Car rental in Oslo

Car Rental in Oslo: exploring Norway’s capital city and surroundings

Oslo is an exciting and comfortable city to visit, with a major part of its area comprised of parks that vary from forests to the sculpturally awesome Vigeland Park. Norway’s capital city offers visitors the best of Norwegian architecture, culinary arts, nightlife, and museums, guaranteeing that even the most experienced visitors will stumble across something new. Make the most of your visit by exploring Oslo’s outskirts and surroundings in the comfort of your rental car! Book your rental car today.

The weather is most enjoyable in Oslo from May to August.

Norwegian is the official and most widely spoken language of Norway, though English is also spoken fluently by the vast majority of Norwegians. It’s also likely that people in the tourist industry will speak French, German, Russian, Dutch, Italian and/or Spanish.

Oslo is in the Central European Time Zone, UTC+1.

The currency in Norway is the Norwegian crown or norske krone. ATMs are widely available and most Norwegians pay with debit cards, making cash unnecessary. You may have trouble paying at grocery stores with international credit cards, however, so carrying some crowns is recommended.

Automobile hire is available in over 10 locations throughout Oslo, includingOslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), Oslo Central Station, downtown, and on Ensjøveien.

Visa Regulations

As a member of the Schengen Agreement, Norway accepts visitors visa-free from countries such as the EU, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia. Citizens of the other countries will be required to apply for a visa before they arrive and are permitted to stay for up to three months.

Driving in Oslo

Particularly compared to Bergen, Oslo is a fairly drivable city, making short visits by car fairly convenient. Visitors who are planning on spending a few days in central Oslo will want to return their rental car for the length of this stay, however, and take advantage of Oslo’s good public transportation infrastructure.

Right-Hand Driving

• Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road throughout continental Europe.

Speed Limits

• On motorways and some dual carriageways: 100 km/h
• On most other roadways between towns: 80 km/h
• In the city: 50 km/h, unless otherwise marked.
• While you may find that many local drivers exceed these speed limits, it is not recommended that you follow suit! There are numerous speed traps throughout the region, and speeding fines are very high. If you feel pressured to drive faster, just pull over and let the local drivers pass.
• While stop-and-go traffic rarely occurs in Oslo, avoid driving during rush hour, from 6:30 to 9 am and 3 to 5 pm. Note that your toll to enter Oslo rises by 10 kroner if you arrive during these rush hour periods.

Other Regulations

1. Parking in central Oslo can be a challenge, though some street parking is still available and fully electric cars can park for free. Take advantage of frequent parking garages to avoid inadvertently parking illegally in the fast-disappearing street parking spaces. Do not park, for instance, in front of gates to inner courtyards. These gates often just look like large doors.
2. You can drive for up to three months in Norway on your valid domestic driver’s license, provided you have a full year’s driving experience.
3. Yield right of way to trams, pedestrians, and cyclists!
4. You will be taxed to enter Oslo by car via automatic tollbooths that photograph your license plate and send a bill to your rental car company. The toll is 10 kroner more expensive if you enter Oslo during rush hour.
5. You will have to be at least 19 years old with a full year’s driving experience to rent a car in Norway, and all drivers under the age of 25 are likely to be issued with a surcharge.
6. It is mandatory to keep your headlights on at all times.

Cheap Car Rental in Oslo

Automobile hire in Oslo typically starts at around $50 a day, but keep an eye out for discounts that can drive this price down to below $40. Here are some of the best deals in Oslo:

• Volkswagen Up or similar (mini class) – $37/day
• Peugeot 208 or similar (economy class) – $38/day
• Volkswagen Golf or similar (compact class) – $40/day
• Volvo V40 or similar (intermediate class) – $45/day
• Volkswagen Passat or similar (standard class) – $63/day

Note that prices vary depending on the availability of each specific car and the season in which you rent. For the most accurate offers, use the search bar above.

Tips for Renting a Car Inexpensively in Oslo

The price for rental cars stays pretty constant throughout the year in Oslo. To get the best deals, look for cars at a variety of locations that often offer significant discounts, particularly Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), Oslo east, and downtown.

You can also often save at least $3 a day by extending your rental period to over a week.