Buying a car in Oslo
If you choose to own or buy a car in Oslo, expect a big shock. Cars are expensive, but more so are the taxes put on vehicles. You may have to pay 100% of the cost of the car, making it twice as expensive as you’d expect. Cars are taxed according to the weight of the car and the size of the engine – the larger and more powerful the car, the higher the fees. You can purchase cars at local dealers, or import them from other countries.
If you choose to bring your car to Oslo or import one, you have to register it with Norwegian plates. To register, you will have to pay both VAT and an import fee. The only way around this is to import an antique car (over 30 years old). You can get more information at Tollvesenet at email tad@toll.no or tel +47 03012.
Owning and maintaining a car in Oslo is surprisingly expensive. Just because Norway produces oil doesn’t mean they give it away. Petrol is expensive, as is all maintenance. Cars must be inspected each year and you will receive a date and time to show up to inspection. Don’t miss your appointment! Norwegians drive on the right side of the road.
Also, remember that Oslo winters involve snow, ice, salty roads and below freezing temperatures. You must have the right oil and proper tires in the winter. The date to put on winter tires is set and you will be penalized if you miss the date and are caught. If you choose to use studded tires, you will pay extra taxes per day within city limits.
Regulations on cars and driving are very strict. Fines are based on your salary (yes, they have this information) so the richer you are, the sorrier you’ll be for speeding. Norway has a 0% tolerance policy for drinking and driving and consequently, has strict laws including exorbitant fines and prison.
Major roads in and around Oslo are good. On weekends, holidays, and at rush hour, main roads and intersections such as Carl Berner, Majorstuen or Drammensveien back up with traffic, so it’s good to plan around for delays.
There is a road tax of 25 NOK to enter Oslo with a car. The money is used for road construction and public transport. The tollbooths are now unmanned, and you need not stop at them. A camera will snap a photo of your license plate and send the bill to the owner of the car.
You can use your home country license for a year before exchanging it for a Norwegian license. When you exchange your foreign driving license, it must be sent in to Vegvesen (The Department of Motor Vehicles) with an application for exchange. You will be required to take a driving test as well, which requires substantial fees.
If for some reason you don’t already drive and decide to get your driver’s license in Oslo, don’t. With the excellent public transportation, there is no real need to own or drive a car unless you have children. If you are still intent on doing it, expect to spend a lot of time and money. Besides learning basic driving skills, you must learn to drive on ice and to handle snowy conditions. It is not unusual to pay more than 20,000 NOK for driving lessons before finally taking the driving tests, which also incur several high fees.
Because of all the rules and requirements, it’s a good idea to go to the Vegvesen (DMV) in person to get someone to explain what is required. To get an idea of the complexity involved in a skill that most find basic, just have a look at the two documents at the bottom of this page.
Since January 1, 2004, Norwegian authorities are using a point system (Prikkbelastning) to handle traffic offenders. Two points will be issued for most violations except for in the smallest speeding cases. If eight points or more is issued during a three-year period, the driving license is temporarily revoked, usually for six months. Each dot is deleted when three years have passed since the violation took place. When the driving privileges are restored after the six-month ban, the dots, which caused the suspension, are deleted.
If you choose to bring your car to Oslo or import one, you have to register it with Norwegian plates. To register, you will have to pay both VAT and an import fee. The only way around this is to import an antique car (over 30 years old). You can get more information at Tollvesenet at email tad@toll.no or tel +47 03012.
Owning and maintaining a car in Oslo is surprisingly expensive. Just because Norway produces oil doesn’t mean they give it away. Petrol is expensive, as is all maintenance. Cars must be inspected each year and you will receive a date and time to show up to inspection. Don’t miss your appointment! Norwegians drive on the right side of the road.
Also, remember that Oslo winters involve snow, ice, salty roads and below freezing temperatures. You must have the right oil and proper tires in the winter. The date to put on winter tires is set and you will be penalized if you miss the date and are caught. If you choose to use studded tires, you will pay extra taxes per day within city limits.
Regulations on cars and driving are very strict. Fines are based on your salary (yes, they have this information) so the richer you are, the sorrier you’ll be for speeding. Norway has a 0% tolerance policy for drinking and driving and consequently, has strict laws including exorbitant fines and prison.
Major roads in and around Oslo are good. On weekends, holidays, and at rush hour, main roads and intersections such as Carl Berner, Majorstuen or Drammensveien back up with traffic, so it’s good to plan around for delays.
There is a road tax of 25 NOK to enter Oslo with a car. The money is used for road construction and public transport. The tollbooths are now unmanned, and you need not stop at them. A camera will snap a photo of your license plate and send the bill to the owner of the car.
You can use your home country license for a year before exchanging it for a Norwegian license. When you exchange your foreign driving license, it must be sent in to Vegvesen (The Department of Motor Vehicles) with an application for exchange. You will be required to take a driving test as well, which requires substantial fees.
If for some reason you don’t already drive and decide to get your driver’s license in Oslo, don’t. With the excellent public transportation, there is no real need to own or drive a car unless you have children. If you are still intent on doing it, expect to spend a lot of time and money. Besides learning basic driving skills, you must learn to drive on ice and to handle snowy conditions. It is not unusual to pay more than 20,000 NOK for driving lessons before finally taking the driving tests, which also incur several high fees.
Because of all the rules and requirements, it’s a good idea to go to the Vegvesen (DMV) in person to get someone to explain what is required. To get an idea of the complexity involved in a skill that most find basic, just have a look at the two documents at the bottom of this page.
Since January 1, 2004, Norwegian authorities are using a point system (Prikkbelastning) to handle traffic offenders. Two points will be issued for most violations except for in the smallest speeding cases. If eight points or more is issued during a three-year period, the driving license is temporarily revoked, usually for six months. Each dot is deleted when three years have passed since the violation took place. When the driving privileges are restored after the six-month ban, the dots, which caused the suspension, are deleted.
