Car hire in Norway unlocks one of the most spectacular road-trip countries on earth, from the fjords and waterfalls of the west to the Lofoten Islands and the Arctic north. Public transport reaches the towns but not the viewpoints, so a hire car is what turns the trip into the great Norwegian adventure.
Compare cheap car hire in Norway from trusted suppliers in a single search, with real-time availability, no hidden fees and free cancellation on most bookings. Prices start from around £28 per day for a small car in the low season, and understanding two Norwegian specifics, the automatic AutoPASS tolls and the fjord car ferries, is what keeps the trip smooth and free of nasty surprises on your card weeks later.
This guide covers what genuinely matters for driving here: how the AutoPASS toll and ferry billing works, the scenic routes worth planning around, realistic costs in an expensive country, the winter tyre rules, the very strict drink-drive law and the age requirements. One thing to settle first, “car hire” and “car rental” mean the same thing, and you will see both used by every supplier in Norway.
How Much Does Car Hire in Norway Cost?
Car hire in Norway costs from around £28 per day for a small car in the low season, rising to roughly £50 to £90 per day for a small or medium car in the summer peak, when demand is highest. The cheapest month is reliably January, often around a third below the yearly average. Remember that Norway is an expensive country, so budget for fuel, tolls and ferries on top of the daily rate. The table below is a realistic guide for cheap car hire in Norway booked online ahead of travel.
| Car class | Typical price (booked ahead) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small / Economy | From £28/day | Couples, cities, fjord touring |
| Medium / Estate | £45 to £75/day | Families, luggage, long drives |
| SUV / 4WD | £60 to £120/day | Winter, mountain roads, groups |
| Campervan | £70 to £160/day | Car and accommodation in one |
| Rates are indicative for cars booked online in advance and vary by season and supplier. January is cheapest; June to August are dearest. Budget separately for fuel, AutoPASS tolls and ferries. | ||
For the cheapest car hire in Norway, book well ahead, travel outside the June to August peak, and pick a small car for the winding fjord roads, where a compact is easier to handle than a large vehicle. A young driver surcharge applies to drivers under 25, and remember that the headline rate is only part of the cost in Norway once tolls, ferries and fuel are added.
AutoPASS Tolls: How They Work
A defining feature of car hire in Norway is the tolls: Norway has around 190 toll stations, and the system surprises first-timers because there are no booths, no barriers and often no obvious sign you have passed one. It is all automatic, handled by AutoPASS, which reads a transponder fitted in the windscreen or photographs your number plate.
Every hire car in Norway comes with an AutoPASS tag already fitted, so you simply drive through and the charges are added to your rental bill, usually after you return the car, and sometimes on a second invoice a week or two later.
There is nothing to do at the roadside with your car hire in Norway, but two things are worth knowing. First, most rental companies add a small administration fee for processing the tolls, so check this when you book. Second, tolls are concentrated in the south around Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim; Northern Norway, including the Lofoten Islands and Tromsø, has almost no toll roads at all, which makes the Arctic noticeably cheaper to drive. You do not need to pre-register for anything to use a hire car in Norway, as the AutoPASS tag handles it.
Fjord Ferries and the Scenic Routes
Norway’s fjords mean car ferries are a normal, enjoyable part of car hire in Norway, not an obstacle. The system is excellent and easy: for most ferries you simply drive on, and the fare is charged automatically through the same AutoPASS that handles your tolls, so there is nothing to pay at the terminal. Most routes run every 15 to 30 minutes and need no pre-booking, though a few popular summer crossings, such as Geiranger to Hellesylt, are worth reserving ahead. Several ferry connections are now free.
For the scenery, and a real highlight of car hire in Norway, the country has 18 official National Scenic Routes, purpose-designed drives past the country’s finest fjords, mountains and coastline. The Atlantic Road and Trollstigen are the famous names, but the whole network rewards taking the slower, prettier road over the fast motorway. Many mountain passes are closed by snow in winter and only open from late spring, so check seasonal opening before planning a high route, the official conditions service has live updates.
Driving in Norway: Rules and Winter
Norway drives on the right and overtakes on the left. Speed limits are typically 50 km/h in towns and 80 km/h on the open road, rising to 90 or 100 km/h on some motorways, and enforcement is strict with frequent cameras. The basics are easy; the things to respect with car hire in Norway are the winter conditions and the alcohol law.
