When you buy or sell a used car in Norway, you must report the ownership transfer to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. The seller sends a digital sales notification, the buyer confirms it with BankID, and the buyer pays the re-registration fee before the car can be used legally. The entire process is done on "My Page."
What does it mean to re-register a car?
Re-registering a car means changing who is listed as the owner in the Norwegian motor vehicle register. Without a completed ownership transfer, the previous owner remains responsible for the car — including insurance, fees, and any fines and toll charges.
That is why the ownership transfer is the most important step when a used car changes hands. Both buyer and seller have an interest in it being done correctly and immediately. The transaction itself — agreeing on a price and writing a purchase contract — is separate from the official registration with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
Step by step: how to report the ownership transfer
The ownership transfer happens digitally on "My Page" with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, and both seller and buyer must do their part with electronic ID.
- The seller sends a sales notification. Log in to vegvesen.no with BankID or other electronic ID, select the car, and enter the buyer's identification number and the price.
- The buyer confirms. The buyer receives a notice and must confirm the sales notification within the deadline, also with electronic ID.
- The buyer pays the re-registration fee. Payment is made on "My Page" after the notification is confirmed.
- The car is ready for use. After payment, the buyer receives a temporary registration certificate valid for one month. The permanent registration certificate arrives by mail within a few business days.
If you do not have access to the internet or BankID, there is also a paper solution, but the digital version is fastest and safest.
What does it cost to re-register a car? (2026)
The re-registration fee for an ordinary passenger car is approximately 3 000–7 500 kroner in 2026, depending on the car's weight and age. In addition, there is a fee to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration of 315 kroner.
The fee is set by the Norwegian Tax Administration. It increases with the car's weight, but is lower the older the car is:
| Car age | Re-registration fee (approximate) |
|---|---|
| 0–3 years | Highest, up to 7 500 kr for heavier cars |
| 3–10 years | Lower, calculated by weight |
| Over 10 years | Low, fixed minimum fee |
The buyer pays the fee, and payment must be made before the car can be used. You can calculate the fee in advance using the calculator on vegvesen.no, so you know what the car will actually cost to take over.
The car must be insured and EU-approved
Before the ownership transfer can be completed, the car must have valid third-party liability insurance in the new owner's name. Arrange insurance before you pay the re-registration fee — otherwise you risk a daily charge for an uninsured vehicle.
The car must also have valid EU inspection. The first EU inspection should be done within four years after the car was first registered, then at least every other year. Remember that you must have a valid driving licence to drive the car. If you have a driving licence from a country outside the EEA, see how to get a Norwegian driving licence.
Buying a car from abroad: first registration
If you bring a car from abroad, it is not a regular ownership transfer, but a first registration. The car must then go to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration for technical inspection, and you must pay a one-time fee and value-added tax (VAT) based on the car's value and emissions.
This is a more comprehensive and usually more expensive process than re-registering a car that is already registered in Norway. Electric cars and older vehicles have their own rules. Investigate the costs thoroughly in advance, as they can be high.
De-registering the car (taking it off the road or scrapping)
If the car will not be used for a period, you can de-register it by returning the licence plates — then you avoid both insurance requirements and fees. You de-register on a traffic station or digitally, and the car then receives a driving ban until it is registered again.
If you want to get rid of an old car for good, you can take it to an approved scrapyard and receive scrap value. Remember to notify, otherwise the fees will continue to accrue even if the car is just parked.
Common mistakes to avoid
Some mistakes occur repeatedly in ownership transfers, and they can be expensive. Avoid these:
- Giving the car to the other party before the sales notification is confirmed. Then you remain as the owner and are responsible for the car.
- Forgetting the insurance. The car must have third-party liability insurance in the new owner's name from day one, otherwise daily charges will accrue.
- Delaying payment of the fee. The car cannot be used legally before the re-registration fee is paid.
- Wrong identification number in the notification. Double-check the numbers, otherwise the notification will not reach the right buyer.
If the other party does not confirm the sales notification within the deadline, the notification expires, and you must send a new one. If something gets stuck along the way, you can contact the Norwegian Public Roads Administration for help. It is a good idea to do the entire ownership transfer together while you are both present, so you know that all steps have been completed.
In brief
The ownership transfer is what makes you the official owner of the car — do it digitally, right away, and pay the fee before you drive. At SamfunnPrep we collect simple guides to everyday life in Norway, from buying and selling cars to taxes and insurance. Many of the rules are connected to what you encounter in the Society Knowledge Test, so get started with SamfunnPrep and become more confident about the system.
