Overland Norway Travel
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Contents
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
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| Fuel grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Unleaded 95 octane (Ultra) | kr14.00 NOK per Liter |
| Diesel | kr14.00 NOK per Liter |
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
Winter in Norway can quite literally kill the unprepared 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.
Bad weather may necessitate convoy driving on certain roads. Vehicles will collect at the start point, and when the number is high enough, the convoy will be dispatched following a snow clearing truck. The Road department's rules for convoy driving are as follows[6]
- Have a torch, towrope and shovel at hand.
- Consider bringing food and warm drinks .
- Bring warm clothes and winter footwear.
- Ventilate your windscreen to prevent icing.
- Use hazard lights.
- Keep the car in front in sight.
- Drive with an even rate of speed and follow the column.
- Don't leave the column or try to turn around.
- If the column stops or you have to stop, don't walk away from the vehicle.
There's always a vehicle of some kind bringing up the rear. The driver of the snow clearing truck and the rear vehicle have radio contact. The column might stop from time to time to check that everybody's present.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Norway - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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.
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.[7]
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
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
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.
- ↑ 1.0 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)
- ↑ Trucker's guide to driving in Norway
- ↑ AutoPASS and tool roads in Norway
- ↑ Transparency Internatinal: Corruption Perceptions Index 2011
- ↑ Statens Vegvesen: Vinterstengte veger
- ↑ " Statens Vegvesen: Råd for kolonnekjøring
- ↑ Statens Kartverk 1:50,000 M711
Helpful External links
- TurPåHjul, Norwegian-language overlanding forum with a small English subsection
- VisitNorway.com - the official travel guide to Norway
