Importing Vehicles

On posting to Norway you are classed as a ‘temporary resident’ and must "register" your car with the local authorities within 30 days of importation and complete the process of obtaining Norwegian number plates within 90 days.  There is no longer a requirement to have Continental headlights fitted in your car, you may use the adhesive stickers to convert the beam (these stickers can be purchased at ferry ports). British military personnel have a waiver for the lights when it comes to the vehicle inspection.  Two cars only are permitted per family: one for the military person and one for the spouse.  You can get your vehicle registered within 14 days of arrival, however, in some cases it has taken significantly longer.

In addition to Customs Clearance, and prior to the MOT and getting your Norwegian number plates, you must have vehicle insurance in place with a Norwegian insurance company.  Most will honour a "no claims bonus" certificate so bring with you a letter from your present insurance company stating the number of years claim free driving, not just the % bonus.  An agreement in principle can be reached over the phone prior to your arrival in Norway.  Norwegian law prohibits Norwegian Insurance Companies from insuring your vehicle until it has its Norwegian registration.  As such, you must ensure that your UK insurance will provide suitable cover in Norway until your car has been re-registered. 

Unlike UK insurance, Norwegian insurance covers your car, not the driver, and you can travel anywhere in Scandinavia without the necessity for a green card.  If you wish to travel outside this area you must inform your insurance company.  Some companies do not require a “Green Card” even when you travel back to the UK, since the cost of repairs back home is considerably cheaper than in Norway. 

Experience has shown that it is important for you to know what cover your policy provides and, more importantly, the exclusion clauses incorporated.  When purchasing insurance with a Norwegian company, have them explain carefully the conditions of the policy and the exclusion clauses prior to committing yourself.  Some UK insurance companies will often extend your insurance to cover you in Norway for up to 3 months just until you get your Norwegian number plates.

Specific details of the full vehicle importation process, and the role your sponsor can play in offering advice and smoothing the importation process, are included as part of the Arrival Pack issued to personnel formally posted to the JWC.

European Specifications

All vehicles, whether VAT-paid and purchased in UK or bought VAT-free elsewhere under the Personal Export Scheme, and regardless of where it has previously been registered and used prior to importation into Norway, are treated as tax-free by the Norwegian Authorities.  Such a vehicle will not be accepted for registration by the Norwegian Authorities unless written documentation shows that the car has been built in accordance with the European EEC regulations No 9, 12, 13 and 15 (noise, steering, brakes, exhaust).

At the time of writing (Feb 09) and part of the MOT, all cars must to be equipped with the following additional items:

a.         Warning triangle - weighing at least 1.5 Kg which can be purchased on arrival.

b.         Outside mirrors on both sides, and an internal mirror.

c.         Emergency lights.

d.         Safety belts (three pointed) - one belt per passenger. 

e.         Laminated windscreen.

f.          If sealed beam headlights are fitted, they must be of the sort, which bears the international Code Mark 'E' on the glass.  

g.         Speedometer marked in kilometres as well as miles.

Statens Vegvesen charge an inspection fee of 400NoK for cars without an EU Type approval on the vehicle log book.

Driving In Norway

Driving in Norway is not unlike driving in other European countries, with the exception that Norwegian traffic laws are designed to keep vehicle speeds low.  You must drive on the right-hand side of the road, do not drink and drive, and yield for traffic coming from your right unless otherwise noted.   Main roads in Norway do not always have the right of way.  Unless you are driving on a road with this yellow sign: , you must yield for all traffic coming from your right.  Be careful as most Norwegian motorists will pull out assuming that you will stop – regardless of how fast you are travelling or how close to the junction you are!  They have right of way and the fault for the accident will lie with you.

You must also stop for pedestrians in pedestrian crossings marked with white stripes on the road and often, but not always, indicated by the following sign: 

Again, responsibility lies with the driver.  Pedestrians will take for granted that the vehicle has seen them and will step out, onto the crossing, without looking. 

Norwegian Law is very severe when punishing transgressors and ‘takes no prisoners’ when prosecuting an offence.  For example, if the vehicle is uninsured, has no MOT, or does not display the correct tax sticker, negotiations start with the set of bolt croppers used to remove the number plate.  It was the first countryto introduce laws against drunk-drivers nearly 60 years ago and punishments are draconian.  You commit an offence if you drive or attempt to drive a motorized vehicle when the proportion of alcohol in your blood exceeds 0.2 parts per thousand. In the UK this is 0.8.  If you pass the blood test but alcohol is found in your system, the police will do a ‘count-back’ to establish when you finished drinking and attempt to bring charges for ‘driving while under the influence of drink’.  The police conduct random breath tests at the side of the road, usually in the mornings and especially after a public holiday or weekends when people are more likely to drink.  There is no such thing as a caution. 

Speed limits. These vary from 30 km/h near housing developments to 90 km/h on major highways.  In rural areas the speed limit is usually 50 or 60 km/h.  Norway works on a system of “shock” fines for traffic violations,  so think twice before breaking the speed limit.  In a 60km/h zone:

• Exceed the speed limit by 10km/h, a fine could be approx. 2,000 NoK;

• Exceed it by 20km/h, the fine will be approx. 8,000 NoK and loss of license for 28 days;

• Over 25km/h you could face a jail sentence and fined over 10,000 NoK.

Roundabouts are rather new but plentiful in Stavanger; you are to yield to all traffic already within the roundabout and all traffic from your left.  Unfortunately, some Norwegians are still uncertain as to how to handle them so will pull out without looking to their left.

