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Make sure you Drive Alive! Drive on the right!
Be especially careful when setting off from service stations or restaurants on the left side of the road.
Take care when overtaking - allow more space between you and the car in front so you can see further down the road ahead.
Norway has very strict drink driving laws, only allowing 0.2 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood - stricter than England, Wales and Northern Ireland where the limit is 0.8, and the strictest in Europe. Scotland is 0.5.
Seat belts front and rear are obligatory everywhere.
Speed limits, shown below, are implemented rigorously. Radar traps are frequent.
Remember - Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to extremely heavy on-the-spot fines.
When approaching a roundabout give way to traffic already on the roundabout, on your left, unless signed otherwise.
There are tolls on some roads in Norway, see notes below*.
Dipped headlights must be used at all times (except where full beam is needed).
A full UK driving licence is required. As in the UK, seat belts should be worn front and rear. Below are motoring regulations relating to Norway.
| Speed Limits | Motorway | Open Road | Town | Alcohol mg/ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 90 km/h | 80 km/h | 50 km/h | 0.1 |
*There are no blanket tolls on Norwegian roads, but some sections of road, and some bridges and tunnels, are subject to tolls. City tolls, varying from (in 2003) 15 kroner in Oslo to 5 in Bergen (Free in Bergen at weekends) are payable by motorists entering Bergen, Oslo, Stavanger and Trondheim.
Children in cars: Children under 4 can travel as long as they are restrained in an appropriate seat, not necessarily rear facing.
Documentation: always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.
Drinking and driving: Don't
do it. The limit is very low (equivalent to a small glass of wine or half a pint
of weak beer). Anything over 0.02 per cent and you could face anything up to imprisonment.
Fines: On the spot fines are issued for the infringement of minor traffic
regulations. Ensure an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the
fine.
Fire extinguisher is advised, but not compulsory.
First-aid kit is advised, but not compulsory.
Fuel: All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and some LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. No leaded. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and should work at work at automatic pumps. It's a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This ensures they don't suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.
GB Sticker is compulsory.
Headlamp converters are compulsory.
Lights: You must use dipped headlights during the day.
Minimum age for driving,
provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car and motorcycle.
Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets.
Motor insurance: third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not
required but your insurer should be advised of your trip.
Replacement
bulb kit is advised, but not compulsory.
Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted.
Snow chains are recommended to be carried everywhere in Norway during winter, and if you do not carry and fit them when conditions demand the police can prevent you continuing your journey. Click for general information on winter tyres and snow chains.
Tyres: there is a legal requirement of 3mm pattern depth on tyres between October and March. Depending on where you are, studded tyres are recommended for extreme conditions, although these are illegal for the rest of the year.
Visibility Vests are now compulsory in Norway. They are also compulsory in France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Portugal and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU). The rules vary from country to country concerning number of vests required and whether they should be carried in the car or boot. Common sense suggests that there should be a vest for every occupant, and that the vests should be carried in the car, and put on before getting out. Do this and you will not have a problem.
Warning triangle is compulsory.
Winter tyres are not mandatory for cars registered outside of the country.
All information on this page is provided as a service to our clients. It is intended as a guide to the more important rules for the different countries to which we offer driving holidays. It is not meant to be a comprehensive document. We try and keep the information on this page up-to-date, but we cannot be held responsible in any way for any consequences arising from any inaccuracies. If you find a mistake or would like to send us some additional information, please email us. Your co-operation is appreciated.
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