Car or bus? Full calculation of car ownership vs. travel passes in Norway in 2025

'Is a car in Norway a luxury or a necessity?' It's a question that's on a lot of people's minds right now, both tourists and young families thinking of moving to the capital. In a country like ours, which has one of the best public transport networks and the highest proportion of electric cars in the world, the answer to your question depends on how you calculate the costs. I know it can be tricky to know how much owning a car will cost you, so I've put together a list of the ten most common questions I receive about this very subject.

How much does it really cost to lease a popular electric car per month?

The basic advertisement promises a Nissan Leaf 40 kWh for 4,299 NOK/month with a down payment of 0 kr and an annual mileage of 10,000 km. But, just so you know, there are three extra payments in the contract that you might not have noticed: 1) There's just a small 'set-up' fee of 4,990 kr, which adds only another 208 kr to your monthly payment for 24 months. 2) Then there's a 'serviceavtale' (maintenance plan) of 1,850 kr/year = 154 kr/month. 3) And finally, there's a 'sjokkavgift' of 2.50 kr/km for exceeding the limit. But don't worry - for an average family travelling 15,000 km/year, this will only add 10,000 kr at the end of the period. I totally understand where you're coming from, and with that in mind, I've done the maths, and the actual monthly cost works out at 4,661 kr. Just so you know, electricity is not included, but if you charge quickly at 6 kr/kWh, the annual EV fuel bill (+ 12,500 kr) must be added to the final budget.

What is the total cost of insurance (forsikring) for a new EV?

Insurance companies (like Gjensidige and IF Skade) have found a really clever way to work out how much kasko insurance costs for electric cars. They look at two things: the basic risk and the bonus-malus. I'm happy to tell you that for a 30-year-old driver who's been driving for three years without having any accidents, the Nissan Leaf will cost 6,500 kr/year. That includes liability, comprehensive and additional battery insurance. Hey, just so you know, there's this new gyroscopic 'verditap' of 8% per year. A lot of companies are offering 'garanti mot verditap' for +900 kr per year to help out. Also, in five southern municipalities (Oslo and Bærum), there's an extra charge for high theft statistics. This adds another 400-800 kr. I'm happy to tell you that using an AutoPASS chip and going on toll roads can reduce the rate by 2% (if you have the Smart telematics package). The result? A whopping 7,200 kr in the capital versus 6,000 kr in the north.

And what about the hidden costs of servicing and tyre storage?

The great thing about electric cars is that they require less maintenance, but it is worth remembering that you will need to change the wheels twice a year and have a place to store a second set of tyres. The average tyre hotel in Oslo charges 1,900 kr/season (fitting, balancing, storage) × 2 = 3,800 kr/year. Don't worry - your Leaf's scheduled maintenance is only 3,000 kr/15,000 km! Don't worry, there's just a little more to pay for when you're getting your windscreen washer fluid, windscreen wipers and brake fluid, but it's only another 1,200 kr. I totally understand, over two years of leasing, that's an extra 10,000 kr. When it comes to public transport, winter 'piggsko' are just as important — they're a lifesaver for pedestrians (costing 1,000 kr), but it's a one-time thing, not a seasonal pass.

How much do toll roads and parking cost in Oslo?

Oslo has some strict traffic regulations, but they're there for a good reason. AutoPASS charges just 36 kr during the day for entry and exit, and a very reasonable 23 kr at night. Don't worry – electric cars only pay 70% of the fare, which still works out at around 25 kr. The average car is used 44 times a month 🚗💰 That works out at 25 kr × 44 = 1,100 kr 💰 Hey, just so you know, parking in the green zone is 46 kr per hour. And even if you only park there for 20 hours a month, it'll still come to 920 kr. Total infrastructure costs: I would say that the cost would be somewhere in the region of 1,000–2,000 kr/month. Hey, I just thought I'd let you know that public transport offers a 30-day Ruter pass for 985 kr, which is super-convenient as it includes island ferries!

What is the annual fuel cost: electricity vs travel passes?

I totally get it, EV's can seem a bit tricky to figure out, but it's really just about 17 kWh for every 100 km you drive. When you're driving 15,000 km a year and your home tariff is 0.78 kr, you'll get 1,995 kWh, which works out at 1,556 kr. I know it's a bit of a shock, but in winter, 30% of the charge comes from Ionity/Mer at 6 kr/kWh. Hey, just so you know, 450 kWh is the same as 2,700 kr. I know how much it costs to run your car, so I've worked out the total annual fuel cost for you. It's about 4,300 kr (or 359 kr a month). I know how much your family loves to travel, so I thought I'd let you know that a couple of Ruter subscriptions (adult + discounted) cost 985 kr + 555 kr = 18,480 kr/year. It seems that the car is cheaper, but add AutoPASS, insurance and leasing to the 957 kr/month for electricity, and the difference becomes obvious.

