-service stations. Note: there is more than one fuel type available, marked by colors and signs. For regular petrol (gas), choose “Bensin 95” (this applies to all US cars). For diesel engines, choose “Diesel” (D).

Hand carries toll money

Toll station

Cameras will automatically capture your license plate and send the bill to the vehicle owner, who is responsible with knowing country-specific requirements and paying toll bills. Note: in Scandinavia, it’s possible to register with your details online, in other countries you will mostly pay at physical toll stations. Not all countries charge tolls.

Crossed out right turn arrow

No turn on red

In case of a red light, do not turn right. Exceptions apply when there is a traffic light indicating driving directions with arrows.

Yellow bar in red circle

No entry

This sign indicates that entry is prohibited.

50 speed sign

Speed signs

This sign indicates the speed limit that applies to the respective stretch of road. Note that speed limits are stated in kilometers per hour.

No standing or parking sign

No standing or parking

This sign indicates that it is not permitted to stop or park in the restricted zone ahead. The same type of sign with only one diagonal line indicates that parking is not permitted.

Yellow yield triangle

Yield sign

Slow down and yield right of way.

Crossed out car and motorcycle sign

Cars and motorcycles prohibited

This sign indicates that no cars or motorcycles can enter the road.

Tip #3: European practicalities

Because road-tripping is more fun when you know what you’re doing, we collected some good-to-know facts for peace of mind on the road.

Currency

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Scandinavia loves credit cards! ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Many places accept card payments only. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The opposite applies in other countries; in Germany for example, cash is king. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Tipping in Sweden is optional.

Driving

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Never drive in the bus lane; it is prohibited for good reasons. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Whenever possible, also avoid the tram lane. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ When in Europe, drive on the right-hand side (the only exceptions are the UK, Malta and Cyprus). ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Theft-proof your car – store your valuables in the trunk and leave no tourist information lying around. ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎Empty out your glove compartment and leave it open for any potential thief to see it’s empty. ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎If you plan to drive through countries outside of Sweden, it may be required to obtain an international ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎drivers license. ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ Please visit the Travel.State.Gov website to find out more about the countries you plan to visit.

Environmental Concerns

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Tap water is usually safe and drinkable in western Europe, unless indicated otherwise.

Tip #4: Swedish vokabulär 

Learn common Swedish translations.

Hi / Bye

Hej / Hej då

Entrance / Exit

Infart / Utfart

Thank you / You are welcome

Tack / Varsågod

Open / Closed

Öppen / Stängt

Freeway entrance ramp / Highway exit

Påfart / Avfart

Speed / Mind the speed limit

Fart / Tänk på hastigheten

Lower your speed / Speed bump

Sänk farten / Farthinder

Private road / Passage prohibited

Privat väg / Ej genomfart

A-Plan Volvo Program - 4 Volvos parked in a row

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Find us

World of Volvo

Lyckholms Torg 1, 412 63 Göteborg, Sweden

T. +46 10 265 27 10

E. delivery@volvocars.com

This page was created for informational purposes only. The information stated is not extensive and is subject to change. Volvo Cars does not take responsibility to verify the correctness of any information stated on this page.