Getting around by car

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Car hire

You can hire a car in most cities and towns in Norway, as well as at airports around the country. You can book your car through a car rental company online, in person at car rental offices, or through a travel agent. We strongly recommend that you book in advance, especially during the summer season.

AD: Check rates and availability at Auto Europe. At Rent-A-Wreck, you can find great car deals at reasonable prices. Why not spend the night on the road in a van from Arctic Campers or Nordic Campers? – they have a variety of vans for all seasons.

Don’t drink and drive

Driving and drinking do not mix, especially not in Norway. The law is very strict, and penalties for driving under the influence are severe. The legal limit is 0.02% blood alcohol and applies to the driver of any motorized vehicle. Medications that you must not take if you intend to drive are marked with a red triangle.

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Easy on the brakes

Brakes may overheat on long downhill stretches. To avoid this, drive in a low gear. Any braking you do will then require less force and your brakes will stay cool. When driving uphill, watch the car’s temperature gauge to avoid engine overheating.

Go electric!

Norway is investing massively in electric vehicle-friendly infrastructure and incentives. With more than 17,000 charging stations and 3,300 rapid chargers spread across the country, there is no need for 'range anxiety'! Hotels increasingly offer electric charging, sometimes for free.

You need to have Norwegian registration plates for an EV or plug-in to use parking spaces and other special facilities reserved for such vehicles. For the latest rules, check the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association.

The easiest way to find a charging point is on ladestasjoner.no's map. To make sure you have access to the charging stations, register with the major providers in advance – usually through an App on your phone.

In case of an accident

In case of a breakdown or accident, all vehicles must have at least one high-visibility vest, a warning triangle, and third-party insurance.

Emergency telephones can be found on mountain stretches and in tunnels. For 24 hour salvage or technical assistance, three of the largest roadside assistance companies in Norway are:

NAF: (+47) 23 21 31 00
Falck: (+47) 02 222
Viking: (+47) 06 000

Lights on at all times

Dipped headlights are mandatory at all times, even in the middle of the brightest summer day. This includes mopeds and motorcycles. If your car is a right-hand drive, you must use black triangles on your headlights to avoid blinding other drivers.

Mountain passes

Note that weather conditions can cause mountain passes to close, especially during heavy snow and strong winds. Some of the higher mountain passes can experience snowfall and frost, even when there are summer conditions in the lowlands, particularly in April/May and September/October.

You can find information about closures on the Norwegian Roads Administration's website. The information is in Norwegian only, but their interactive map will help you. Here, you will also see any roadworks and ferry times.

Pedestrians and cyclists on the road

Norway has a human-oriented traffic culture that puts pedestrians and cyclist first. Pedestrians who want to cross the street will expect you to slow down or stop at zebra crossings, and cyclists may not always follow traffic regulations. Please show consideration for all road users when driving.

Road tolls

There are many toll stations in Norway, ´ almost all of which are automatic. All drivers, regardless of nationality, must pay Norwegian road tolls.

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Travelling by ferry

It's easy to find a ferry in Norway:

Find routes, check departure times, and get traffic reports, all in one place, on the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen) website.
Some terminals also have webcams that show if there are any queues.