Now that you’ve settled in Norway and gotten yourself a vehicle, what do you need to know about maintaining it?
Årsavgift (Annual fee)
First things first, you need to ensure that the Årsavgift has been paid on your car. This fee has to be paid for vehicles under 7500 kg. The bill will be sent to you in Jan/Feb if your vehicle has been registered from the 1st of January of that year. For vehicles that have been registered in other times of the year, the deadline for paying the fee is the 30th of the month after registration. You can call Statens Vegvesen to check if the fee on your vehicle has been paid. The stickers (which are of a specific colour for each year) will be sent to your registered address in June or July. These stickers have to be placed on the front and back license plates of your vehicle. Click here for prices and more information.
Vehicle Card (Vognkort)
It is compulsory to have your driver’s license and the vehicle’s vognkort when you are driving. The vehicle’s owner information, vehicle information and technical information are listed on the card.
If you do not have this vognkort, you will need to inform Statens Vegvesen. Click here for the form.
EU Control
Check when your car needs to be sent for its EU-control here.
The EU Control is a biennial (once in 2 years) check of your vehicle’s safety and environmental features. Note that only approved car workshops (they will usually have a external sign stating if they are approved by the Statens Vegvesen or not. If in doubt, contact Statens Vegvesen to check.), NAF and other special control stations can perform an EU check on your vehicle.
More information about EU-Control here.
Insurance
Insurance (the bare minimum) is mandatory for all vehicles in Norway. You can select how much insurance coverage you would like to have for your vehicle. Be sure to check out different insurance companies as the prices can differ by quite a bit. Find insurance providers here.
Changing Tyres
It is the vehicle owner who needs to evaluate if the tyres on the vehicle need to be changed or not.
Studded tyres may be used from November 1st until the first Sunday after Easter. If studded tyres are fitted there is a charge (in Oslo, Bergen and Trondhelm). Stickers are available for purchase daily, monthly or yearly.
From October 15th until May 1st you are permitted to use studded tyres in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark.
There are no restrictions for using non-studded winter tyres all year round. However, the disadvantage of using non-studded winter tyres in the summer is that the tyres will not have the same stability, lateral grip and braking ability that they will have in the winter. This is partly because the air temperature is much warmer in the summer, and asphalt has a higher temperature than in the winter.
Requirements for the tread depth on tyres
For summer tyres, the minimum requirement for tread depth is 1.6 mm.(NAF recommends a min. of 3 mm)
For winter tyres, the minimum requirement for tread depth is 3 mm. (NAF recommends a min. of 5 mm)
Storage of tyres
The first thing one should do after you have removed the wheels are to wash both the tyres and rims, and remove the stones from the tyres. The ideal storage is to hang the wheels on the wall if you have the opportunity for this, otherwise they should be set up against a wall without other stuff on top. It should be dark and dry where the tyres are stored.
If you do not have space for tyre storage in your home, you can look into tyre hotels (dekkhotell). You pay a price to have your tyres stored. They usually also include tyre cleaning and change in the price, together with reminders for you to come in for a wheel change. Different companies offer different deals and conditions.
The companies below offer this service, do share if you know of more:
Dekkmann
Dekkbutikken
Dekk1
Bilbyen Forus
Service and Maintenance
How often should you service your vehicle?
It should be serviced as often as is lined out in your vehicle’s user manual, every 5000-8000 km or every 6-8 months.
Self-maintenance of your vehicle
At least once a month, you should:
Check the engine oil
Check the windshield wiper fluid
Check the antifreeze (coolant)
Check the brake fluid
Check the tyre pressure
Wash your vehicle – getting rid of grime and salt (in the winter) helps to keep your vehicle rust-free. See article here.
Getting your vehicle waxed before the winter also helps to protect your car’s body and prevent corrosion.
