India on a Norwegian Licence — IDP Required, Drive on the Left, Expect Chaos

Driving in India is a genuine adventure, and an honest guide has to start with that. The roads are unlike anything in Norway, and the question for most Norwegian visitors isn’t only how to drive but whether to self-drive at all. Here’s the verdict, paperwork first.

The IDP is required — your EEA licence isn’t enough

India does not wave through foreign licences. You must carry an International Driving Permit alongside your Norwegian licence; being from the EEA buys you nothing here, unlike a trip within Europe. Arrange the IDP in Norway before you fly — you cannot get one on arrival — and it stays valid for one year from entry. Check exactly what you need on our driving permit checker before booking anything.

You switch sides — and that’s the easy part

Norway drives on the right; India drives on the left, so your road position, gear hand and junction instincts all flip. On its own that’s manageable. The harder reality is what surrounds you: constant horn use, animals on the carriageway, motorbikes filling every gap, and lane markings treated as suggestions. India rates among the most challenging places a Norwegian can drive. Plenty of visitors hire a car with a local driver — it’s affordable and removes the single biggest stressor. If you do self-drive, start somewhere rural and quiet, never a city centre.

Speeds, alcohol and the fine

Limits are 120 km/h on the newest expressways, 80 rural, 50 urban — but traffic, not the sign, sets your real speed. The alcohol limit is a strict 0.03, below Norway’s 0.02 only marginally, so treat it as zero. A speeding penalty runs roughly INR 1,000-2,000 (about EUR 11-22).

Petrol is about $1.22/litre, the emergency number is 112, and the full picture is on our India driving guide. Carry the IDP, your Norwegian licence and passport, and download offline maps — rural signal is unreliable.