Winter tyres are mandatory
Winter tyres are a legal requirement for car hire in Norway across most of the country from around 15 October to 30 April, and from 1 November to Easter in the south. Hire cars are fitted with them automatically in season, but check the tread depth at pickup, as insufficient tread can bring a fine. Carry chains for serious mountain driving, and note that some cities charge a fee for using studded tyres to limit pollution.
The drink-drive law is very strict
Norway’s blood alcohol limit is just 0.02%, effectively zero, and penalties for drink-driving are severe. The safest approach is simply not to drink at all if you are driving. Speeding fines are also among the highest in Europe, so stick to the posted limits, which change frequently.
Tunnels, wildlife and headlights
For car hire in Norway, dipped headlights must be on at all times, day and night. Norway has a huge number of tunnels, some very long and dimly lit, so a pair of sunglasses for the bright exits and patience in the dark stretches both help. Watch for wildlife, especially elk and reindeer, at dawn and dusk on rural roads. The emergency number in Norway is 112.
What You Need to Hire a Car in Norway
To hire a car in Norway you must usually be at least 21 and have held a full licence for at least a year, with a young driver surcharge for drivers under 25 and a higher minimum age for some larger or premium vehicles. UK licences are accepted without an International Driving Permit, as long as your licence has a photo and is in the Roman alphabet.
You will need your full driving licence, a passport or photo ID, and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit and tolls. Inspect the car and photograph any existing damage before driving away, confirm the fuel policy, which is usually full-to-full, and check the AutoPASS tag and winter tyres are present. This care at pickup is part of getting car hire in Norway right.
The Best Regions to Drive in Norway
Most visitors collect their car at Oslo, Bergen or Tromsø airport, and car hire in Norway is built around these three hubs. The country splits naturally into regions, each rewarding a different kind of trip.
Fjord Norway: Bergen and the west
The classic fjord country, with Bergen as the gateway to the Sognefjord, the Hardangerfjord, Geirangerfjord and the Atlantic Road. Expect spectacular driving, plenty of ferries and the most dramatic of the Scenic Routes.
Oslo and the south
The easiest base for a first trip, with gentler roads and the Telemark lakes and southern coast within reach. This is also where tolls are most common, so expect the AutoPASS to be busiest here.
The Arctic: Lofoten and Tromsø
The far north is the place for the midnight sun, the Northern Lights and the jaw-dropping Lofoten Islands, and it has almost no tolls, making car hire in Norway noticeably cheaper to drive here than in the south. For official safety and driving guidance, the UK government travel advice for Norway and the RAC guide to driving in Norway are reliable sources to check before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Hire in Norway
How do tolls work with a hire car in Norway?
Automatically. Every hire car comes with an AutoPASS tag, and Norway’s roughly 190 toll stations have no booths or barriers, you just drive through and the charges are billed to your rental afterwards, sometimes on a second invoice a week or two later. Most rental firms add a small admin fee. Northern Norway, including Lofoten, has almost no tolls.
Do I pay for ferries separately?
Usually not. Most Norwegian car ferries are billed automatically through the same AutoPASS as the tolls, so you just drive on and pay nothing at the terminal. Most routes run every 15 to 30 minutes with no pre-booking, though popular summer crossings like Geiranger to Hellesylt are worth reserving. Several ferry connections are now free.
How much does it cost to hire a car in Norway?
Car hire in Norway costs from around £28 per day for a small car in the low season, rising to £50 to £90 per day in the summer peak. January is the cheapest month, often about a third below average. Norway is expensive overall, so when comparing car hire in Norway, budget separately for fuel, AutoPASS tolls and ferries on top of the daily rate.
What age do you need to be to hire a car in Norway?
Most suppliers require you to be at least 21 with a full licence held for a year, and under-25s usually pay a young driver surcharge. Some larger or premium cars set a higher minimum age. UK licences are accepted without an International Driving Permit if they carry a photo and use the Roman alphabet.
Are winter tyres required in Norway?
Yes, across most of Norway from around 15 October to 30 April, and from 1 November to Easter in the south. Hire cars are fitted with winter tyres in season automatically, but check the tread depth at pickup as insufficient tread can bring a fine. Carry chains for serious mountain routes.
Compare Cheap Car Hire in Norway
From the fjords of the west to the Arctic light of Lofoten, Norway is one of the world’s great driving countries, and a hire car is the key to all of it. Let the AutoPASS handle the tolls and ferries, plan around the scenic routes and the seasons, mind the strict speed and alcohol laws, and the open road is yours. Getcarhire.com compares cheap car hire in Norway across trusted suppliers in one search, with free cancellation on most bookings, so you can lock in the right car at the right price and get on with the adventure.
