Difference between revisions of "Norway"

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''A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).'' <br/>
 
''A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).'' <br/>
 
''List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.''
 
''List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.''
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Winter in Norway can quite literally kill the underprepared driver.  Brush up on your [[winter driving]] skills, [[cold weather modifications|equip your vehicle]] properly and follow the rules.
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Some mountainous roads are closed during the winter season.  This is a partial list, comprising the biggest roads<ref>[http://www.vegvesen.no/Trafikkinformasjon/Vinterkjoring/Vegen/Vinterstenging Statens Vegvesen: ''Vinterstengte veger'']</ref>
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{| class="wikitable" border="1"
 +
|-
 +
! Road
 +
! Section
 +
! Closes month
 +
! Opens month
 +
|-
 +
| Ev 69
 +
| Skarsvåg - Nordkapp
 +
| 10
 +
| 04
 +
|-
 +
| Fv13
 +
| Gaularfjellet
 +
| 12
 +
| 05
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 51
 +
| Valdresflye
 +
| 12
 +
| 04
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 55
 +
| Sognefjellet
 +
| 11
 +
| 05
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 63
 +
| Geiranger - Langvatn
 +
| 11
 +
| 05
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 63
 +
| Trollstigen
 +
| 10
 +
| 05
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 252
 +
| Tyin - Eidsbugarden
 +
| 10
 +
| 06
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 258
 +
| Gamle Strynefjellsveg
 +
| 10
 +
| 06
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 520
 +
| Hellandsbygd - Røldal
 +
| 11
 +
| 06
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 886
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| Jarfjordfjellet (Vintervollen - Grense Jacobselv)
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| 11
 +
| 05
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 243
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| Aurland - Erdal (Lærdal - Sogn og Fjordane)
 +
| 11
 +
| 06
 +
|-
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| Fv 337
 +
| Brokke - Suleskard (Aust-Agder/Vest-Agder)
 +
| 11
 +
| 05
 +
|-
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| Fv 341
 +
| Smelror - Hamningsberg (Finnmark)
 +
| 11
 +
| 05
 +
|-
 +
| Fv 355
 +
| Melfjellet (Norland)
 +
| 11
 +
| 05
 +
|}
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 +
Do not venture onto roads closed for the season.  Snowfall can be sudden, and the worst case scenario is that they find your body when opening the road in the spring.
  
 
==Security advisories and information==
 
==Security advisories and information==

Revision as of 02:09, 10 December 2011


Currency to display:

At the border

Correct as of: (Put the date this section was last confirmed accurate here)

Norway has signed the Schengen Agreement, and passing the border from other Schengen signatories (Denmark, Sweden, Finland) is trouble-free. Vehicles crossing from Russia in the north can expect some scrutiny, but also polite and fairly quick service.

Required Paperwork

List the paperwork required to enter with a vehicle, including number of copies

Process at border

Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle

Cost of entry

There are noe special costs to enter Norway with a vehicle. Extra fuel in cans may be taxed, and be sure to declare any goods you import.

Permitted length of stay

A vehicle can stay as long as the owner stays, but only up to a year.[1]

Extension of stay

Extensions to the above rule can be granted up to one additional year, maximum two years combined. Apply to the local customs region, within your first year of stay.[1]

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

A foreign vehicle shall as a general rule be exported again when the operator leaves the country. It can be left in storage for until 6 weeks per 12 month period without further ado. It can not be used by anyone else while in storage. Extensions to this can be granted by the Customs department, but the the vehicle has to be stored under Customs control.[1]

Exiting with a vehicle

Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.

Overland Essentials

Vehicle Insurance

Insurance requirements

3rd party liability insurance is mandatory.

Cost of insurance

State the price of insurance and a time period.

Where to purchase insurance

Describe where insurance can be purchased.

Driving license

State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.

Driving side of road

In Norway they drive on the right hand side of the road. RHD vehicles can be legally driven as well.

Mandatory items in vehicle

A safety triangle is mandatory. All vehicles except tractors and construction machinery must have a reflective vest easily reachable from the driver's position.

Campers and recreational vehicles must have a fire extinguisher with a minimum of 2 kg of powder aboard.

Motor vehicles with a maximum allowed weight exceeding 3,500 kg are required to carry at least three chains, of which one must fit the vehicle’s front wheels and two must fit the drive wheels.[2]

Roads

General Road quality

Road quality is generally OK, but upkeep lags other European nations. National roads are often under-dimensioned for the amount of traffic they have to bear.

One way streets are common in Oslo.

Road signs

The quality and amount of road signs are mostly good.

Toll roads

Toll roads are common. The electronic AutoPASS system covers many of them, and an electronic AutoPASS token can be a worthwhile investment if you are travelling extensively in Norway. Otherwise your licence plate will be photographed, and you'll either get an invoice by mail or you can elect to pay at a nearby service station. Look for the "Kr-service" sign.[3]

Tolls for cars are usually around 20-30 NOK, but with some roads costing well over 100 NOK.

