Driving in Denmark

But if you’re planning a road trip to Denmark, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your journey to Scandinavia as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Denmark section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic, Comprehensive and Single Trip) provides a wide range of benefits should you break down in Denmark to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

Need short-term insurance for your vehicle? Our temporary car cover is perfect if you're looking for flexible insurance for between 1 hour and 30 days.

• A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
• Your motor insurance certificate
• The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental

Do I need a GB or UK sticker for driving in Denmark?

Since 28th September 2021, the distinguishing mark (or national identifier) displayed on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom that are driven abroad has changed from GB to UK.  

This means that vehicles registered in the UK must display the letters “UK” when driven in Denmark.   

The identifier can be incorporated in vehicle number plates (along with the Union Flag) or as a separate sticker. Note that vehicles featuring the letters GB together with the Council of Europe golden stars are no longer valid for driving abroad.

If your vehicle does not have the UK identifier within the number plate, you will require a UK sticker when driving in Denmark. GB stickers will no longer be valid from the end of September.

Do I need an insurance green card?

From 2nd August 2021, drivers will no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Denmark.

ETIAS – 2025

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa program for visitors who don’t need a Schengen visa, who want to travel to the European Union and a few other European countries.

Visitors who purchase an ETIAS will be able to enter the 26 member states of the Schengen Zone as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.

This will be launching in 2025. Learn more about ETIAS here.

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Denmark.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

Is there anything that I shouldn’t take with me?

Be aware that you cannot take the following with you into Denmark:

• meat or products containing meat
• milk or dairy products

You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’:

• fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
• vegetables
• plants
• plant products

Danish driving doesn't differ too much from what we're used to in the UK (aside from driving on the right), but here are some general tips to make sure you're prepared.

• In Denmark, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles from the right generally have priority
• Low-toned horns should only be used when an audible warning is required to prevent an accident 
• Use dipped headlights during the daytime all year round and on all roads
• Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt at all times
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle or moped
• Ensure your car is covered by third-party insurance recognised in Denmark. This is the legal minimum cover for visitors, so check with your provider before you travel
• Children over three years and under 135cm in height must use an appropriate restraint or child seat. Children under three years of age must be placed in an approved restraint system adapted to their size
• The drink-drive limit for all drivers is 0.05%. Random tests are carried out by police officers, even if there are no grounds for suspicion
• If you're caught committing a minor driving offence while travelling through Denmark, you could be given an on-the-spot fine 

In most built-up areas, the speed limit is set at 50km/h unless otherwise signed. Outside these areas, the limit is 80km/h.

On motorways, the limit varies from 110km/h to 130km/h, so check signs locally to stay within the legal limit.

• There are no emergency phones located on the motorways
• Denmark does not have motorway tolls, but there are some bridges where a charge is levied, including the Oresund bridge linking the country with Sweden 
• Petrol stations and service areas are available in large towns and cities and at 50km intervals on motorways in Denmark
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available throughout Denmark. Many petrol stations have automatic pumps that accept international credit cards
• Parking can be limited in built-up areas, especially in and around Copenhagen, with restricted zones signposted. Wheel clamps are not used in Denmark, but wrongly parked vehicles may be towed away

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Denmark

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Denmark.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 21
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Some car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term - check with your hire company first
• Most companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Denmark unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Danes drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• The national speed limit on Danish motorways is between 110km/h (68mph) and 130km/h (80 mph). On a main road outside a built-up area it's 80 km/h. For built-up areas it’s 50km/h
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England Wales and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland.

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice

Fuel

Fuel prices in Denmark can be found in our up-to-date European fuel prices page.