Driving in Iceland vs Norway: Key Differences Revealed

When navigating the roads of Iceland and Norway, drivers encounter distinct rules and regulations that shape their experiences. From varied lane markings and speed limits to contrasting penalties for violations, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison highlights essential distinctions that every traveler should consider before hitting the road.

icelandnorway

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in iceland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Iceland	Norway
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits.

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

iceland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

norway:

Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

iceland:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

norway:

Not standard in Norway.

Overtaking: On Right

iceland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

norway:

Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

norway:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

norway:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

norway:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

iceland:

norway:

Yes

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

norway:

Minimum two or more occupants

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

norway:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

norway:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	Norway
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h on gravel roads	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits

Urban Areas: Standard

iceland:

50 km/h

norway:

30-50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

norway:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

norway:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

norway:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

norway:

90-110 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

norway:

90-100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

norway:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

norway:

Electronic signs display current limits

Signals

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	Iceland	Norway
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not used in Norway
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties	N/A	Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage	N/A	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language	Icelandic; symbols are standard	Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Triangular-shaped with red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

norway:

Not used in Norway

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

norway:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

norway:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

norway:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

norway:

Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

norway:

Triangular-shaped with red border

Turns

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	Iceland		Norway
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Varies by locality; check for signs

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

norway:

Varies by locality; check for signs

Documentation

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	Iceland	Norway
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	None
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

norway:

Accepted with a national driving license

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

norway:

International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

norway:

Yes, periodic inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

norway:

None

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

norway:

Recommended

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Norway
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	High fines and possible license revocation
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

iceland:

0.05%

norway:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

norway:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

norway:

Common; checkpoints used frequently

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

norway:

High fines and possible license revocation

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

norway:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Norway
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and exiting		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting	Signal when preparing to exit		Signal right when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

norway:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

norway:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Norway
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

norway:

02800

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

norway:

Check with your insurance provider or NAF

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

norway:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Norway
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

norway:

Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

iceland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

norway:

Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

norway:

1500 NOK

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

norway:

1700 NOK

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

norway:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

norway:

Yes, typically required

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

norway:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay