Who needs the exam?
You must pass the exam before you apply for a taxi driver permit, unless you already meet the competence requirement in another way. According to Statens vegvesen: who needs a taxi driving test (English), you are exempt if you hold a valid professional driver qualification (CPC) for passenger transport, or if you got your permit before 1 November 2020 and renew it within a year after it expired. A permit that has been expired for more than a year means a new exam.
Since 20 February 2024 there is no practical driving test for taxi drivers. The exam is the theory test only (Samferdselsdepartementet: practical taxi test discontinued, 20 February 2024 (Norwegian)).
Want to practise for it?
The Kurs.ing course is in Norwegian with English help on every lesson and question: NOK 347 for 8 weeks' access, one payment.
Requirements for the permit
The police issue the permit (kjøreseddel) when you meet the requirements in Yrkestransportlova § 37 c (Lovdata, Norwegian):
- You are at least 20 years old.
- You have held a class B driving licence for at least two years without a break.
- You meet the same health requirements as for a class D licence.
- You have a good record (vandel), which the police check.
- You have passed the taxi driver exam, unless you are exempt.
You need a class B licence to take the theory test. See Statens vegvesen: kjøreseddel (Norwegian) for how to apply.
Taking the test in English (tourism)
If you will drive people for payment as part of your job in the tourism industry, you also need a kjøreseddel, and you must pass the taxi driver test first. According to Statens vegvesen: driving passengers as part of your job in the tourism industry (Norwegian), you can then take the test in English if you can document that you work in the tourism industry:
- If you work for a tourism business: bring your employment contract with that business.
- If you own the business yourself: bring a company certificate (firmaattest).
Bring the documentation to the theory test at the traffic station. Everyone else takes the test in Norwegian, and an interpreter is not allowed. The Kurs.ing course is in Norwegian, and the free test has English help for each question.
Exam format and fee
| Questions | 35 multiple-choice questions |
|---|---|
| Time | 60 minutes |
| To pass | 30 correct answers (85 %) |
| Language | Norwegian, no interpreter. English if you document work in the tourism industry |
| Fee | NOK 460 per test from 1 February 2026 |
| Where | A Statens vegvesen traffic station |
Sources: Statens vegvesen: theory test for taxi driving (English) and Statens vegvesen: fees for tests and licences (English).
What the test covers
Statens vegvesen's topic list has four areas:
- Traffic safety and traffic flow: speed, giving way, overtaking, driving in the dark, in tunnels and on slippery roads, and how tiredness, illness and alcohol affect you.
- Securing passengers and goods: the driver's and owner's duties, the vehicle's condition, seat belts, children, wheelchairs and luggage.
- First aid and accidents: duties at an accident, securing the scene, CPR, bleeding and shock.
- Service, communication and passenger safety: customer service, the taximeter, payment, lost property, data protection, and patient, school and disability transport.
Key Norwegian terms
| Norwegian | English |
|---|---|
| kjøreseddel | taxi driver permit, issued by the police |
| drosjesjåføreksamen | the taxi driver theory test |
| løyvehaver | licence holder (the taxi business owner) |
| vikeplikt | duty to give way |
| forbikjøring | overtaking |
| glidelåsprinsippet | zipper merge |
| stopplengde | stopping distance |
| pliktmessig avhold | compulsory abstinence from alcohol at work |
| hjerte-lungeredning (HLR) | CPR |
| taksameter | taximeter |
| hittegods | lost property |
| pasienttransport | patient transport |
The course has a flashcard glossary with 26 Norwegian–English terms.
How the Kurs.ing course helps
Kurs.ing is a private online course in Norwegian, because the exam is normally in Norwegian. You can turn on English help text in the lessons, the topic quizzes and all practice questions. The Norwegian text is always shown first. The course follows Statens vegvesen's topic list, explains every answer with the legal basis, and has a practice exam in the same format as the real test.
Drosjesjåføreksamen costs NOK 347 with 8 weeks' access. Løyvepakken (NOK 497) includes the taxi driver course and the three operator licence courses (taxi, van, and goods and passenger transport). The exam fee is paid separately to Statens vegvesen.
Pass guarantee: If you fail the official test on your first attempt after buying, you get the course fee back, provided you completed all the lessons and passed the full practice exam in the course at least once before the test. You can choose 8 more weeks of access instead. The test fee is not refunded. See the terms (§ 17, Norwegian).
More guides in English
Sources
- Statens vegvesen: theory test for taxi driving (English)
- Statens vegvesen: who needs a taxi driving test (English)
- Statens vegvesen: kjøreseddel (Norwegian)
- Yrkestransportlova § 37 c (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Statens vegvesen: driving passengers as part of your job in the tourism industry (Norwegian)
- Statens vegvesen: fees for tests and licences (English)
- Samferdselsdepartementet: practical taxi test discontinued, 20 February 2024 (Norwegian)
Important: Kurs.ing is a private course provider. We do not hold the exams, we are not affiliated with Statens vegvesen, and we issue no certificates. The Norwegian law text and Statens vegvesen's pages are authoritative. Always check the current rules before you book.