Driving in Norway

But if you’re planning a road trip to Norway, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your trip to Scandinavia as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Norway section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic, Comprehensive and Single Trip) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Norway to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

Need short-term insurance for your vehicle? Our temporary car cover is perfect if you're looking for flexible insurance for between 1 hour and 30 days.

• A valid, full UK driving licence
• Your motor insurance certificate (Ensure your car is covered by third-party insurance recognised in Norway. This is the legal minimum cover for residents and visitors, so check with your provider before you travel)
• V5 registration document or hire car paperwork

Do I need a GB or UK sticker for driving in Norway?

Since 28th September 2021, the distinguishing mark (or national identifier) displayed on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom that are driven abroad has changed from GB to UK.  

This means that vehicles registered in the UK must display the letters “UK” when driven in Norway.   

The identifier can be incorporated in vehicle number plates (along with the Union Flag) or as a separate sticker. Note that vehicles featuring the letters GB together with the Council of Europe golden stars are no longer valid for driving abroad.

If your vehicle does not have the UK identifier within the number plate, you will require a UK sticker when driving in Norway. GB stickers will no longer be valid from the end of September.

Do I need an insurance green card?

From 2nd August 2021, drivers will no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Norway.

ETIAS – 2025

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa program for visitors who don’t need a Schengen visa, who want to travel to the European Union and a few other European countries.

Visitors who purchase an ETIAS will be able to enter the 26 member states of the Schengen Zone as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.

This will be launching in 2025. Learn more about ETIAS here.

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Norway.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle and reflective jacket are also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

Is there anything that I shouldn’t take with me?

Be aware that you cannot take the following with you into Norway:

• meat or products containing meat
• milk or dairy products

You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’:

• fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
• vegetables
• plants
• plant products

• Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt at all times. It’s compulsory for the driver and front seat passengers of cars to wear seat belts (passengers in the back seat must wear a belt if fitted)
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a moped or motorcycle
• Use dipped headlights in the daytime (in towns as well as outside built-up areas)
• In Norway, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. As a general rule, trams and vehicles from the right have priority
• Use your horn, indicators and lights when necessary to avoid accidents. You should not, however, use them excessively
• A vehicle towing a caravan must be equipped with special rear-view mirrors
• You will have to pay tolls to use some roads, bridges and tunnels in Norway. You will also be charged to drive in the main cities, including Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger
• If you're caught committing a driving offence while travelling through Norway, you could be given an on-the-spot fine of up to 10,000 NOK (around £800)
• Children under 135cm in height must use an appropriate child restraint. If seated in a rear-facing seat in the front, the airbag must be deactivated. Children between 135cm and 150cm can use an adult seat belt with a booster cushion
• Alcohol laws are strict in Norway. The drink-drive limit for all drivers is 0.02% and the police may ask you to undergo a random breath test

In urban areas, the speed limit is usually 50km/h unless otherwise indicated, and as low as 30km/h in some residential areas. Outside built-up areas, the limit is 80km/h, and on motorways and dual carriageways, it’s 90km/h or 100km/h

• Norway is a long country and driving takes longer than you might think. Narrow and winding roads may be hazardous and impassable, especially in winter
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available, even in small villages, but only a few filling stations sell LPG. All have pumps where payment can be made with a credit card
• There are service stations with fuel, shops and cafes along motorways
• Parking spaces and ‘No Parking’ areas are clearly indicated by the international signs. Wheel clamps are not used in Norway, but vehicles parked illegally may be towed away

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Norway

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Norway.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 19, although this can vary depending on the type of vehicle
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
• Some companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Norway unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Norwegians drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• The national speed limit on Norwegian motorways is between 90km/h (55mph) and 100km/h/h (62 mph). On a main road outside a built-up area it's 80 km/h. For built-up areas it’s 50km/h, unless otherwise stated
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.02%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England Wales and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland.

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice