TOLLERS AND ACE(S)!

It’s time for the last blog of 2024. The last one before we move to our “cabin in the woods”!

After obtaining our “personal number”, a Swedish bank account, Swedish insurances and so on, one more thing needed to be done. We needed to import and register our cars and motorbikes in Sweden.

His & hers.

We started with Alex’s car and motorbike.

First step: application for import at “Transportstyrelsen”. Then… wait. And wait. And wait a little longer. Especially if your request is done during the summer holidays. When the application is granted, an administrative check-up is needed. If all documents are correct and the car/motorbike matches the documents, the registration is confirmed. After a few days, you automatically get the license plates.

As Alex’s car and motorbike were more than 4 years old, they needed a technical check-up as well. As long as this hasn’t been done, you’re not allowed to use the license plates. So again… waiting for a new appointment for the technical check-up. Once this was done, Alex’s car and motorbike were officially “Swedish”. And you can be sure he’s proud of his new motorbike license plate… “ACE 54L”. So now he feels like an ace on his motorbike ;-)

Yes, the mud is included with the Swedish plates ;-)

I had to wait a little longer before I could send in the application for my car and motorbike, as my car had to be at least 6 months old to avoid extra taxes. I went through the same application process, including the waiting time. Luckily, my car and motorbike only needed the administrative check-up as both are less than 4 years old.

So once my license plates arrived, I could just mount them, and all was ready. Well, all but me were ready… I must admit it was with a heavy heart that I parted from my Belgian plates. It felt like the distance to “home” grew even bigger.

All Belgian license plates. “MARGe” and “MATA” had great fun together and will be missed.

According to a dear friend, I am now “DePiNeut van 40” (sorry, can’t translate this one… ;-) )

Just like in Belgium, personalized license plates are possible in Sweden. Moreover, it’s much cheaper over here. So… if had to part from my Belgian license plates, better do it in style, “TOLLER” style! One happy doggy mommy here ;-)

Even the car has a big smile now ;-)

I have one more “big step” to take: get a Swedish mobile number. I have my Belgian number for 33+ years now, and silly enough, it feels like a part of my “identity”. Luckily, Alex found out that by using e-sims, we can have a Belgian and a Swedish number on the same phone. So, let’s start with that and get used to the idea…

And for now: we need to start packing! In two weeks, we’ll get the keys to our “cabin in the woods”. The “big move” will be in three weeks… Thank you Georges and Jean-Paul to come over to help us out! Can’t wait to see you both again!

Our “cabin in the woods”. I’m so looking forward to it!

Wishing you and your loved ones a New Year filled with laughter, success, and good times. Cheers!

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” (Albert Einstein)