Norwegian Driving Licence 2026
The Complete Guide

Norway drives on the right side of the road. Overtake only on the left. At unmarked intersections, yield to vehicles coming from the right (høyreregel / right-hand priority rule). This is one of the most commonly tested topics.

One of the strictest alcohol limits in Europe. Novice drivers and professionals: zero tolerance. Penalties are income-based and escalate with BAC level. >0.5‰: licence loss 12–18 months. >0.8‰: court case and possible imprisonment. >1.2‰: unconditional imprisonment. Drug-driving has the same penalties.

Over 400 automated toll points nationwide — no manual booths. AutoPASS tag gives 20% discount. Without tag: highest rate + invoice fees. Rush-hour surcharges in cities (Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim). Zero-emission vehicles pay up to 50% of standard rate with AutoPASS. Motorcycles are exempt.

Winter tyres must match conditions from November 1 to first Sunday after Easter Monday. Northern Norway (Nordland, Troms, Finnmark): October 16 to April 30. Minimum 3mm tread depth. Crashing without proper winter tyres: insurance can deny the entire claim. Studded tyres need city fees in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim.

Dipped/low-beam headlights are mandatory at ALL times — day and night, year-round. This has been Norwegian law since 1985. Right-hand-drive vehicles must use beam converters to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.

All vehicles must carry a warning triangle and a reflective safety vest. These must be deployed at any breakdown or accident scene. Third-party insurance (trafikkforsikring) is mandatory. Recommended: first aid kit, spare bulbs, tow rope.

Children under 135 cm must use an approved child seat. Children under 15 months must be rear-facing. Rear-facing seats in front of active airbags are forbidden. The driver is responsible for ensuring children under 15 are properly restrained.

Handheld phone use while driving is strictly prohibited — even briefly holding the phone is illegal. Only hands-free systems are permitted. Fine: NOK 10,750 + 3 penalty points. 8 penalty points in 3 years = 6-month licence suspension.

Trams (trikk) always have priority in Norwegian traffic. You must yield to trams at all times, including when they are turning. Never park on or block tram tracks. This applies in Oslo, Bergen (Bybanen light rail), and Trondheim.

Approximately 20,000 animal-vehicle collisions per year, including over 1,000 moose collisions. A fully-grown moose is as tall as a car — collisions are often fatal. High-risk periods: winter, dawn/dusk, full moon. Reindeer are common in northern Norway. If you hit an animal, report to police on 02800.

Norwegian winters bring ice, snow, and near-zero visibility. Roads may be snow-covered or icy for months. Black ice is particularly dangerous. Always use winter tyres, carry emergency supplies, and check road conditions on vegvesen.no or the Statens vegvesen app before driving.

Norway has over 900 road tunnels, many single-tube with two-way traffic. The longest is the Lærdal Tunnel at 24 km. Ice bumps form near tunnel entrances due to temperature differences. Reduced speed limits inside tunnels. Average-speed cameras are common. Use headlights (mandatory anyway).

Many Norwegian roads include steep mountain passes with hairpin bends, narrow sections, and no guardrails. Some roads have passing places for oncoming traffic. In winter, many mountain passes close entirely. Check road status at vegvesen.no before crossing mountain roads.

In northern Norway, polar night (mørketid) means no daylight for weeks in winter. Even southern Norway has very short daylight hours in winter. Mandatory headlights help, but reduced visibility increases risk. Wildlife collisions peak during darkness.

Heavy rainfall, especially in western Norway, creates aquaplaning risk on highways. Standing water on roads is common during autumn storms. Reduce speed significantly in wet conditions. Norway's climate means rain is frequent across all seasons except deep winter.