Renting a car around Flam is a superb way to see the Norwegian fjords, and driving here is straightforward once you understand two things that are particular to Norway: winter tyres and the automatic toll system. Flam sits deep in fjord country in western Norway, and a hire car lets you explore the valleys, tunnels, and ferry crossings at your own pace.
Licences and winter tyres
If your driving licence is issued in the EU or EEA, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or most other countries using the Latin alphabet, you do not need an International Driving Permit to rent or drive in Norway. Winter tyres are the key seasonal rule: they are compulsory through the winter months, broadly from November to around Easter, and hire cars are fitted with them automatically during that period, so you do not need to arrange anything, but do plan for winter conditions on mountain roads.
Tolls, tunnels, and ferries
Norway uses an automatic toll system called AutoPASS. Your hire car comes with a toll tag on the windscreen, and every toll point and many ferry terminals read it automatically, with the charges forwarded to your card through the rental company, so you rarely stop to pay. The region is defined by its tunnels, with Norway having over 1,200 of them, including long subsea crossings that dip far below the fjords, and by ferries. Most ferries are turn-up-and-go, but main routes can be busy in summer, so check schedules for longer crossings.
Booking tips
Because tolls and any ferry charges are billed back through the rental company after you return the car, expect a separate charge to appear later, and read the rental terms so you know how those fees are handled. Book ahead in summer, when fjord-country demand is high, and read the terms for the deposit, fuel policy, insurance, and excess. Comparison sites such as DiscoverCars help you check prices and availability before you travel, which is worth doing for a popular region like this.