Driving in Norway — Guide for UK Drivers

If you’re driving to Norway from the UK — whether by ferry or via continental Europe — there are some significant rule changes to be aware of. The most obvious: you’ll be driving on the right side of the road. But beyond that, Norway’s approach to road safety is stricter in almost every way.

Driving on the right

This is the biggest adjustment. In Norway, traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left — the opposite of the UK. Take extra care at:

• Roundabouts — traffic flows counter-clockwise (same as the UK, actually), but you enter from the right
• Junctions — your instincts about which direction traffic is coming from will be wrong initially
• Motorway exits — exits are on the right, not the left
• After stops — when pulling out of a petrol station or car park, it’s easy to revert to the left

If you’re bringing a UK (right-hand drive) car, you’ll also need headlight adaptors to prevent your beam pattern from dazzling oncoming traffic.

Speed limits

Norway’s motorway maximum of 110 km/h is about 68 mph — and that’s only on the best roads. Most rural roads are 80 km/h (50 mph). See speed limits for details.

Alcohol limit

This is where the biggest shock comes. The UK limit in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is 0.8‰ (80 mg per 100 ml blood). Norway’s limit is 0.2‰ — four times stricter. Scotland’s limit of 0.5‰ is still more than double Norway’s.

A single pint of beer could put you over Norway’s limit. The only safe approach is to not drink at all before driving. See alcohol limits.

Your UK licence

Since Brexit, UK driving licences are no longer EU/EEA licences. The rules:

• Tourists: Valid for 3 months from entry
• New residents: Valid for 3 months after registering a Norwegian address, then must be exchanged

The exchange process is relatively straightforward — you typically don’t need to retake the test. See licence validity.

Other key differences

• Headlights on at all times — dipped beam or DRL, day and night
• Right-hand rule — at unmarked intersections, yield to traffic from the right (no UK equivalent)
• Fines are much higher — a minor speeding offence in Norway costs more than most UK fines
• Tolls are electronic — no booths, your plate is photographed automatically
• Winter tyres — effectively mandatory in winter conditions

Practical tips for UK drivers

• Get headlight adaptors — essential if driving a UK car in Norway
• Practise right-hand driving on quiet roads before hitting the motorway
• Don’t drink and drive — your UK habits around “one drink with dinner” won’t work here
• Carry your physical licence — digital licences aren’t accepted
• Download EasyPark for parking — Norway is largely cashless for parking