Driving in Norway from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to Norway? You need:
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C) and insurance certificate Your photocard licence is valid for up to 90 days. Still have an old paper licence? You need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate instead of the logbook
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for Norway below
- To register your car for road tolls (Epass24 or AutoPASS) Tolls are automatic, with no booths. See below
- A warning triangle and a hi-vis vest Wear the vest whenever you step out at the roadside
- Dipped headlights on at all times, day and night Set them for driving on the right: many newer cars do this from a menu setting, others need beam deflector stickers
- Winter tyres, and chains in the car, from November to after Easter
🛂 Passport checks and customs
Norway is in the Schengen area but not the EU. You enter Schengen when you cross the Channel, so your passport is checked, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, at Dover, Folkestone or your arrival port. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave. There are customs checks at the Norwegian border: the allowance is 1 litre of spirits, 1.5 litres of wine and 2 litres of beer, and 200 cigarettes.
Check your passport for Norway →Road tolls: register before you go
Most main roads and city entrances in Norway have automatic tolls. There are no booths: cameras read your number plate and the bill goes to the car's owner, including UK owners.
Speed limits in Norway
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Roads outside towns | 80 km/h≈ 50 mph |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
Some motorway stretches are signed for a higher limit. With a trailer, the maximum is 80 km/h. Speed cameras and average-speed checks are common, and fines are among the highest in Europe.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🍷 Very low drink-drive limit
0.2 g/l for all drivers, much lower than the UK. Roadside alcohol checks are frequent, so the only safe amount is none.
💸 Very high fines
Going 10 km/h over a 70+ km/h limit is NOK 3,350, and 20 km/h over is NOK 7,450. Running a red light, illegal overtaking, failing to give way or using a handheld phone are each NOK 10,750.
💡 Headlights on at all times
Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on whenever you drive. Without them, it's a NOK 4,100 fine.
➡️ Give way to the right
Unless a yellow diamond sign shows you're on a priority road, give way to traffic coming from your right.
📡 No radar detectors
Carrying or using a device to detect or jam speed checks is illegal.
👶 Child seats
Children shorter than 150 cm need an approved child seat or booster. Not securing a child under 15 is a NOK 3,600 fine.
❄️ Winter tyres and chains 1 Nov – after Easter
From 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday (16 October to 30 April in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark), your tyres need at least 3 mm of tread, and you need winter tyres or chains whenever there's snow or ice on the road.
Carry snow chains whenever snow or ice is likely, at any time of year. Studded tyres are allowed in the winter period and must be fitted on all wheels.
On mountain passes in winter, roads may only be open in convoy behind a snow plough. Don't overtake the plough or the lead vehicle.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112 for police, 113 for an ambulance or 110 for fire.
- For breakdowns and road hazards, call the Traffic Control Centre on +47 22 175 175.
- Put on your hi-vis vest before you get out, and place the warning triangle behind the car if it's safe to.
Hiring a car in Norway instead
- Hire companies set their own minimum age, often 19 or over, and may charge young drivers more.
- Ask whether the car has an AutoPASS tag and how tolls will be charged to you. In winter, check it has winter tyres, and get to know the car before driving on snowy roads.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
FAQs
How do I pay road tolls in Norway with a UK car?
Tolls in Norway are collected automatically by cameras, and the bill is sent to the car's owner. To avoid an extra lookup fee and pay the right rate, register your car on Epass24 before you go, or get an AutoPASS tag and agreement, which gives 20% off. You can't buy a tag at the border.
Do I need winter tyres in Norway?
From 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday (16 October to 30 April in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark), tyres must have at least 3 mm of tread, and winter tyres or chains are needed whenever there's snow or ice. Carry chains whenever snow or ice is likely, at any time of year. Studded tyres must be fitted on all wheels.
What is the drink-drive limit in Norway?
0.2 g/l (0.2 per mille) for all drivers. That's much lower than the UK, so the only safe amount is none.
Do I need headlights on during the day in Norway?
Yes. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on at all times when you drive, day and night. Driving without them is a NOK 4,100 fine.
Do I need an international driving permit for Norway?
No. You can drive in Norway on your UK photocard licence for up to 90 days. You need a permit only if you have an old paper licence.
How much are speeding fines in Norway?
Very high. On a road with a limit of 70 km/h or more, going 10 km/h too fast costs NOK 3,350, and 20 km/h too fast costs NOK 7,450. Bigger offences can mean losing your licence, or prison.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
- GOV.UK: Norway travel advice, road travel · International driving permits · UK stickers · Insurance abroad
- Norway: AutoPASS: foreign vehicles · Toll rates · Tyre rules (Statens vegvesen) · Driving on winter roads · Official fines (Lovdata) · Road Traffic Act · Customs allowances
- EU: Your Europe: road rules in Norway