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Heading on a road trip to Norway? Congrats! It’s a beautiful country to explore, and in our opinion, driving in Norway is the best way to see the country!
However, like driving in any other country, there are new hazards, different road signs, and completely different road rules to take note of. During our three-week road trip in Norway, we documented interesting things new drivers in the country should watch out for.
General Driving in Norway Rules
Drive On The Right
We came from Scotland when we road tripped to Norway, so we were very much used to driving on the left side of the road. In fact, anywhere in the United Kingdom or in Ireland, you can expect to drive on the left.
However, in Norway, it’s the right! Probably quite natural for most people, but definitely worth mentioning!
Lights Are Mandatory At All Times
I don’t know if it’s due to the unexpected weather in Norway or the sheer amount of tunnels you drive in and out of, but you must have your lights on at all times when driving in Norway.
Honestly, it seems weird and annoying, but it’s so much nicer than flicking on and off the lights each time you enter a tunnel.. and trust us, there are a lot of them!
Seatbelts
It is mandatory to wear seatbelts at all times when driving in Norway. In fact, both the driver and any passengers must wear seatbelts.
Use Of Mobile Devices
You are not allowed to use mobile devices while driving in Norway. The only time you can use a mobile device is when a hands free headset is in use.
Yield To Vehicles On The Right
When we were driving in Switzerland, we almost got hit by a car, as we didn’t know about this rule. Make sure you pay attention to vehicles coming from the right, and yield to them.
The only times you don’t do this is if you’re driving in a roundabout or if your road is the main road, aka, marked by a yellow diamond, pictured in the image below.
Warning Triangles + High Vis Vests
Every car driving in Norway must be carrying both a red warning triangle and a high visibility vest to use in the event of an accident or breakdown. We ended up purchasing a car safety road kit at a gas station in the United Kingdom, only learning of these rules as we were on our way to Norway.
Other countries like France, also have this rule, so you’ll likely be able to snag a safety kit for a decent price at any fuel station on your way to Norway.
Speed Signs in Norway
Speed Signs Are in Kilometers
While this may not be a very new idea or unexpected to everyone, it’s especially important to note if you’re visiting Norway from say, the United States.
80 on a speed sign doesn’t mean you can fly by at 80 miles an hour. The speed signs in Norway are in kilometers! Be sure you keep that in mind as you see them!
For reference, 50 kilometers an hour is the same as 31 miles an hour.
What Do Speed Signs in Norway Look Like?
Speed signs in Norway are round white signs with a red border along the outside of the circle. The number inside indicates the given speed, again in kilometers/hour. Find and example of a speed sign in the image above.
If the speed sign is yellow on the inside, it means it’s a construction zone. Pay close attention here, as the speed limit is typically a lot lower than normal, and there are extra hazards, such as people and construction equipment around.
What Are The Speed Limits In Norway?
As a general rule of thumb to follow, the speed limits are as follows unless posted otherwise.
- 70-80 on back roads
- 50-60 through towns
- 50 through Construction – yellow/red signs
Again, we’re talking general rule of thumb here. Always be on the lookout for speed signs, as the speed limit can differ from those listed above.
What Do The Grey Speed Signs With Slashes On Them Mean?
Grey speed signs with slashes through them mean it’s the end of that speed limit. You’ll encounter these types of signs when you are leaving a town.
For example, if you’re on a backroad the speed limit is 70-80 kph. However, when you approach a cute little village in the backroads of Norway, the speed limit will drop to 50-60 kph. After leaving the village, you’ll see a sign like in the image below.
That means the 60 (or whatever number is on the sign) speed limit is done and you can resume back the given speed limit prior to driving through the village.
Road Hazards in Norway
Livestock and Wildlife
Wildlife is alive and well in Norway. Or rather farm animals are. While you do need to watch for things like moose (as indicated in the image below), more often than not it was livestock causing driving hazards.
Driving in Norway means driving through people’s personal land and areas of free-range livestock. While cattle guards are often a dead giveaway that you’re entering an area with free-range livestock, you should always be expecting the unexpected.
We can’t tell you the amount of times we saw sheep and cows just walking down the country roads! In fact, on two different occasions, we woke up to cows and sheep using our van as a personal scratcher when wild camping in Norway!
Sharp + Steep Corners
When climbing up and down fjords or through the mountains of Norway, sharp and steep corners are common. Be sure to follow the speed signs, and even go under if you’re not comfortable driving just yet.
These corners are nearly 180 degree turns, and the speed signs are there to help you not cross the line and go in the other lane of traffic. Likewise, if there is a big rig or bus coming towards you, stop and give them space to make the corner if it’s safe for you to do so!
Gorgeous Views
Yes, the views in Norway can be a major road hazard. If you’re driving in Norway, remember you’re driving, and need to keep your eyes on the road!
If you see something incredible (which you will) be sure to pull off where there is a safe place to pull off the road. But in doing so, be sure it’s an actual pullout. Do NOT drive on the vegetation, doing so kills it and encourages others to do the same!
Oftentimes, if there is a really great view, there will be a paved or gravel pullout nearby. Just keep driving until you find one then walk back to the view if need be!
Toll Roads In Norway
The toll roads in Norway are all automatic tolls. This means instead of stopping at a toll booth and every single one of the hundreds of toll roads in Norway, you simply drive right through!
