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How do car ferries work in Norway, and do I need to book?

Queues, payment, rules on board and the routes that take bookings.

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Short answer

Many car ferries in Norway cannot be booked in advance, so you drive into the queue at the quay and pay by AutoPASS tag, FerryPay or bank card. Some longer routes, such as Bodø to Moskenes, let you reserve part of the space. On popular summer routes, Visit Norway recommends arriving early.

Ferry life hacks in Norway a red train crossing a bridge, a small airplane above and a ferry on blue water below

Why

  1. There are about 130 ferry routes in Norway; Statens vegvesen is directly responsible for 16 of them, and counties and municipalities run the rest.
  2. On the Moss to Horten ferry and on the ferries around Senja you cannot reserve a place in advance.
  3. On Bodø to Moskenes booking is not mandatory, and when reserved places are sold out you can still join the regular queue, according to Torghatten Nord.

Details

The driver must follow the crew's instructions and the signs at the quay and on board. During the crossing the engine must be off, with the parking brake on, and you may stay in the car unless notices on board say otherwise. Payment is taken automatically through AutoPASS or FerryPay, or you ask the crew to pay by card.

Tip

In summer, arrive early for popular routes such as Geiranger to Hellesylt, Bognes to Lødingen and Bodø to Moskenes, and check the terminal webcams where they exist.

What may differ

Ferries to Norway from Denmark, Sweden and Germany are run by separate car ferry companies with their own tickets and prices, so this answer covers domestic car ferries.

Common misconception

You have to book every Norwegian car ferry in advance.

What actually happens

Many domestic routes, such as Moss to Horten, do not take bookings at all: you queue at the quay and pay on board or through AutoPASS.

People also ask

  • Do I need to book car ferries in Norway?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the ferry company before you travel.

Ferry life hacks in Norway
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