Look for car workshops in 180 under bil verksted Stavanger or wherever in Norway you are located. Personally I have used
Fuel
Fuel is usually cheaper on weekends (especially Sunday evenings), Monday mornings and at unmanned stations. Check out cards you can apply for which offer discounts on fuel.
Check out the European Commission’s suggestions to reduce fuel consumption here.
Preparing Your Vehicle for the Winter
See article here.
• Pre-winter maintenance
• Consider winter tyres
• Check tyre pressure
• Battery
• Wipers
• Protecting your car’s body
• Lubricate door locks
• How to prevent door seals from freezing
• Other things to know
• Winter Road Kit
• Adjust your driving habits
Not Sure How to Drive in the Winter?
See article here.
You may also like to sign up for a slippery driving course from the driving schools.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Summer
See article here.
What Do You Do In Case of An Accident?
In the Car
You need to have a reflective vest and a warning triangle in your car. In addition it is a good idea to have a torchlight, traffic accident form (skademeldingsskjema), paper, pen and a measuring band.
- Everyone who is involved in a traffic accident needs to stop and help the injured, secure the accident area and call for the ambulance or police if required.
- Evaluate the situation.
- Park your vehicle (if possible) such that it is not a hindrance to traffic.
- Have your hazard lights on.
-Remember to put on your reflective vest before going out of your car to check for damages and injuries.
-Set up the warning triangle at least 150 metres from the accident area.
- Call the police at 112 and ambulance at 113 if required. You only need to dial one number and the alarm central will coordinate the rest.
-Contact a car towing service if required.
- If you come across a traffic accident, you have a duty to stop and help should it be required. If your help is not required, you should leave the accident area immediately.
Dangerous Goods
Vehicles which are marked with an orange hazard sign are transporting dangerous goods. Contact the alarm central before you approach the vehicle. The danger area can be huge if gases were being transported.
Traffic Accident Form (skademeldingsskjema)
NAF recommends that all parties involved in a traffic accident fill out a traffic accident form (skademeldingsskjema). If all parties are in agreement of how the accident occurred, only one form needs to be filled out.
The form can be obtained from Statens Vegvesen and it is advisable to have a few copies in your vehicle.
On the form, all parties have to describe where their vehicles were and what happened. Note that the form is in Norwegian so do not sign it if you are unsure of what it means. It is not compulsory to fill out the form there and then but it helps to prevent conflict between involved parties later on.
Obtain the names, addresses and vehicle registration numbers of all involved in the accident. If the other party/parties do not wish to cooperate, fill out your own traffic accident form and send it in to your insurance company.
Source: NAF – Utfylling av skademeldingsskjema
In the Event of Breakdowns
-Park your vehicle such that it does not cause a hindrance to other traffic.
-Remember to put on your reflective vest before going out of your vehicle.
-Set up the warning triangle at least 150 metres from the accident area.
If you require assistance with your vehicle you can call the following 24 hour numbers:
* NAF: 810 00 505 (local rate)
* Falken: 02 222 (freefone)
* Viking: 06 000 (freefone)
* Or your insurance company (whether your insurance offers breakdown assistance depends on what kind of insurance you have on your vehicle)
More information can be found:
Statens Vegvesen
NAF – Norwegian Automobile Federation
Google Translate will be your best friend while surfing these websites.
Rules and Regulations for Driving in Norway
Other related articles we have written:
Do You Need A Norwegian Driver’s License?
Purchasing a Used Vehicle in Stavanger
Road Trips in Norway
How to Avoid Getting Traffic Fines
Related Articles
About Cynthia Myrnes
Cynthia is a Singaporean who has been living in Stavanger since Feb 2008 with her Norwegian husband. She works as a physiotherapist here and also owns her own petsitting service, Stavanger Petsitter, for the residents of Stavanger. In addition, she manages the Stavanger International Moms group. She loves hanging out with friends, spending time with animals, travelling and watersports such as scuba diving and wake boarding. Most of all, she is enjoying the experience of being a first time mom!
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