If you’re planning a road trip along Norway’s southern coast, chances are you’ll pass through Kristiansand, a lively port city and gateway to the Sørlandet region. One system you’ll encounter on highways, bridges, and ferries is Autopass (Autopass). It’s Norway’s national electronic toll and ferry payment scheme that makes driving remarkably seamless—especially useful for visitors tackling the E39 coastal route, the E18 towards Oslo, or the scenic RV9 up the Setesdal valley. Understanding how Autopass works will save you time, money, and stress, letting you focus on Kristiansand’s beaches, the charming Fish Market (Fiskebrygga), and family favorites like the Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park (Dyreparken i Kristiansand).
Autopass began as a nationwide effort to streamline toll collection and has grown into a comprehensive system that covers most toll roads and many ferry connections. In and around Kristiansand, you may encounter automated toll points on main approaches, especially where new road projects improve tunnels and bypasses. These stations read an Autopass tag in your windshield or, if you don’t have one, capture your license plate and send a bill later. The idea is to keep traffic flowing—no toll booths, no abrupt stops—perfect for navigating urban corridors and coastal stretches that link Kristiansand’s harbor with nearby islands and beaches.
For travelers, the simplest setup is to arrange an Autopass tag (Autopass-brikke) in advance through an approved issuer, or to register your rental car on visitor payment solutions that pair your license plate with a credit card. Visitors who don’t set anything up will still be billed, but having a tag or registration often unlocks discounted rates and ensures charges go directly to your card. If you’re renting a car in Kristiansand, ask your rental company whether a tag is included; many fleets in Norway come pre-equipped. Drivers of electric vehicles will appreciate that Norway often offers reduced tolls for EVs, though rules vary by location and can change.
Autopass also connects to the Autopass for ferry (Autopass for ferje) scheme, which is particularly relevant if you plan coastal detours or island-hopping near Kristiansand’s skerries. While Kristiansand itself is a major ferry port—for example, the international ferry terminal (Kristiansand fergeterminal) serving routes to Denmark—note that large international ferries use their own ticketing. Autopass for ferry mainly covers domestic car ferries around Norway. If your road trip includes local ferry links along the southern coast or further afield, a ferry account can save money and speed boarding. Always check whether your route is covered and whether you need a separate ferry agreement in addition to a toll tag.
One useful quirk: the system is designed so you can focus on the journey rather than the payment. As you drive past the Christiansholm Fortress (Christiansholm festning), cruise out to the beach at Bystranda (Bystranda), or head north toward waterfalls and hiking in Setesdal (Setesdal), you’ll pass toll points without slowing down. Wayfinding is straightforward, and signage on the E39 and E18 is clear. If you do receive a bill later, it typically arrives through your rental agency or by mail; registering in advance helps avoid admin fees and confusion, especially for non-Norwegian plates.
Autopass matters to visitors because it complements Kristiansand’s travel-friendly vibe. It reduces bottlenecks during peak summer, when families flock to the Zoo and Amusement Park and locals pack the harbor promenade near the Fish Market. Fewer queues mean more time for a waterfront seafood lunch, a stroll in the old quarter near the Cathedral (Kristiansand domkirke), or a detour to island communities like Flekkerøy (Flekkerøy). For most tourists, the bottom line is simple: set up a tag or visitor registration if possible, keep an eye on EV discounts, and check whether your itinerary includes domestic ferries that accept Autopass for ferry.
Before you go, review current toll zones around Kristiansand, confirm whether your rental includes a tag, and consider creating a ferry account if you’ll be using local crossings. With that done, you can explore the coast, the city’s cultural venues like the Kilden Performing Arts Centre (Kilden teater og konserthus), and the sunny beaches that make Kristiansand a summer favorite—confident that Norway’s Autopass system is quietly