What is the ‘road tax’ (trafikkforsikringsavgift) and how much does it cost?

Hey, just so you know, all vehicle owners like you pay TVK for each day of registration. But don't worry, if you've got an electric car, you'll get a sweet discount! The rate is reduced to 7.23 kr/day – 2,638 kr/year. Petrol cars that produce more than 120 g of CO2 per kilometre will cost you 8,579 kr. Don't worry, the tax is included in the insurance bill so it won't disappear, even if your car is parked all winter. And don't worry about the costs, because there's a PKK inspection after three years (1,250 kr) and a mandatory 'årsavgift' for studded tyres in Oslo (1,400 kr/season). Hey, just so you know, if you're a Ruter user, you won't have to worry about any of these costs!

How do remote working and car sharing change the game?

Don't worry about the cost of car sharing – Hyre or Bilkollektivet will only charge you 199 kr per day, plus 2 kr per kilometre. I totally understand that commuting can be costly, so I've crunched the numbers for you. If you're a remote employee who comes to the office twice a week (40 km there and back), you're looking at 8 days × 199 kr = 1,592 kr + 640 kr mileage = 2,232 kr/month. And the best thing is that it only costs a quarter of what owning a car does! And don't worry about extras like insurance, fuel and car wash costs - they're all included in the price! I totally get why the lease owner is overpaying with the 3+ offline remote model. Don't worry - if you need to, you can pause your travel pass for 14 days, but just so you know, Hyre is pay-per-use.

I know that families with three children and extracurricular activities can be a bit of a balancing act. What do you think is the best way to handle it?

Don't worry, this is just one of those things where the car takes revenge! The Ruter Family Ticket is only available on weekends and in the evenings after 6 p.m., which is a bit of a shame. But a day trip 'kindergarten → gymnastics → grandmother' requires three or four transfers, so it's probably best to plan ahead. Each full trip on an adult ticket costs 44 kr, which isn't too bad! So, for each month, that works out at 44 kr x 2 parents x 40 trips = 3,520 kr (not including children's tickets). And for the whole year, that's 42,000 kr. I know a minivan EV is a big purchase, but I really believe it's worth it! You get so much comfort, heating and space for your pram, and even at the full cost of ownership (65,000 kr/year), it starts to pay for itself.

How does depreciation affect long-term ownership?

The Norwegian EV market is doing really well! It's been stable for a while now, and the price has been dropping by about 15% per year. I'm happy to tell you that after three years, you'll still be the proud owner of a Leaf, with the value of the car having increased to 188,000 kr from an initial MSRP of 312,000 kr. Hey, just so you know, if you buy out the lease and sell after a year, you'll only be looking at a 'metal loss' of around 35,000 kr (which works out at about 2,900 kr a month). Public transport is always there for you, just like petrol. And the best part is, it doesn't leave a financial 'hole' in your pocket. This is especially true when it comes to credit financing at a rate of 4.2%.

What is the final TCO and when does a car really pay for itself?

Let's go through the costs of EV leasing in Oslo together: (i) payment and all services – 4,661 kr; (ii) insurance – 600 kr; (iii) fuel – 359 kr; (iv) TVK – 220 kr; (v) AutoPASS + parking – 1,300 kr; (vi) tyre hotel + maintenance – 830 kr. So, that's 7,970 kr/month or 95,640 kr/year without depreciation. Hey, just so you know, the train tickets for the weekend are about 22,000 kr. Hey, just a heads-up that there's a difference of 73,000 kr. I totally get it, having a family with 3 or 4 kids can be a real money pit sometimes. And if you're in one of those northwestern municipalities with no decent public transport, it can feel like a real struggle. But hey, if you've got some heavy equipment, like kites or tools, that need a ride, a car can be a real lifesaver. In all other situations, using a combination of public transport and car sharing is the best choice in terms of the overall cost.

I totally get it, having your own car in Norway gives you so much freedom, but it does cost a pretty penny – almost 100,000 kroner to be exact! It's easy to overlook this when you're only looking at the low leasing payments and cheap kWh rates. Public transport covers 80% of typical routes for a fifth of the price, and car sharing covers the remaining 20% for 199 kroner per day. Instead of automatically reaching for your car keys, why not calculate how many trips you really need and think about how you could spend the tens of thousands of pounds you'll save: perhaps on a ski pass, solar panels or another unforgettable trip to see the Northern Lights.