Can I drive in Denmark with my foreign driving licence?

EU/EEA licence holders can drive indefinitely in Denmark without exchanging their licence. Non-EU licence holders can drive for up to 90 days on their foreign licence, then must exchange it for a Danish licence or pass the Danish driving test.

How do I exchange a foreign driving licence for a Danish one?

Apply at your local Borgerservice with your valid foreign licence, CPR number, passport photo, and a recent eye test. Licences from Australia, Japan, South Korea, and several other countries can be exchanged without a test. Most others must pass the practical driving test.

How much does it cost to get a Danish driving licence?

If exchanging an eligible foreign licence: approximately DKK 300–500 in admin fees. If taking the full Danish driving test from scratch: DKK 8,000–15,000 including mandatory theory lessons, first-aid course, and practical lessons. Driving school fees vary significantly.

Do I need to pass a theory test to exchange my driving licence?

It depends on your home country. Licences from most EU/EEA countries and bilateral-agreement countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia) exchange without a test. Most Asian, African, and Latin American licences require passing the full Danish theory and practical tests.

Driving Licence in Denmark Guide

Can you use your foreign driving licence in Denmark? Here's what's valid, how to exchange it, and what to do if you need to start from scratch.

The rules around foreign driving licences in Denmark depend heavily on which country issued yours. EU/EEA licence holders have it easy. UK licence holders face a time-limited exchange. Most other nationalities must pass the Danish test from scratch. Here is how it works for each situation.

EU/EEA Licences: No Exchange Required

If your driving licence was issued by an EU or EEA country (that's all EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), it is fully valid in Denmark for as long as it remains valid in the issuing country. You do not need to exchange it, register it, or do anything.

When it expires, you can choose to renew it as a Danish licence (simpler once you have CPR and a Danish address) or renew it in the original country. Either works.

The only exception: if your licence has conditions attached (e.g., vision correction required) and those conditions have changed, you're subject to Danish medical re-assessment as a resident.

UK Licences Post-Brexit

UK driving licences are valid in Denmark for 90 days from the date you register as a resident (i.e., from when you get your CPR number and register your address). After 90 days, you must exchange it for a Danish licence.

How to Exchange a UK Licence

The exchange process is straightforward and doesn't require retaking any tests if your UK licence has been held for at least two years:

Book an appointment at your local Borgerservice (citizen service centre)
Bring: your UK driving licence, your CPR number confirmation, passport, and a recent passport photo
Complete the application form (Ansøgning om kørekort)
Pay the fee: DKK 300
Your UK licence is surrendered; Danish licence arrives by post within 4 weeks

The UK-Denmark reciprocal arrangement means full exchange without additional tests. Note: the UK licence is sent back to the UK DVLA — you will not get it back.

US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Licences

Licences from these countries are valid in Denmark for up to 90 days from your arrival date as a visitor, or from the date you register as a resident.

After 90 days of residence, you must either:

Exchange your licence (if your country has a bilateral agreement with Denmark)
Or take the full Danish driving test from scratch

Bilateral agreements with Denmark (allowing exchange without full test): Denmark has agreements with a limited set of non-EU countries. As of 2026, these include Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, and several others. The UK is also covered (see above). The USA, Canada, and Australia do NOT have bilateral agreements with Denmark — US/Canadian/Australian licence holders must take the full Danish test.

Check the current list at Færdselsstyrelsen (fstyr.dk) before assuming your country is or isn't covered — the list does change.

Taking the Danish Driving Test from Scratch

If you need to start fresh, the Danish driving test is thorough and has two distinct parts.

Teoriprøven (Theory Test)

25 questions on traffic rules, hazard perception, and road signs. You can take preparatory material from the official Køreprøve app (available in English) or Teori-online.dk. The theory test is taken at a computer terminal at a Borgerservice office or driving school. Cost: DKK 820 (2026 rate). A score of 20/25 or above passes.

The Practical Test (Praktisk Prøve)

A 45-minute drive with a certified examiner. Tests include:

Normal urban driving
Motorway driving at appropriate speed
Hazard perception and response
Parking (both parallel and bay)
Emergency stop

The test is conducted in Danish unless you arrange an interpreter (add DKK 1,000–2,000 for interpreter costs). Some driving schools in Copenhagen have English-speaking instructors who can prepare you in English.

Mandatory Lessons

Even if you are an experienced driver, Denmark requires minimum hours of formal instruction before the practical test:

20 hours of regular driving lessons
4 hours of motorway driving
4 hours of slippery surface/skid training (mandatory)

Total lessons typically cost DKK 400–600 per hour. Budget DKK 15,000–25,000 for the full course including lessons and tests if starting from scratch. This is not a fast or cheap process — plan for 3–6 months.

Driving Schools in Copenhagen

Køreskolen.dk — popular, has English-speaking instructors
Nørrebro Køreskole — known for good pass rates, serves the Nørrebro/Østerbro area
Frederiksberg Køreskole — well-established, central location

Check pass rates when selecting a school — they vary significantly.

Buying a Car in Denmark

Once you're licensed, buying a car in Denmark has some important quirks to know about.

Registration Tax

Denmark has one of the highest vehicle registration taxes in the world. New cars are taxed at approximately 85% of their value up to a threshold, then 150%+ above it. This is the reason Danes tend to buy secondhand, smaller, or electric cars. An entry-level car that costs €20,000 in Germany might effectively cost DKK 330,000–400,000 in Denmark by the time registration tax is applied.

Electric vehicles have significantly reduced registration tax — this is a deliberate government incentive, and it shows. EVs have the highest market share of any country in Scandinavia.

Synsrapport (Vehicle Inspection Certificate)

When buying a used car in Denmark, always request the Synsrapport — the official vehicle inspection certificate from Bilsyn (the mandatory Danish vehicle inspection regime). All cars must pass Bilsyn every 2 years (first test at 4 years of age). The report shows what was checked, what was found, and any items requiring attention. Do not buy a used car without seeing this document.

You can cross-reference a car's history (including previous owners and damage reports) at DMR.dk (the Danish Motor Vehicle Register) using the licence plate or chassis number. This service costs around DKK 200–400 for a full history report.

Insurance

Third-party liability insurance (ansvarsforsikring) is legally mandatory before a car can be registered in your name. Danish car insurance is sold through providers including Tryg, Topdanmark, Alm. Brand, Codan, and Gjensidige. Compare prices at Forsikringsguiden.dk. Young or newly-registered drivers pay significantly more until they establish a Danish no-claims history.

Practical Notes

Drive on the right in Denmark (same as most of continental Europe, opposite to the UK)
Speed limits: 50km/h urban, 80km/h rural, 130km/h motorway (some stretches 110km/h)
Denmark has strict drink-driving enforcement: 0.5 promille (0.5g/L blood alcohol) is the limit, and police conduct regular breath tests
Road tolls: only the Storebælt Bridge (between Zealand and Funen, DKK 235 for a standard car) and the Øresund Bridge to Sweden (DKK 470 one way)
Parking in Copenhagen: expensive and tightly regulated. Use EasyPark app for paid street parking. City centre zones cost DKK 20–50/hour