They revealed the sad truth about bompenger. The amount is staggering
In 2024, as much as 63.4% of all road tolls (bompenger) paid by drivers in Norway came from the urban toll ring system—known as bomring. Total revenue from these tolls reached a record high of NOK 15.5 billion, highlighting the growing importance of urban toll rings. An increasing number of smaller cities are choosing to introduce urban tolls, raising concerns among automotive organizations.
Tolls are charged in both directions on Osloringen and Indre Ring.
wikimedia.org/ fot. Kjetil Ree/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
The 2024 Autopass report shows that the share of urban tolls is steadily increasing, with more and more municipalities opting for bomring systems. In major cities like Oslo, further price hikes are planned from January 1, 2026. In Bergen, the Green Party (MDG) intends to raise rates as part of a strategy to reduce car traffic.
In smaller cities such as Kristiansand or the Nedre Glomma area, agreements known as byvekstavtale have been signed with the state, which involves the introduction of road tolls.
In smaller cities such as Kristiansand or the Nedre Glomma area, agreements known as byvekstavtale have been signed with the state, which involves the introduction of road tolls.
More and more cities with bompenger
The Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) points out that the better car traffic is reduced, the less money remains to finance transport initiatives. This may force further toll increases. Activists also note that in many cities, public transport alternatives are insufficient.
In places like Ålesund, Skien, Fredrikstad, Bodø, or Tromsø, travel time by public transport with transfers can be twice as long as by car. Currently, urban toll systems operate in cities such as Bergen, Bodø, Grenland, Nord-Jæren, Tromsø, Ålesund, Trondheim, Oslo, and Kristiansand, and in others (including Kristiansund, Haugesund, Tønsberg), decisions have already been made, although toll collection has not yet started.
In places like Ålesund, Skien, Fredrikstad, Bodø, or Tromsø, travel time by public transport with transfers can be twice as long as by car. Currently, urban toll systems operate in cities such as Bergen, Bodø, Grenland, Nord-Jæren, Tromsø, Ålesund, Trondheim, Oslo, and Kristiansand, and in others (including Kristiansund, Haugesund, Tønsberg), decisions have already been made, although toll collection has not yet started.
Oslo and other major Norwegian cities are leading the way in introducing road tolls.Photo: Konstanchin [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
In many towns, companies responsible for urban transport or development plans rely heavily on revenue from road tolls. The more effectively car traffic is reduced, the harder it is to secure funding for investments or infrastructure maintenance without raising rates. In cities where tolls are already in place, there is a trend toward reducing or limiting discounts for electric vehicles.
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