Rules of the road

Driving in Norway

Rules of the road

Norway offers many rural sights and beautiful places to visit that can easily be missed if you don’t have car. Driving in Norway can be fairly easy due to the calm roads and minimal traffic but it may be easy to get lost around the city centers as there are many one-way streets.  

Renting A Car

Below is a list of car rental companies that can be hired upon arrival at any Norwegian airport. It is important to shop around for the best rate because prices among these companies may vary from day to day.

Buying a Car

Buying a car in Norway can be extremely expensive. Not so much the car itself but the taxes that have to be paid to own the car are extremely high. Norwegian authorities may require tax to be almost 100% of the value of the car. They tax you according to the weight and the size of the car, so the bigger and faster your car is the more taxes you will be required to pay. If you do decide to go that route, there are many local dealerships that have a wide selection of cars to choose from.

Driving

Traffic is generally minimal in Norway, moderately increasing around the cities. People do drive on the right side of the road and are generally considerate drivers. The speed limit throughout Norway is 80km/h. When driving around residential areas, the speed limit may decrease to almost 30km/h.  Below are some tips to follow while driving in Norway:

  • Always keep your headlights (low beam) on. Due to Norway’s mountainous terrain, the law states that your headlights should be on at all times.
  • When traveling down a mountain use a lower gear. This will prevent your brakes from overheating.
  • Do not drink and drive. The alcohol percentage permitted in your body in Norway is 20 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood.
  • Wear your seatbelt. The law obligates all drivers and passengers to properly wear their seatbelts at all times.
  • Do not drive while on a mobile phone. It is an offense to drive while on the phone.
  • In the event of an emergency call 112 for the police and they will direct your call to the proper authorities.

Further reading

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