24 - General Rules on Driving Rights, Driver's License, Driving Test, and Competence Certificate

Anyone who is to drive a motor vehicle must have a driving right and have obtained a driver's license where required, as well as, if applicable, a valid competence certificate for the relevant group of motor vehicles. During driving, the driver must always carry their driver's license and competence certificate.

The Ministry may determine that a public age certificate or proof of having completed specific training must be carried while driving motor vehicles that do not require a driver's license.

Anyone who is to obtain a driving right for a passenger car must be at least 18 years old. The Ministry may set a higher or lower minimum age requirement for driving rights for specific driver's license classes.

Anyone who is to obtain a driver's license must be sober, and there must be nothing to indicate an unsatisfactory character otherwise. They must have sufficient vision and mobility, necessary physical and mental health, and must have passed the driving test. When driving to a driving test, the candidate is considered the driver of the motor vehicle.

The Ministry may issue regulations on the driving test and driving rights, including fees, validity periods, required driving instruction before the test, health requirements, additional training requirements, and conditions and limitations of the driving rights. The Ministry may, by regulation, establish further rules that anyone who fails the driving test, emergency vehicle test, or professional driver competency test can be prohibited from retaking the test for up to two months (a waiting period).

The Ministry may issue regulations on driver's licenses and competence certificates, including fees, driver's license classes, validity periods, issuance, replacement, exceptions to the driver's license requirement, temporary driving permits, age certificates, and proof of having completed specific traffic training.

If the holder of a driver's license no longer meets the requirements for vision, health, and mobility as set out in the fifth paragraph, they must notify the County Governor, who must inform the police, cf. § 34.

The Ministry may issue further provisions regarding the issuance of Norwegian driver's licenses based on valid foreign driving rights. This may include regulations about the surrender of the foreign driver's license and the collection of information about the individual. It may also be determined that the driving test can be waived or that the individual must pass a simplified driving test.

The Ministry may impose additional specific conditions, beyond those in the third and fourth paragraphs, for those seeking driving rights for specific driver's license classes or for specific groups of motor vehicles.

The Ministry may issue regulations regarding qualification requirements, including basic and further education for driving test examiners.

Anyone who intentionally or grossly negligently cheats or attempts to cheat on the driving test may be subjected to a waiting period of up to one year and may be denied the opportunity to take tests in other driver's license classes during this period. The Ministry may, by regulation, establish further provisions regarding such waiting periods. The Ministry may also, by regulation, establish corresponding rules for the emergency vehicle test and professional driver competency test.