The road to the driver's license

The road to a license can feel long and confusing – but it doesn’t have to be!
We’ve made a simple step-by-step guide for you. Here you get an overview of what you need to do, from your very first driving lesson to passing the practical driving test. Easy to understand – step by step!

Step 1: Basic Traffic Course

The basic traffic course is the very first step if you want to start your journey toward a driver’s license. This is a mandatory course for all license categories – whether it’s a car, moped, motorcycle, or something else.

The course consists of 17 teaching hours, spread over at least 5 sessions.
You can start the course from the age of 15.
After completing the course, you can start practicing with a qualified supervisor from the age of 16.

Step 2: Vehicle Control and Basic Driving

In step 2, you learn to technically control the car. For example: how to use the gears, brakes, steering wheel, and mirrors in a safe and controlled way.

The goal is that you can handle the car without having to think too much about the basic controls, so that later you can focus fully on the traffic around you.

Step 2 ends with a Step 2 Assessment, a mandatory 45-minute evaluation lesson to confirm that you’ve reached the learning goals.

Step 3: Driving in Traffic

In step 3, you practice driving in different traffic environments – such as cities, rural roads, and highways.
You will also train on handling complex traffic situations, like roundabouts, traffic lights, and interacting with other road users.

Here, you put your theory knowledge into practice. This step also includes the mandatory safety course on track (driving on a slippery surface).

At the end of step 3, you should be able to drive independently at a skill level close to what’s required to pass the driving test.
Step 3 ends with a Step 3 Assessment, just like step 2.

Step 4: Final Training and Driving Test Preparation

Step 4 is about becoming a safe, independent, and responsible driver.
This includes the mandatory safety course on the road, where you practice longer drives in varied environments and reflect on your own driving.

Once you’ve completed step 4 and your instructor believes you are ready, you can apply for the practical driving test at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen).

Passing this test means you’ll finally have your Norwegian driver’s license!