Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Automobile Associations
Norges Automobil-Forbund
(NAF; 92 60 85 05;
www.naf.no
)
By reciprocal agreement, members affiliated with Alliance Internationale de Tourisme
(AIT) national automobile associations are eligible for 24-hour breakdown recovery assist-
ance from the NAF. NAF patrols ply the main roads from mid-June to mid-August. Emer-
gency phones can be found along motorways, in tunnels and at certain mountain passes.
Ask your automobile association for a
lettre de recommendation
(letter of introduction),
which entitles you to services offered by affiliated organisations in Norway, usually free of
charge. These services may include touring maps and information, help with breakdowns,
technical and legal advice etc.
AUTO ASSOCIATION
Driving Licence
Short-term visitors may hire a car with only their home country's driving licence.
Fuel
Leaded and unleaded petrol and diesel are available at most petrol stations. Although
prices fluctuate in keeping with international oil prices, prevailing prices at the time of re-
search ranged from around Nkr13 per litre up to Nkr16. Diesel usually costs around Nkr1
per litre less. You can pay with major credit cards at most service stations.
In towns, petrol stations may be open until 10pm or midnight, but there are some 24-hour
services. In rural areas, many stations close in the early evening and don't open at all on
weekends. Some have unstaffed 24-hour automatic pumps operated with credit cards.
A word of warning for those driving a diesel vehicle: don't fill up at the pump labelled
'
augiftsfri diesel',
which is strictly for boats, tractors etc.
Hire
Norwegian car hire is costly and geared mainly to the business traveller. Walk-in rates for a
compact car (with 200km per day included) typically approach Nkr1200 per day (including
VAT, but insurance starts at Nkr75 per day extra), although per-day rates drop the longer
you rent.
In summer always ask about special offers, as you may be able to get the smallest car
(eg VW Polo) for a three- to five-day period for Nkr500 per day with 50km free, or Nkr600
per day with 200km free; each extra kilometre costs Nkr2.50, which quickly adds up. Some
major rental agencies also offer weekend rates, which allow you to pick up a car after noon
