How to import

In this guide, you will get help on how to proceed when you’re going to import a car, motorcycle or other vehicle. 

Unsure of how much you have to pay? You can calculate it in the import calculator (in Norwegian only).

Check with Norwegian Public Roads Administration to find out what the technical demands are for the vehicle to be registered in Norway.

In addition, you can check the following with the authorities of the country you get the vehicle from:

  • Any export restrictions and export clearance
  • Whether the vehicle has valid number plates and insurance for driving it to and in Norway

When you have checked this, you can transport the vehicle to the Norwegian border.

Refunds of foreign value added tax

This is a matter between the buyer and seller, and the Norwegian customs authorities has nothing to do with this.

When you arrive in Norway, you have to cross the border at one of the Norwegian Customs’ manned customs offices and declare your arrival in the red zone. See the list of customs offices at toll.no.

If the customs authorities abroad have not issued a transit declaration, the Norwegian Customs will issue this at the border. A transit declaration is a document that gives you a right to use the foreign registered vehicle from the Norwegian border to your local customs office (destination customs office). The relevant customs office will be stated in the transit declaration.

If the vehicle is insured, you can use valid foreign number plates (registration number) until you arrive at your local customs office.

If you want to pay the value added tax upon crossing the border, you have to check with the relevant border customs office in advance.

If you did not pay value added tax and any greenhouse gas tax (air-condition) when crossing the border, you now have to go to the Norwegian Customs to do so. This is called customs clearance.

You have to go to the destination customs office within a deadline (usually 1-3 days). Bring the following documents:

  • The transit declaration you got from either foreign or Norwegian customs authorities.
  • Invoice or purchase contract showing the actual purchase price, and any transportation invoice and documentation of other expenses you had before the vehicle was brought to Norway, for example insurance. You can also bring an updated valuation of the vehicle from the country of origin, if you’ve not purchased it recently.
  • Original foreign registration document, and any certificate of conformity (COC).

See the list of customs offices.

Upon customs clearance, you'll get a registration card called Melding til avgiftsberegning og registrering (Form NA-0221) (Notification of calculation of duties and registration - in Norwegian only). You must bring this document to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration later.

You can drive with foreign number plates for up to 30 days after the vehicle was customs cleared. You have to have valid number plates, vehicle registration certificate and insurance. If this is not in place, the vehicle can only be used with valid temporary number plates (day trial number plates).

You can buy temporary number plates at one of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Offices (in Norwegian only). The Public Roads Administration needs documentation of the chassis number to issue temporary number plates.

It's your responsibility to make sure the number plates and insurance is valid. If you’re not sure the number plates are valid, you can contact the Norwegian Public Roads Administration or the relevant foreign authority. It’s possible to take out Trafikkforsikringsforeningens (the traffic insurance union) frontier insurance with the Norwegian Customs.

Dealers who have trade plates (temporary number plates for dealers) can use these.

If you’re going to import a vehicle, it must be approved by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

Used vehicles must be checked at one of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Offices (in Norwegian only). When you import new vehicles, the information from the COC document is used. If you do not have a COC document, the vehicle needs to be checked by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

You have to bring Melding til avgiftsberegning og registrering (Form NA-0221) (Notification of calculation of duties and registration - in Norwegian only), which you were given at customs clearance.

Some vehicles may be exempted from or be entitled to a reduction in the one-off registration tax, such as ambulances or inherited vehicles. Read more about what types of vehicles this applies to and the documentation requirements (in Norwegian only).

When the vehicle is approved, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration will register technical data, which will be used as a basis when deciding how much duties you should pay.

After your vehicle has been approved at one of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Offices, you must pay the one-off registration tax and the scrap deposit tax.

In most cases, you can do this immediately after the approval by using the Norwegian Tax Administration’s electronic payment solution (in Norwegian only).

Read more about the one-off registration tax, and how it’s calculated (in Norwegian only).

If you want to apply for alternative calculation of the one-off registration tax (in Norwegian only), you have to apply no more than 15 days after registration. Alternative calculation is based on price and mileage instead of the age of the vehicle.

For self-employed persons/businesses: Registration as duty liable

There’s a separate scheme for car dealers, who can register as duty liable with the Norwegian Tax Administration. These can get credit for the one-off registration tax.

The vehicle can now be registered at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Offices (in Norwegian only).

Upon registration, you have to bring certain documents, among them the authorised vehicle registration certificate (Form NA-0221). See an overview of all documents you have to bring to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

When the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has registered the vehicle, you'll get a temporary vehicle registration certificate. The original vehicle registration certificate (2 parts) will be sent by post. You cannot drive abroad with the temporary vehicle registration certificate.

When you register the vehicle at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office, you have to hand over any foreign number plates. If you’ve already handed over the number plates, you have to document this before you can get Norwegian number plates.

Congratulations! You have now imported and registered a vehicle in Norway.

Do you think this is complicated? Then you’re welcome to contact us.

 

If the vehicle already is in Norway

You must retrospectively declare the vehicle with Norwegian Customs if you:

  • have used it duty free in Norway pursuant to the provisions on temporary use or
  • did not stop at the border when you brought the vehicle into the country