EV vs petrol car: what does it really cost to own in Norway?

Norsk

Momsfritak — Norway's EV VAT exemption (2026): electric cars are exempt from VAT on the purchase price up to 500 000 kr — on the part of the price above that, full VAT (25 %) applies. This is not a cash grant but a tax you don't pay, already built into the price you see at the dealership. We present the benefit separately and do not count it into the total costs above, to avoid double-counting. Source: Skatteetaten (the Norwegian Tax Administration) / Norsk elbilforening (the Norwegian EV Association), as of 1 July 2026. Check the current threshold before you buy.

Ongoing EV perks: electric cars currently pay reduced rates on tolls, ferries and municipal parking (at most 70 % of the petrol/diesel rate), but several municipalities have started charging full price. Since 2023, electric cars also pay the full trafikkforsikringsavgift (road-traffic insurance tax), the same as petrol cars. The perks are not guaranteed and vary from place to place. We deduct any real savings only from the EV's running costs — never from the petrol car's. Source: Norsk elbilforening (the Norwegian EV Association), as of 1 July 2026.

Trafikkforsikringsavgift (road-traffic insurance tax, formerly the årsavgift): electric cars today pay the same trafikkforsikringsavgift as petrol and diesel cars — the exemption was phased out in 2021/2023. So there is no tax advantage left here. The EV's main advantage in Norway lies in cheap electricity instead of expensive fuel, and in low depreciation — not in annual taxes. We put the current annual tax straight into the running cost — not as an incentive. Basis: Skatteetaten, as of 1 July 2026.

Engangsavgift (one-off registration tax on weight/CO₂): petrol and diesel cars are charged an engangsavgift based on weight and emissions at registration, while electric cars are largely exempt (a weight component has been introduced for heavier EVs). This tax is already baked into the petrol car's list price, so we do not count it in again. We mention it here only to explain why a comparable petrol car often costs more to buy. Basis: the Storting's tax resolution, as of 1 July 2026.