Lofoten Handbook

Car hire in Lofoten

Hire cars can be collected inside Lofoten at Leknes and Svolvær airports, or on the mainland at Evenes and Bodø. The desks at each airport are listed on Avinor's own airport pages.

Last verified 16 September 2026

Desks at the airports

Avinor, which runs all four airports, lists these car hire companies:

Airport Companies listed by Avinor
Leknes (LKN) Avis, Hertz, Europcar, SIXT
Svolvær (SVJ) Avis, Hertz, Europcar, SIXT
Harstad/Narvik, Evenes (EVE) Avis, Hertz, Budget, SIXT, Enterprise
Bodø (BOO) Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar, SIXT, Enterprise, Alamo, National

Avis's own site gives airport addresses at Leknes, Svolvær and Evenes, and Hertz has location pages for all three. Campervans are available from Wecamp at Evenes, a short walk from the terminal according to Visit Lofoten, which also mentions a Wecamp hub at Leknes.

Choosing where to collect

  • Leknes or Svolvær puts the car inside Lofoten. Leknes Airport is about 58 km by road from Reine; Svolvær Airport is about 6 km from Svolvær centre (approximate, OSRM on OpenStreetMap data, 2026-09-16).
  • Evenes has more airlines (five, per Avinor). The drive to Svolvær is about 166 km (approximate, OSRM on OpenStreetMap data, 2026-09-16); Visit Lofoten gives around two and a half hours, longer in winter.
  • Bodø means taking the car on the Moskenes ferry, where only part of each sailing can be reserved.

Check the hire terms for one-way hire and ferry crossings before booking.

What to check before you book

Visit Lofoten's rental tips, which vary by company and car category:

  • a minimum age of at least 19 and a licence held for one year;
  • a possible young driver surcharge under 25;
  • an AutoPASS tag fitted for tolls and ferries;
  • winter tyres in the winter season.

Statens vegvesen requires at least 3 mm of tyre tread in Nordland from 16 October to 30 April, and winter tyres or chains whenever needed for grip. Its road status map shows closures and roadworks.

Electric cars

Visit Lofoten recommends the A Better Route Planner app for charging points and says the network grows each year. This guide has not verified charger numbers or locations along the E10.

For whether a car suits your trip, see Do you need a car in Lofoten?.

Questions

Can you rent a car at Leknes Airport?
Yes. Avinor lists Avis, Hertz, Europcar and SIXT at Leknes Airport, and Avis's own site gives an address at Leknes Lufthavn.
Which car hire companies are at Svolvær Airport?
Avinor lists Avis, Hertz, Europcar and SIXT at Svolvær Airport.
Is it better to hire a car at Evenes or in Lofoten?
Evenes has more airlines and hire companies, but it is about 166 km by road from Svolvær (approximate, OSRM on OpenStreetMap data, 2026-09-16). Leknes and Svolvær airports put the car inside Lofoten from the start.
Do hire cars in Lofoten have winter tyres?
Visit Lofoten says rental cars should have winter tyres in the winter season. Statens vegvesen requires at least 3 mm of tread in Nordland from 16 October to 30 April, and winter tyres or chains whenever needed for grip, so confirm the tyres with the hire company when booking.
Can you hire a campervan for Lofoten?
Yes. Wecamp rents campervans from Flyplassveien 36 in Evenes, next to the airport. Visit Lofoten asks motorhome users to prefer campsites and to observe local parking and camping bans.
Can you hire a car in Lofoten?
Yes. Several car hire companies operate in Lofoten, and cars can also be hired at Harstad/Narvik Airport at Evenes or in Bodø. Visit Lofoten notes drivers generally need to be at least 19 and to have held a licence for a year, under-25s may pay a surcharge, and winter rentals should have winter tyres.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.