When you drive through/on a toll road, a picture is taken of your vehicle, and a toll fee is sent to the address the vehicle is registered to.
It sounds kind of strange, but it’s super convenient and an all around much smoother process overall.
If driving to Norway, register your vehicle beforehand here.
If you are renting a car in Norway, don’t worry, the car rental company will take care of the registration and how they charge you.
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Road Signs in Norway and Their Meanings
Roundabout Warning Signs
The blue circles with arrows in them tell you there is a roundabout coming up. The arrows show the direction of traffic. Don’t worry, they all go the same way, but such a great, easy reminder for those not used to roundabouts.
Distance Signs
Below some signs you’ll find a number followed by an “m”. This simply tells you how much distance you have before whatever the above sign is.
In the image below, we show a 200m sign below a roundabout sign. It’s telling you there are 200m left before you approach the roundabout.
You’ll see these signs when getting close to tunnels, changes in speed, and in many other scenarios.
Upside-down Triangles
Upside-down white triangles with a red border simply mean yield. You’ll see these triangles when approaching roundabouts and when approaching roads that aren’t necessarily stop, but instead yield to oncoming traffic.
Yielding just means that you don’t have to come to a complete stop if there is no oncoming traffic. However, if there is oncoming traffic, you need to give way, by stopping, as they have the right of way. The upside-down triangle is pictured above.
Triangle Warning Signs
If there is something potentially dangerous, or something you should definitely watch for as you continue on a road, triangle signs warning you of those hazards.
In an image above, there were triangle warning signs for moose and for falling rocks. The triangle warning sign that is yellow on the inside instead of white, simply means it’s a construction zone. And in the image below it’s showing that the road gets narrow.
Tunnels in Norway
Shapes and Sizes
Tunnels in Norway come in all different shapes and sizes. If the tunnels are smaller than normal, they will warn you. However, be sure to be extra cautious when entering them!
Roundabouts Are Inside Tunnels!
Be aware that tunnels in Norway aren’t just a straight shot. You may not be surprised, but I was completely shocked when I saw roundabouts, exits, and intersecting roads INSIDE a tunnel. The engineering behind that is just mind-blowing!
Just like on the roads, the signs in the tunnels will tell you if you’re approaching something that you’ll need to be aware of, like a roundabout.
Exits Are Inside Tunnels
I know I just said that exits are inside tunnels above, but there’s more to it. More often than not, you’ll lose connection to your GPS signal when going into a tunnel. If your exit is inside the tunnel, you’ll miss it if you’re not prepared.
We missed our exit in Oslo multiple times due to this happening. If it’s not too stressful, and you have a second driver, have them study the map, checking how many exits in the tunnel until yours, and then have them count them and direct you!
You can also download an offline map app, like maps.me, and pin the exit before going into the tunnel. Again, the GPS can/will lose connection for your navigation, but if you have the exit pinned, you can see the number or name at least!
Fuel in Norway
When heading to a fuel station in Norway, you’ll notice the signs for fuel say D or 95. D is for diesel and 95 is for unleaded or regular gas. If you’re in a rental car, double triple check the type of fuel it takes before filling up!
To find where to get the cheapest gas, download the Gas Buddy App. It not only tells you where to find the cheapest gas, it’s also a great way to see where the closest gas station is located!
READ MORE | More Road Trip Travel Apps To Make Your Life Easier
While in Norway, don’t miss trying a hot dog from a gas station! They’re fantastic!! Yes, I did just use the word fantastic to describe a hot dog!
Driving on Mountain Roads
While there are over 900 tunnels in Norway cutting through the mountains, you’ll inevitably be driving on mountain roads. When going down hill, be sure to use a lower gear so you don’t burn through your brakes!
Oftentimes, taking the mountain roads to avoid toll roads isn’t really that worth it, as the amount you’ll spend in gas is equal to or more than what the toll tunnel would cost. With that said, we often skipped toll roads to save money, and always found the cutest small villages that way!
Driving in Norway Top Things To Remember
We absolutely loved our time exploring Southern Norway. There’s so much insane beauty to explore further north, but we didn’t want to rush our three weeks in Norway.
Keep in mind, that drives will take longer than your GPS suggests, as you’ll be stopping for views and hazards like livestock along the way. We always recommend having a flexible schedule, and with the free wild camping in Norway, it’s easy to travel slow and sleep wherever you see fit.
And remember, if you plan in advance and register your car for the toll roads before leaving home, you can save up to 20% on your toll fees.
Enjoy your road trip through Norway! Let us know if you have questions or share your experiences by tagging us in your photos @arboursabroad.
Read These Next
Yes, I did just tell you to try a hot dog, don’t worry though — you can still trust me 😉 Other than trying hot dogs in Norway, we have more Norway posts and guides for you! Check them out in the links below!
A Day Guide to Visiting Bergen, Norway
Exploring the Bergen harbor, where to stay, how to get there, and what to see!
Our Favorite Free Campsites in Norway
This is a complete list of all the free campsites we stayed at while visiting Norway. The right to roam in Norway offers great free camping options!
A Local’s Guide to Oslo
A full day in Norway’s bustling town of Oslo. We were lucky enough to meet up with a local that we had met on a trip in Croatia. She showed us all around Oslo, explaining a few random and funny things we would have completely missed!
Safety and Responsibilities in Norway’s Nature
Fantastic post with loads of great information about wild camping in Norway and even eating from the land, mountain safety and more!
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