Eating and Drinking in the Car: What's OK
Updated 3 min read
After a long flight, a coffee or something small to eat in the car on the way to your hotel is a normal thing to want, and it's rarely a problem. The honest answer is mostly common sense — treat the car the way you'd treat a friend's — but a few things are worth knowing so you're not guessing.
This guide covers what's reasonable, what to be a bit more careful with, and what's better saved for once you're out of the car.
On this page
What's generally fine
A takeaway coffee with a secure lid, a bottle of water, a packet of snacks, or a sandwich are all things drivers see regularly and don't mind. The car isn't a formal space, and a reasonable amount of care — not spilling, taking your rubbish with you — is really all that's expected.
Where a bit more care helps
Anything genuinely messy — a very full, unlidded hot drink, something crumbly or greasy eaten without a napkin, strong-smelling food in a closed car on a warm day — is worth a moment's thought, mostly for your own comfort as much as the car's. It's not that any of it is banned; it's just the kind of thing most people would think twice about in someone else's car generally.
Alcohol specifically
Drinking alcohol as a passenger isn't against Swedish law, but it's still worth a moment's judgement — a sealed drink saved for later is different from something opened and consumed in the car. Drivers, of course, don't drink at all; Swedish drink-driving limits are strict and taken seriously.
If something spills
Accidents happen, and a driver would rather you say something than try to hide it — a quick mention means it can be dealt with properly rather than becoming an issue for the next passenger. Being straightforward about it is the right approach, the same as it would be in any car that isn't your own.
Bringing food from the airport
A sandwich or a coffee bought airside and carried out to the car is completely normal and one of the more common things drivers see on an arrival pickup — it's a reasonable thing to want after a long flight, and there's no reason to finish it in the terminal before getting in. The same goes for a bottle of water bought before security on a departure trip, kept for the ride to the airport.
Travelling with children and snacks
For a family with young children, a snack in the car is often less about the adults' comfort and more about keeping everyone calm for the final stretch of a long travel day — drivers generally understand this without needing an explanation. A wipe or two to hand for the inevitable small spill is a sensible thing to have ready, the same as it would be in your own car.
What every Förare booking includes
The fixed price you see before booking is the price on your receipt — 6% VAT included, whole car, not per person.
- Flight tracked — pickup follows your live arrival
- 45 minutes free waiting, from your driver's confirmed arrival
- No terminal fee
- No surge pricing, ever
- Free cancellation up to 12 hours
Questions people ask before booking
Can I bring a coffee into the car?
Yes — a takeaway coffee with a secure lid is completely normal and something drivers see regularly.
Is eating a full meal in the car OK?
A snack or a sandwich is fine; a large, messy meal is worth thinking twice about, mostly for your own comfort during a short ride.
Can I drink alcohol as a passenger?
It isn't against Swedish law, but use good judgement — a sealed drink is a more sensible choice than something opened during the ride.
What if I spill something?
Tell your driver straightforwardly — it's better dealt with directly than left unmentioned.
Does bringing food or drink affect the price?
No — the fixed price is set by the vehicle category and route, shown before you book, regardless of what you bring into the car.
Book your Arlanda pickup
Enter the address and you will see the price for the whole car before anything is paid. No account needed.
- One fixed price for the whole car, 6% VAT included, shown before you pay.
- We follow the live arrival and move the pickup to the actual landing time.
- Cancel free of charge more than 12 hours before pickup, refunded in full.
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