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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| 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:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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