European Consumer Centres Network TOURISM IN Norway

European Consumer Centres Network
TOURISM IN Norway
This brochure will provide you with information on driving in Norway. You
will find practical advice and important legal information covering the
different topics. We have tried to include all the relevant information
concerning travel to Norway and your stay in Norway; however the
information provided is not fully detailed on all points and should be
viewed as a guide not as a verbatim statement of the law.
Driving in Norway
Papers
♦ The minimum age for driving in Norway is 18 years.
♦ It’s compulsory to carry your driving licence, car registration papers and insurance
documents. EU driving licences or International Driving Licences are accepted for driving in
Norway.
Speed limits
♦ On the Norwegian roads, unless signposted otherwise, your speed is limited to:
o 50 km/h in built-up areas
o 80 km/h in non built-up areas
♦ In Norway, there are fixed speed cameras all over the country, which photograph vehicles
not complying with the speed limits. The positions of these radar controls are indicated with
signs and can be found on the website of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
♦ If you exceed the speed limit, you may be fined from 600 NOK to 7800 NOK. Be aware
that, depending on the speed, your licence can also be confiscated.
Traffic rules
♦ Priority to traffic coming from the right applies, unless there is a sign indicating that you
have priority.
Safety
♦ Safety belts are compulsory for all the occupants of the vehicle, both front- and rear-seat
passengers. There must be one safety belt per passenger. In the event of a police control,
there will be a fine of 750 NOK for anyone not wearing a safety belt.
♦ It is illegal to carry a child in a rear-facing child seat in the front, which is protected by an
active frontal airbag. A fine of 750 NOK can be issued.
♦ The law requires all children travelling in cars to use the correct child seat until they are
either 135 cm in height or the age of 12 (which ever they reach first). After this they must
use an adult seat belt. Unsuitable child restraint can be fined with 750 NOK.
♦ Mobile telephones may not be used while driving, unless you are using a “hands free”
system. In the case of a police control, you may be fined 1300 NOK.
Alcohol and drugs
♦ Norway has strict rules concerning drink driving; the legal blood alcohol limit is 0,2
milligram per litre. If during a police control, your blood alcohol is found at between 0,2 and
0,5, you can be fined.
♦ If the level exceeds 0,5mg/l, the punishment incurred is normally a fine of at least 10.000
NOK and a sentence of imprisonment or a suspended sentence of imprisonment depending
on the blood alcohol level.
♦ Driving under the influence of drugs is also illegal and is punishable with both fines and
imprisonment.
Toll Roads
♦ Toll plazas will be indicated with a blue sign reading “Bomstasjon” “Toll Plaza” and the
sign will indicate the number of meters before you reach the toll plaza.
♦ At toll roads you either pay manually or at a coin machine. Chose the lane marked
“Manuell” or “Mynt/Coin”. The only accepted currency is Norwegian Kroner, but most toll
roads have facilities for credit card payment
♦ If you pass without paying, you are likely to receive an invoice, with surcharges, directly
to your home address.
♦ At fully automated toll plazas with lanes marked “Do not stop”, either pay at a petrol
station nearby or you will receive an invoice by post.
♦ Do not drive through lanes marked “Autopass” or “Abonnement”. These are for
subscribers only.
Petrol
NO
EN
DE
Blyfri
Unleaded gazoline
Bleifreies Benzin
95 eller 98
95 or 98
95 oder 98
Diesel
Diesel fuel
Diesel Kraftstoff
LPG
LPG
LPG
♦ Major credit cards are accepted. Generally you can pay at a booth, or by inserting your
card into the machine near the pumps.
Traffic accident
♦ If you are involved in an accident in Norway, your insurance should cover any injury or
damage that you may cause to another party and may include cover of any legal costs that
may be incurred. Please check details with your insurer before travelling to Norway.
♦ In the event of an accident with no serious injuries, there is no obligation to contact the
police.
♦ Where there is no personal injury, the accident report form “skademeldingsskjema”
should be filled out immediately. If both parties agree to the course of events, one form may
be used jointly. Those involved in the accident are obliged to give their names and
addresses.
♦ The accident report form is purely a statement of facts not an establishment of blame.
But do not sign any paperwork if you do not understand it, as it can be used as evidence.
Try to be as precise as possible in the description of the accident.
♦ If a driver refuses to sign the form, make a note of the registration number and take the
details of any witnesses or police officers.
♦ If it is a serious accident, and you need to be hospitalised, the authorities will deal with
the paperwork on your behalf. If you are not hospitalised, but feel the consequences of a
shock etc. get a medical certificate stating your injuries.
♦ If you are not responsible for the accident, the directive 2000 / 26 / EC of May 16, 2000
allows you to demand a compensation in your country of place of residence.
♦ Your insurer, or yourself, should contact the representative of the opposite insurance
company in your country. Every European insurer has to appoint a competent correspondent
in the other member states. You should receive an offer of compensation within three
months of the demand. If you have difficulties to find the coordinates of this interlocutor,
you should contact the body created for that purpose in your country.
♦ If an uninsured or unidentifiable car caused the accident, you are entitled to
compensation from the motor vehicle guarantee fund of your country.
♦ If you are a witness to a serious accident phone the ambulance 113 and/or the police
112 immediately.
♦ In Norway you are required to have a reflex vest in your vehicle. Put on the reflex vest
before securing the accident site.
Special requirements for driving in Norway
♦ While driving in Norway, headlights must remain on at all times.
♦ When driving on snow and ice, winter tyres are recommended.
♦ Be aware that a fee is imposed for driving with studded tyres in Oslo.
Parking in Norway
♦ Paid parking is common during weekdays along city streets as well as in many
parking lots. No payment is due unless it is clearly stated.
♦ The most common system used in Norway is the automated parking meter (Pautomat). To use this system, first park your car, get out and purchase a parking
ticket from the nearest P-automat (a grey, rectangular machine which accepts 1,
5, 10 and 20 kroner coins and credit cards). The ticket is then displayed on the
dashboard.
♦ Parking garages (P-hus) are also common in cities. Generally you take a ticket
as you drive into the parking garage and pay at an automated machine or
manned booth before you get in your car to drive out.
♦ It is prohibited to park;
♦ In front of entrances and exits for vehicles,
♦ In pedestrian streets,
♦ On priority roads with a speed limit greater than 50 kph
♦ If there are no-parking signposts
Car rental
♦ If you rent a vehicle, you should know that it usually is the paper contract, which you sign
in the agency when picking up the car that prevails. This is especially true for prior bookings
made via Internet. Therefore you should always verify that the final contract includes all the
options which you previously selected online. Do not hesitate to take time to reread the
contract
♦ Check what your insurance covers. Insurance terms should be stated in the contract
♦ Check the car for damages before taking over and returning the car (take pictures!) and
make a note of the mileage
♦ After payment, the company does not have the right to charge your credit card for other
than minor expenses without your permission
If you, as a foreign consumer, are feeling mistreated by a Norwegian professional, the
European Consumer Centres (ECCs) will be pleased to help you to find an amicable settlement
of the dispute. You can find further information and a complete list of all ECCs under:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/redress/ecc_network/index_en.htm