France licence Norway

Driving in Norway with a France license

Short answer: to drive in Norway with a France license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your France license.

Bring an IDP

Yes — to drive in Norway on a France licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your France licence. Norway expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Convention basisNorway uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskOslo desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; many tolls are automatic.

CarryCarry BOTH your France national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified July 2026Source: Geneva 1949 / Vienna 1968

Get my IDP for Norway Full Norway guide

French drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence when driving outside the EU and EEA. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.

What driving in Norway is like

Driving in Norway with a foreign licence

The Atlantic Ocean Road and the hairpin Trollstigen pass are the most famous of Norway's 18 designated National Scenic Routes. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 110 km/h motorways. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your France licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Norway can read your credentials at a glance.

Driving rules in Norway

Headlights on at all times, year-round.
0.02% alcohol limit — near zero.
Winter tyres mandatory in winter.
Automatic AutoPASS toll roads.

Local driving facts in Norway

Emergency number: 112 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 110 km/h motorways. Posted limits always take precedence.

Tolls & road charges: Norway has 400+ automatic camera toll points (bomstasjoner) with no booths. Foreign cars are billed by plate via Epass24, or you can pre-register an AutoPASS transponder for a discount; many city tolls also apply.
Parking: Cities use municipal pay-and-display and app payment (EasyPark is dominant); blue 'P' signs mark lots. Parking is expensive and zones/residential permits are strictly enforced with fines and towing.
Penalties & enforcement: Speeding fines are severe: minor 5-35 km/h overages draw on-the-spot fines roughly NOK 600-7,800, payable by card with a receipt; larger overages risk licence loss. Drink-drive limit is a strict 0.02%.
If you have an accident: Call 112 for police, 113 for ambulance, 110 for fire. Exchange details and complete the standard European accident report; police attendance is required for injuries or disputed/serious damage.
City driving: Oslo's toll ring charges vehicles entering the city centre (rates vary by time and engine type, with extra charges in rush hour), and the city has aggressively reduced and removed central parking.
Winter driving: Winter tyres are required when conditions demand; studded tyres/chains are permitted 1 November to the second Monday after Easter (16 Oct-30 Apr in Nordland/Troms/Finnmark). Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim levy a studded-tyre 'stud tax' of roughly 30-40 NOK/day.
Fuel: Petrol (blyfri 95/98) and diesel are sold at mostly self-service stations; cards are universally accepted. Fuel is among the most expensive in Europe and stations are sparse in remote/mountain areas, so refuel early.

Sources: speedingeurope.com, nordicvisitor.com, lifeinnorway.net, visitnorway.com

Common questions

Can I drive in Norway with a France license?

to drive in Norway with a France license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your France license. Norway uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my France driver's license valid in Norway?

Yes — to drive in Norway on a France licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your France licence. Norway expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Norway?

Yes — to drive in Norway on a France licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your France licence. Norway expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Can I rent a car in Norway with a France license?

Oslo desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; many tolls are automatic.

What IDP format does Norway accept?

Norway uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Norway?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing France license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1949 Geneva / 1968 Vienna format Norway uses — carried alongside your France license.

Do I still carry my France license?

Carry BOTH your France national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Norway?

In Norway, dial 112 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The general maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 110 km/h motorways; posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Norway?

Norway has 400+ automatic camera toll points (bomstasjoner) with no booths. Foreign cars are billed by plate via Epass24, or you can pre-register an AutoPASS transponder for a discount; many city tolls also apply.