Traffic rulesDenmark

Applications are submitted through municipal Borgerservice. The municipality decides ordinary cases, while the Danish Road Traffic Authority may assess cases involving health, foreign licences or other special circumstances.

The Danish Road Traffic Authority (Færdselsstyrelsen) conducts theory and practical driving tests.

Yes. A valid Danish licence is recognised throughout Denmark, subject to its categories, restriction codes and current legal status.

Yes. A valid Danish EU-model driving licence is generally recognised throughout the EU and European Economic Area.

The official Kørekort app provides a digital version of an eligible Danish driving licence for use within Denmark.

No. The app is valid only in Denmark. A driver must carry the physical licence when driving abroad.

No. EU rules generally permit only one valid EU or EEA driving licence at a time.

It is generally the place where a person lives for at least 185 days per year because of personal or occupational ties.

Yes, unless a specific EU study, residence or other statutory exception applies.

Yes. The statutory training and test requirements are national, but driving-school lesson prices and optional service costs are set by individual schools.

A category B licence can be issued from age 17, subject to the special rules that apply until the driver turns 18.

Practical category B training may begin from age 16 years and 9 months.

No. The licence cannot be issued before the seventeenth birthday.

Yes. The person or persons holding parental responsibility must consent to issue of the licence.

The completed P23 application is submitted in person to Borgerservice in a Danish municipality.

Yes. A first-licence application can normally be submitted through a Borgerservice office in any municipality.

The applicant normally needs valid identification, an approved licence photograph, a medical certificate and a traffic-related first-aid certificate.

Yes. The person must satisfy the medical standards for the requested category.

Yes. Category B requires training with an authorised driving instructor and school.

Yes. A theory test and a practical driving test must both be passed.

Yes, if the person satisfies normal-residence, identification, medical, training and examination requirements.

Borgerservice and the municipality assess ordinary applications, with referral to Færdselsstyrelsen where specialist assessment is required.

Yes. A medical certificate is required for a first driving licence, except for the special small-moped route.

The assessment covers matters such as vision, hearing, mobility, neurological conditions, cardiovascular health, diabetes, medication and other conditions relevant to safe driving.

Yes. The driving-licence medical certificate is generally completed through the digital procedure, with limited paper exceptions.

Yes. A restriction code is entered when corrective lenses are required for driving.

Yes. Medical or technical restriction codes can require specific controls, transmission types or vehicle adaptations.

No. The case is assessed individually and may result in approval, a restriction, shorter validity or refusal.

Yes. A first-time category B applicant must complete an approved traffic-related first-aid course.

Yes. The required certificate forms part of the application documentation.

Recognised health, rescue or equivalent qualifications may create an exemption when the statutory conditions are met.

Yes. Færdselsstyrelsen may request additional reports or specialist assessment where the ordinary certificate does not establish fitness.

Yes. A category B applicant must complete the prescribed training through an authorised driving school and instructor.

The minimum is 29 lessons of at least 45 minutes.

The minimum is 24 practical lessons of at least 45 minutes.

It includes training on a closed manoeuvring ground, driving on public roads and training on a driving-technical facility.

Not necessarily. They are minimum requirements, and the instructor may require more lessons before confirming that the learner is ready.

A modernised modular training system entered into force, giving instructors greater flexibility while retaining national learning objectives and minimum lesson requirements.

A transitional arrangement allows qualifying learners who started earlier to complete under the previous rules until the end of 2026.

Training is recorded in the required lesson or module plan and confirmed as each part is completed.

Yes. Relevant theoretical content must be covered before the learner performs the related practical manoeuvres.

The modernised framework permits limited self-study where offered by the driving school, but compulsory learning outcomes and instructor-controlled elements remain.

Yes. The completed training documented in the lesson or module plan can be transferred to the new school.

No. Denmark does not have a general private supervised learner-permit system before the driving test.

Færdselsstyrelsen conducts the test at an approved test location.

Yes. The theory test requires physical attendance.

The category B test contains 25 scenarios.

Each scenario has four statements or answer options that the applicant must assess.

The applicant may have no more than five errors in total.

The category B test normally allows 25 minutes.

Denmark uses both digital and analogue tests while the digital system continues to be rolled out across test locations.

Driving tests may be conducted in Danish, English, Faroese, Greenlandic or German under the rules effective since 1 January 2025.

No. Ordinary theory and practical tests can no longer be taken through an interpreter in another language.

It is valid for 18 months.

Yes. The applicant can book and pay for another test.

Yes. A valid theory-test pass is required before taking the category B practical test.

A driving examiner from Færdselsstyrelsen conducts and assesses the test.

The examiner checks identity and application documents and may ask the applicant to demonstrate knowledge of the vehicle’s equipment and condition.

The complete appointment commonly lasts about 30 to 45 minutes.

The driving time used to assess category B skills must not be less than 25 minutes.

The examiner assesses observation, vehicle control, positioning, speed choice, priority, signs, manoeuvres, interaction with other road users and independent safe decisions.

Yes. The practical test normally uses a compliant school vehicle with the required additional controls.

Yes. The test can be cancelled if the vehicle is not properly registered, insured, equipped or roadworthy.

Yes. A dangerous intervention, serious traffic-law violation or other critical fault can result in failure.

Yes. A first-time category B applicant must normally wait at least seven days before another practical test.

The examiner normally provides a temporary paper licence while the physical card is being produced.

Yes. Until turning 18, the driver may drive alone between 05:00 and 20:00.

An accompanying driver is required between 20:00 and 05:00 until the licence holder turns 18.

No. The category B entitlement may be used only in Denmark until the driver turns 18.

