Some roads can be closed during the winter, and we also recommend that you check the car ferries' departure schedules.
Driving an electric car? Read about charging stations and how to pay here.
Road standards
Norwegian roads generally have a good standard, and you can get around without any problems. However, you really should take a detour on one of the old, narrow roads instead of just taking the shortest route – a great way to discover the beauty of secluded spots.
Traffic regulations
Remember to respect all road signs/speed limits and take special note of the following:
Car safety for children and adults
- Adults must use a seat belt and are responsible for the safety of all children in vehicles in Norway.
- Children under 135 cm (four and a half feet) must have their own restraints that is suitable according to the child's weight and height.
- Children between 135 and 150 cm must use approved child safety equipment if such equipment is available in the car. After this, both children and adults must be secured with a seat belt.
Alcohol
Driving with alcohol in the blood is strictly forbidden and the blood alcohol limit is 0.2 ml/litre.
Mobile phone
It is forbidden to talk on a handheld mobile while driving. If the mobile is permanently mounted or connected with Bluetooth, you can call and hang up with hands-free equipment.
It is not allowed to touch the screen of a handheld mobile while driving. When the mobile is connected to the car with Bluetooth or you can operate the phone with hands-free solutions, such as a button on the steering wheel, you can: Make a call, hang up and find contacts in the address list.
If the mobile phone is securely mounted on the dashboard, you are also allowed to enter a telephone number.
If you have your mobile phone lying next to you, and a cord to your ear, you can receive calls as long as there is an answer button on the cord.
Other electronic equipment, such as tablets, should not be used while driving.
Speed limits
General speed limits are as follows:
- In built-up areas: 50 km/h
- On open roads: 80 km/h
- On motorways: 90/100 km/h
- Speed limits are identical for motorbikes, cars and camper vans/caravans, except that vehicles towing trailers are not permitted to drive faster than 80 km/h regardless of road standard. Respect road signs/speed limits.
Toilet/ waste emptying stations for camper vans and caravans
Dumping refuse and emptying chemical toilets in the countryside is strictly forbidden. There are clearly signposted special toilet/waste emptying stations along the roads. Most campsites also provide such facilities.
Winter-closed roads
- FV13 - Gaularfjellet road, normally open May to December.
- FV55 - Sognefjell road, normally open May to October.
- FV63 - Geirangervegen, normally open May to October.
- FV63 - Trollstigen road, open end of May - end of October.
- FV258 Old Strynefjells road, normally open June to October.
- FV520 - Breiborg - Røldal, normally open June to December.
- Årdal - Turtagrø (Sogn og Fjordane) (private road), normally open from 20th of May to 29th of October.
- Aurland - Erdal/Aurlandsvegen/Snow road (Sogn & Fjordane), normally open from May/June to October.
- Brokke - Suleskar (Rogaland), normally open from June to November.
The dates for the opening of winter-closed roads will depend on local weather and dri- ving conditions. Call the Vegmeldingstjenesten (Road conditions information line) for more information: Tel.: in Norway: 175 Tel.: from abroad: + 47 815 48 991
Roads with narrow, winding sections
- FV13 - Bårddalen, Gaularfjellet, Sogn & Fjordane
- RV13 - Lutsikrossen – Høle, Rogaland
- FV48 - Tysse – Eikelandsosen, Hordaland
- FV50 - Steine – county boundary Sogn & Fjordane/Buskerud
- FV55 - Sognefjellsvegen, Fortun – county boundary Sogn & Fjordane/Oppland
- FV258 - Ospeli – county boundary Sogn & Fjordane/Oppland
- FV503 - Vikeså – Byrkdal, Rogaland
- FV506 - Røynåsen – Ålgård, Rogaland
- FV511 - Skudeneshavn – Kopervik on Karmøy, Rogaland
- FV513 - Solheim – Skjoldastraumen, Rogaland
- FV520 - Sauda – Røldal, Rogaland
- FV550 - Jondal – Utne, Hordaland
- FV569 - Dalseid – (junction with E16) – Eidslandet: Not suitable for caravans!
- FV651 - Straumshamn – Volda, Møre & Romsdal
- FV655 - Leknes – Tryggestad, Møre & Romsdal
- FV661 - Eidsvik – Tomra, Møre & Romsdal
- FV63- Trollstigen road – Eagle road – Geiranger, Møre & Romsdal
- FV501 - Hauge i Dalane – Heskestad, Rogaland
- Lysevegen: Suleskar – Lysebotn, Rogaland
- Aurlandsvegen/Snøvegen: Aurland – Erdal, Sogn & Fjordane
- Øvre Årdal – Turtagrø, Sogn & Fjordane
Toll Roads and payment with European Parking Collection (EPC)
All drivers, regardless of nationality, have to pay Norwegian road tolls. The automated toll stations are all equipped with a camera that reads the vehicle number plates and toll tags. Foreign registered vehicles, without a toll tag, will be invoiced by Euro Parking Collection plc (EPC).
If you are planning to visit Norway with your foreign car, you may register your vehicle with EPC before your journey. It is optional to register, however, registering for an EPC account will normally reduce the time from your journey to you receiving your invoice. Furthermore, your account will give you access to your invoices, checking due dates, viewing images, registering for e-mail delivery and making payment.
EPC will only invoice foreign vehicles. Norwegian-registered vehicles will be invoiced by the toll road operators.
If you are planning to visit Norway with your foreign vehicle for more than two months or on a regular basis, we recommend that you get a AutoPASS contract and a tag.
Toll Roads and AutoPass
Foreign drivers are welcome to use the AutoPASS System. With an AutoPASS tag and a valid contract you may travel on all toll roads with AutoPASS electronic fee collection, paying the different fees automatically. Toll roads offering AutoPASS are clearly marked with an AutoPASS sign.
You make an advance payment and establish an account with a Toll Road Operator. Each time you pass through an AutoPASS toll plaza, the fee is extracted from your account. When 75% of the amount on your account is spent, you receive a new invoice.
Ferries
AutoPass is also used to pay for the ferries. You can read more about this at autopassferje.no.
Several companies have ferry routes in Fjord Norway. You will find an overview of the different routes on their website:
- Norled.no
- Fjord1.no
- Osteroy-ferjeselskap.no (in Norwegian only)
- Fosennamsos.no (in Norwegian only)
- Wergeland-halsvik.no
- Urnesferry.com