Bribery

Bribing police or traffic officials is basically unheard-of. In 2011 Transparency International listed Norway as the world's 6th least-corrupt nation.[4]

Checkpoints

Checkpoints are rare. Police checkpoints will most often be to catch drunk drivers, and you might be required to submit to a breathalyzer test. Military checkpoints are sometimes encountered when exercises are taking place. Soldiers will probably just wave you on after informing you of special traffic regulations in the area.

Traveling with pets

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gasoline Petrol Diesel

Last updated: (Put the date the gasoline price section was last confirmed accurate)

Price

Currency and unit to display:

Modify the table below as required. List the octane rating of gasoline and the sulfur content of diesel if known

Gasoline Grade Price
Regular (87) $0.00 USD per Gallon (US)
Super (88) $0.00 USD per Gallon (US)
Premium (90) $0.00 USD per Gallon (US)
Ultra (95) $0.00 USD per Gallon (US)
Diesel $0.00 USD per Gallon (US)

Gasoline Availability / Frequency

Fuel shortages are non-existant. Some areas in the far north or crossing the mountains in the south might not have petrol station coverage for maybe 200-300 km, but even that is rare, and signs are usually posted.


Gasoline Quality

Regular European quality petrol and diesel is available. Octane ratings are 95 and 99 octane unleaded. Lead substitutes are still available in service stations if your vehicle require leaded petrol.

External information about gasoline

Link to external websites with price & quality information, if available.

Safety and Security Considerations

Driving at night

Driving at night is totally acceptable. Note that some areas might have wildlife crossing the roads, especially at night. They are often signposted.

Vehicle parking

Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.

Special driving considerations

A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.

Winter in Norway can quite literally kill the underprepared driver. Brush up on your winter driving skills, equip your vehicle properly and follow the rules.

Some mountainous roads are closed during the winter season. This is a partial list, comprising the biggest roads[5]

Road Section Closes month Opens month
Ev 69 Skarsvåg - Nordkapp 10 04
Fv13 Gaularfjellet 12 05
Fv 51 Valdresflye 12 04
Fv 55 Sognefjellet 11 05
Fv 63 Geiranger - Langvatn 11 05
Fv 63 Trollstigen 10 05
Fv 252 Tyin - Eidsbugarden 10 06
Fv 258 Gamle Strynefjellsveg 10 06
Fv 520 Hellandsbygd - Røldal 11 06
Fv 886 Jarfjordfjellet (Vintervollen - Grense Jacobselv) 11 05
Fv 243 Aurland - Erdal (Lærdal - Sogn og Fjordane) 11 06
Fv 337 Brokke - Suleskard (Aust-Agder/Vest-Agder) 11 05
Fv 341 Smelror - Hamningsberg (Finnmark) 11 05
Fv 355 Melfjellet (Norland) 11 05

Do not venture onto roads closed for the season. Snowfall can be sudden, and the worst case scenario is that they find your body when opening the road in the spring.

Security advisories and information

Camping

Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.

Camping guide books

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water

The tap water is safe to drink in all areas. Nevertheless, bottled water is available to purchase.

Navigation

Paper maps

1:50,000 topographical maps from the Norwegian Geographical Survery are available in many bookstores and travel stores, and are of good quality. They are developen in cooperation with the armed forces, and have a military designation of M711. They have a 1 km grid and are suitable for use in conjunction with a GPS receiver.[6]

Road atlases are availabla at every service station and bookshop.

GPS

Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).

Directions and GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc.

  • LPGguiden.no, a guide to LPG filling stations for vehicles (click on the Norwegian flag)

Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.

Overland Travel Interest

Special Overland interests

North Cape is a popular end destination for overlanders. It has been both the start and destination for several Cape-to-Cape expeditions.

The Atlantic Ocean Road is perhaps the most popular of the National Tourist Routes (Nasjonale turistveger) in Norway.

Guide Books

Lonely Planet Norway (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Norway (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet, Anthony Ham, Stuart Butler, Donna W...
From $13.08 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon
The Footprint Of Polar Tourism: Tourist Behaviour At C...
The Footprint Of Polar Tourism: Tourist Behaviour At C...
by Ricardo Mariano Roura
From $26.57 on Amazon

Vehicle Maintenance

Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages

  • Gautes Garage is an independent garage in Oslo run by a Land Rover enthusiast. Will work on older vehicles and do outside-the-box type work.

Buying and selling vehicles

Buying a vehicle as a foreigner

Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Selling a foreign-plated vehicle

Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lovdata: FOR 1991-06-20 nr 381: Forskrift om avgiftsfri innførsel og midlertidig bruk av utenlandsregistrert motorvogn i Norge (the relevant law, no English translation available)
  2. ↑ Trucker's guide to driving in Norway
  3. ↑ AutoPASS and tool roads in Norway
  4. ↑ Transparency Internatinal: Corruption Perceptions Index 2011
  5. ↑ Statens Vegvesen: Vinterstengte veger
  6. ↑ Statens Kartverk 1:50,000 M711

Helpful External links


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