The accompanying driver must be at least 24 years old.

The person must have held a valid Danish or Faroese category B licence for at least five years.

No. The accompanying driver must not have been disqualified from driving during the previous five years.

No. The person must hold the required Danish or Faroese licence so that the record can be verified.

The accompanying driver must sit in the front passenger seat and carry the valid licence.

The driver and companion are strongly advised to complete the official declaration as proof that the companion was informed and accepts the conditions.

The 17-year-old licence holder is responsible for ensuring and documenting that the companion satisfies the requirements.

Code 141 records the night-time accompaniment requirement until age 18.

The driver may drive without a companion at all hours and may use the licence abroad, subject to foreign recognition rules.

Special beginning-driver rules apply during the first three years after category B is obtained for the first time.

The limit is 0.2 per mille, which in practice means the new driver should consume no alcohol before driving.

The general limit is 0.5 per mille, although driving while impaired can be punishable at a lower concentration.

Three qualifying clips for offences committed within a three-year period normally lead to conditional disqualification.

Two clips during the first three years lead to a driving prohibition.

The person loses the driving entitlement and must surrender the licence until the restoration requirements are completed.

The person must complete special approved driving instruction and pass a controlling theory and practical test.

Yes. A beginning driver can receive a driving prohibition for conduct that would normally cause conditional disqualification.

Yes. Excessive percentages, speeds of 160 km/h or more, and the separate reckless-driving thresholds can trigger conditional or unconditional disqualification.

Yes. Restoration after alcohol or drug-related cases can require an alcohol, narcotics and traffic course in addition to tests and other measures.

Category AM covers large mopeds within the statutory speed and vehicle definition.

A1 covers light motorcycles up to 125 cm³, 11 kW and the prescribed power-to-weight limit.

A2 covers motorcycles up to 35 kW with the prescribed power-to-weight and derivation limits.

Category A covers unrestricted motorcycles and the included three-wheeled vehicles, subject to age and staged-access rules.

It covers passenger cars and vans with a maximum authorised mass of 3,500 kg and no more than eight passenger seats in addition to the driver.

It permits a trailer up to 750 kg, or a heavier trailer when the combined authorised mass does not exceed 3,500 kg.

It permits a category B vehicle and a trailer over 750 kg within the special combination limit of 4,250 kg.

It permits a category B vehicle with a trailer up to 3,500 kg, giving a possible combined authorised mass of up to 7,000 kg.

C1 covers medium goods vehicles above 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg; C covers larger goods vehicles.

D1 covers smaller buses within its passenger and length limits; D covers larger buses.

Yes. A Danish category B licence also records derived entitlement to a small moped and tractor or motorised equipment; a 17-year-old may not use every derived entitlement before age 18.

No. The appropriate A-category entitlement is required.

Not always. Professional goods and passenger drivers may also need a driver qualification card and sector-specific training.

It documents the professional qualification required for many drivers of heavy goods vehicles and buses.

Yes for drivers covered by the professional-driver rules, unless a statutory acquired-rights or activity exemption applies.

Yes. Covered professional drivers must complete periodic training during each qualification cycle.

The qualification is normally renewed on a five-year cycle.

Yes. Heavy goods and bus categories are group 2 licences and require medical certification for issue and renewal.

No. Taxi and other commercial passenger transport can require category B or D entitlement plus separate professional passenger-transport qualification and permits.

Special age rules may permit certain commercial categories earlier when the required professional education is completed.

Many heavy goods and bus operations are subject to EU driving-time, break and rest rules and tachograph obligations.

EU and EEA qualifications are generally recognised under the applicable rules; other qualifications require assessment under Danish and EU law.

Small moped, motorcycle and ordinary car categories are normally renewed for up to 15 years.

No. It is generally not required regardless of age unless the licence was medically limited or there are health or substance concerns.

Truck, bus and professional passenger-transport entitlements are valid for a maximum of five years.

Yes. A new medical certificate is always required.

Yes. The maximum becomes four years at age 70, three at 71, two from 72 to under 80, and one year from age 80.

Renewal can generally be requested during the three months before expiry.

The driver applies in person through Borgerservice.

The driver should request a duplicate or replacement and provide the required identification, photo and declaration.

No. After receiving the new physical card, the driver must reset and register the new licence in the driving-licence app.

No. A new card is optional after a name change, although the driver may request a duplicate displaying the new name.

Yes. A valid EU or EEA licence can generally be used without mandatory exchange while it remains valid.

Valid licences from the Faroe Islands and Greenland are recognised under the applicable Danish rules.

Yes, if the licence is valid and satisfies the format and translation conditions.

A licence not written in Latin characters must normally be accompanied by an International Driving Permit or an authorised translation into Danish, English or French.

It is a temporary authorisation that Færdselsstyrelsen may issue to a visitor who cannot otherwise use the available foreign driving document in Denmark.

A person with normal residence may generally drive on the qualifying foreign licence for up to 180 days, subject to the specific issuing-country rules.

Generally no. Exchange is optional unless a specific expiry, validity or administrative circumstance makes it necessary.

Category B can generally be exchanged without a controlling driving test when the country and application meet the relevant group conditions.

A controlling theory and practical driving test is normally required for exchange.

Yes. A valid Danish licence holder can apply in person at Borgerservice for an International Driving Permit valid for one year.

This FAQ was prepared from current guidance and legislation published by Færdselsstyrelsen, Borger.dk, the Danish Police and Retsinformation.

Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with Færdselsstyrelsen, a municipality, Borgerservice, the police, a test centre or a driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent authority always take precedence.