Renting a car in Norway: costs, tips & what to know
Norway has many stunning routes to drive! This makes renting a car a must when exploring Norway. You are not just driving from point A to point B; you are admiring the beautiful landscapes along the way. Around every corner or after every tunnel, there can be a completely different landscape. We did a two-week road trip around the Southern part of Norway, starting and ending in Bergen. Read along for the best tips for renting a car in Norway.
Why should you rent a car in Norway?
Norway has many beautiful places that are far apart from each other. Especially if you plan on doing some hiking, a car is the way to go. A car is thus the perfect way to explore the country and get to even the most remote places. The bigger cities have public transport, but outside of them, it is really scarce. A rental car gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility for exploring all the beautiful nature.
Where to pick up your car?
It is more convenient to pick up your car at the airport when you arrive, but sometimes it is cheaper to pick up your car from a downtown location. If you are planning to visit Bergen or Oslo first, it’s much easier to pick up your car just before you start your road trip. That way, you don’t have to pay for parking for a car you are not using while exploring the city.
Rental companies
There are many rental companies with different conditions for rental cars. We always opt for a rental company that offers full insurance. In the past, we booked cars through Discovercars, but for Norway, we booked through AutoEurope.
One-way fees
If you want to drop off the car in a different city than where you picked it up, you will have to pay a one-way fee. It could be easy if you are combining Oslo and Bergen, for example, and you don’t want to make the long drive to drop it off.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Norway?
The price of renting a car in Norway depends on several factors: when you are going, what type of car you want, and where you want to pick up and drop off your car. In winter, you can rent a car starting from €30 with insurance. During shoulder season, it can be between €40 and € 60, while during the summer months it can be up to €75 and more. Renting a 4×4 will cost twice as much.
Book early
Especially if you are traveling during the summer months, book your car well in advance (3-6 months). Then you will have good rates and still have the option to choose a rental car that you would like.
Credit card
You will need a credit card to rent a car in Norway. This has to be a credit card in the main driver’s name. Most rental companies also don’t accept a prepaid credit card like Revolut. So make sure you always have a Mastercard, Visa, or American Express with enough credit.
EV or gas?
Although cities can be located far from each other, it is easy to find gas (diesel) in Norway. Only in the Northern part of the country will you need to drive a little further to find a gas station. So always make sure that you have enough gas when driving in these remote areas. You can often only pay by debit or credit card, but some also accept cash.
A lot of rental cars in Norway are electric. So driving an electric rental car is perfectly fine in Norway and even has some benefits. You don’t have to pay to park, and toll roads and ferries are much cheaper or even completely free. There are over 12.000 public charging points in Norway.
Manual vs automatic transmission
Manual transmission is standard on petrol cars, while automatics can be more expensive. But EV cars all have automatic transmissions and are often cheaper than petrol cars. It’s all up to you and what you prefer. Driving on narrow, winding roads is sometimes easier with an automatic transmission.
Do you need a 4×4 vehicle in Norway?
If you plan to drive off-road through the mountains, you will need a 4×4. When you are driving on normal roads, a normal card will do just fine.
Navigation in Norway
Most cars have some CarPlay, so it is easy to use Google Maps or Waze for navigation. So mobile data is invaluable when driving in Norway. The best way is to use an eSIM like Airalo (get a $3 discount with the code SHARON9895)
If you are driving in remote areas, it can be handy to have a downloaded map on your phone so you can still use it without internet. This can be Google Maps offline, but Maps.me is also a good alternative.
What about tolls and ferries?
Norway has a lot of toll roads (like on bridges, tunnels, and roads around big cities). If you are renting a car, there is already a toll badge in it, so everything is done automatically. Every time you drive on a toll road, it is recorded, and at the end of the rental period, you will receive an overview. This amount is then deducted from the deposit you paid when you picked up your rental car.
Although there are a lot of tunnels and bridges in Norway, there is a big chance you will also have to catch a ferry when you are doing a road trip through Norway. You can drive to the port and wait for the next available ferry without making a reservation. But I would recommend making a reservation during the busy summer months so you don’t spend much time waiting. Payment for the ferry is also made automatically with the toll badge.
Driving in Norway
Roads in Norway are very well-maintained and can be very calm. You will come across a lot of tunnels and bridges, but also some highways (not many). But you will also encounter many small roads where only 1 car can drive, with passing spots. A little bit comparable to driving in Scotland (except in Norway, where you drive on the right side of the road).
Because of the winding roads, driving times can be a lot longer than you would think. Allow for a buffer to include time for stops along the way.
Driving rules & safety
Speed limits are similar to those in most countries in the world:
- Within built-up areas: 30/50 km/h
- Outside built-up areas: 80 km/h
- Highways and motorways: 90/100 km/h (or sometimes 110 km/h)
Normally, you don’t exceed the speed limit, but driving too slowly can bother other drivers. So if you are seeing a lot of cars trailing behind you, try to let them pass.
You are not allowed to use your mobile phone while driving, and your headlights must always be on, also during the day. Fines are steep in Norway, so always respect the speed limits and other traffic rules.
The roads can be narrow and windy, so always make sure you are aware of your surroundings. There is a chance of wildlife on or near the roads, so watch out for them as well.
And, as always, match your driving style to the weather conditions. The weather can change very quickly, so be prepared
Plan your trip to Norway like a pro
✈️ Book your cheap flights to Norway on Skyscanner
🏨 Reserve a hotel, apartment, or holiday home at Booking.com
🚕 Need a transfer from the airport? Use Welcome Pickups or download the Bolt or Uber app
🛜 Use Airalo eSIM to avoid roaming fees. Use SHARON9895 to get €3
📺 Use NordVPN to keep watching your favorite programs or movies on the go
🚗 Need to rent a car? Use DiscoverCars or Local Rent
🚆 Buy train tickets from Omio or RailEurope
💳 Use Wise to pay in Norway at the real exchange rate and avoid expensive foreign card fees
🎟️ Pre-book tours, entrance tickets, and activities via Viator or GetYourGuide
🏥 Get travel insurance at World Nomads or Safety Wing
Some of these links are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, Travel Eat Enjoy Repeat will earn a small commission. This will cost you nothing extra.