Make sure that at all times you and your passengers wear seatbelts, keep your headlights on and don’t use a mobile phone whilst driving.  Each of these offences carry an immediate fine.

Police Spot Checks.  It is actually quite rare to see police cars patrolling on a daily basis.  Norwegian police work under the premise that drivers know what the laws are and abide by them.  However, they are not naïve enough to leave things at that and fulfil their obligations be setting up random checkpoints, usually in the mornings.  Their specific aim is to catch drink-drivers, ensure that all vehicles are roadworthy (brakes, tyres, lights and windscreen wipers ) and that each vehicle is carrying the correct documentation and equipment.  

Car Documentation and Emergency Kit.  Items which must be kept in your car at all times are as follows:

• Registration Book (including document V5)
• Insurance Policy & Accident Report form
• Full Driving Licence (when actually driving)
• A shovel (during winter)
• Warning triangle
• First Aid Kit
• Spare bulbs
• Yellow reflective vest

Road Tax.  Once your car has passed the initial safety inspection you will be issued with Norwegian number plates costing approx. 300 NoK. You will then receive a ‘tax’ sticker through the post, which is renewed annually (around October).  Apply the sticker to your Norwegian number plate as soon as it arrives.

Auto-pass ‘Brikk’.  This is a form of ‘Norwegian Road Tax’; charges are based on the amount of driving you do and cover the cost of maintaining the roads and clearing them of snow during the winter months.  It is strongly recommend that you obtain the ‘Brik’ as soon as you arrive to avoid any penalties. They can be purchased at any Esso garage or local Norwegian Post Office. Check points are situated all over Norway usually on the edge of towns and on main tourist routes. There are varying levels of cover but we recommend you obtain the one that will cover you for all over Norway.

Servicing.  Servicing cars in Norway can be expensive, particularly if you have an unusual make of car. If this is the case you would be advised to bring any spares you may have with you as most garages are happy to use them but oil and plugs etc can be obtained via the AAFES.

Vehicle Road Checks.  Norwegian law requires all vehicles to have regular road tests every 2 years from registration. You will receive a letter (in Norwegian) giving you notice of up to 4 months to book your car in for an ‘MOT’ at the local Statens Vegvesen.

Tyres.   Winter tyres are required between 1 Nov and the Monday following Easter Monday each year and should also be used outside these times if conditions warrant. It is not permissible to mix the different types of tyres on one car.  Norwegian law requires your vehicle to have sufficient traction according to the road conditions.  Minimum tread depth of winter and studded tyres is 4mm, summer tyres must be at least 1.6mm.  Drivers must at all times have control of the car (if necessary by reducing the speed).

Whilst not illegal to use summer tyres all-year round, should you have an accident during the winter period, the lack of correct tyre (if contributory) will invalidate your insurance cover and result in serious repercussions with the police.  The 3 legal tyre types for driving in Norway in winter conditions are:

• Studded Tyres (Piggdekk).  The Norwegian authorities are trying to encourage drivers to switch to alternative snow and ice tyres (studless).  A tax on studded tyres is being introduced (currently in Oslo).  Eventually they will be made illegal and a fine system may be introduced to translate good intentions into reality.  Studded tyres provide the best traction on ice. They are not as effective on wet or loose snow or on dry roads.

• Snow and Ice Tyres (Studless).  These are a fairly new innovation and do not damage the road surface as studded tyres do. Studless tyres provide excellent traction on ice, snow and in wet conditions. They are more expensive to purchase than studded tyres and, although you can keep them on your car all year round, they are made of a softer compound and wear out more quickly.

• Mud and Snow Tyres.  These are ‘specially designed’ tyres without studs.  Mud & Snow tyres provide the best traction in wet, loose or hard packed snow, as well as on dry roads.  These tyres are considered sufficient in the Stavanger area and they can be used year round.

Snow Chains.  Vehicles less than 3½ ton are not required to carry snow chains but it is recommended that they do so when travelling outside the local area. Chains are not permitted in cities.

Radiator Anti-Freeze. Anti-freeze during the winter months is recommended.  The mixture in some makes of car (e.g. Ford) when bought new in UK is adequate for the Stavanger area.  Please check your handbook to be sure.  Anti-freeze is available from most garages.  Though rare for Stavanger, you should be ready for temperatures to drop as low as -15oC.  The basic rule of thumb seems to be that, subject to the prevailing wind, whatever weather Scotland gets, Stavanger has 2 days later.  However, should you drive more than 60 minutes inland or wish to ski on a regular basis, be advised that the temperatures here rarely rise above -5oC for most of the winter.

Caravans.  Towing a caravan in Norway offers no problem if common sense is used.  Unlike the UK where caravans and trailers take the registration number of the towing vehicle, each caravan and trailer MUST be registered as a separate unit with its own number plate and log book.  The procedure for passing a caravan or trailer through Norwegian customs and getting registered at BILCONTROL is the same as for a car.  Maximum permissible width 2.10m and any gas bottle must be provided with a Norwegian safety valve and fitted on the outside of the caravan.  Apparatus connected to the bottle must have a separate shut-off switch.

Once your car is registered, your car insurance automatically provides basic third party cover for a trailer or caravan.  You are advised to contact your insurance agent/company for extra comprehensive cover.  Extra cover can be arranged before registration and you later inform the insurance company, once the registration is known.