Driving in Denmark

Driving in Denmark is not cheap nor is bringing your car to Denmark. It is rarely worth the hassle.

If you wish to have a car in Denmark, weigh your costs to your actual needs. If you live and work in the city - NO WAY! It just wont pay - rent if you need one occaisionally.

Driving in Denmark is similiar to (almost) anywhere else in the world. You drive on the right side of the road and follow most of the same types of traffic laws.

Below are some things you will need to know when driving in Denmark.

Along most major roads there are bike paths, which are designed for bicycles and small mopeds/scooters. Since their paths are to the right of your lane, you must be aware when turning right in your car.
You DO NOT have the right of way. Motorists must always yield to bicycles, mopeds and pedestrians.

If you hit a cyclist, you are in SERIOUS trouble. You will find that in the city there are traffic lights for cars and another set for cyclists.

2. When you change lanes you must indicate or you will get fined 500DKK.

3. When driving in Denmark you must have your headlights on at all times - day and night. If you rent or buy a car in Denmark, it is standard on all cars that the lights turn on automatically when the engine is started. If you drive in from another country, remember to turn on your headlights - you will get fined 500DKK for not using them properly.

4. Denmark does have a few roundabouts, but they are far fewer than you find in other countries; for example, England. At a roundabout in Denmark, you yield to traffic coming from the left.

5. Know your speed limits! Speed limits are pretty straightforward. They are: 50kph in the city, 80kph outside the city and 130kph on the motorway. KPH is "kilometers per hour". The exception is when another speed is posted on the road. In cities it is common to find 70kph on the ring roads or other major thoroughfares through the city.

Some speed limits are not posted on signs in the conventional way, especially when coming to small towns and villages. If you come to a sign showing a cityscape (see below) that means that the speed limit is 50 km. This is not obvious, since there is no mention of the speed on the sign. When you leave the village you should see a cityscape sign with a black diagonal line, which means that the speed limit is back to the normal limit.

In Denmark they are harder to see, you are not warned that there is a camera ahead and maps do not show you where they are. If you travel the same route every day you will soon know if there is a camera on your route.

Best suggestion is to follow the speed limit.

More often traffic is monitored by traffic vans. If you travel by a van sitting on the side of the road and you see a bright flash - you just got caught on camera speeding and will receive a ticket in a few weeks time. And the fines in Denmark are very steep. See how much driving in Denmark traffic fines are here! 6. Learn your traffic signs. For more information on various traffic signs and road symbols check out traffic signs and road symbols. Just right click on the link to download. The signs start on page 7. You can use google translate to find out the meaning of each sign.

The meaning of each traffic sign is listed to the right of the sign and just above it in a grey bar. Something like this"Zone med lokal hastighedsbegrænsning". Put that into google translate and it will tell you that it means "zone with max speed limit". You be familiar with most of these signs when driving.

9. It is illegal to use a car phone while driving in Denmark. At present you can use a handsfree, but if you are not paying attention, you may still be fined. Best is to stay off the phone while driving. Hey take the pledge below and let's all be safe.

10. Make sure to have a valid driving license, the certificate of registration and proof of insurance with you when driving.

11. Make sure your tire/tyre thread depths are at least 1.6mm or again you get fined. I know I keep saying you get fined, but the police do not give warnings over here. Cut and dry - you get a fine!

12. If you towing a trailer the speed liimits are less. 70kph

13. Always give way to buses. If a bus indicates it is entering the flow of traffic from a bus lane, you have to give way.

14. Always pass on the left, passing or overtaking on the right is against the law and you will be fined.

15. Watch out for parking signs. All cars in Denmark have a parking disc on their windows. When you park, make sure the disk says what time you parked. Just move the arrow to the correct time. May be free parking for a few hours, but if your disk does not note the correct time, you get a parking fine of 1000 DKK!

Also look for parking meters. In most major cities you will find meters and you have to display a ticket on your dash.

16. As you are driving in Denmark, you may notice that tailgating (driving very close to the car in front of you) is very popular, but it is illegal. The police do fine for it, so again, it should be obvious, but back off and drive friendly.

17. Finally and it should be obvious, but do not drink and drive or drive under the influence. It is unsafe, stupid and you will get fined. And you kill yourself or someone else!

The police are not very tolerant of ignorance of the driving in Denmark laws. Learn the rules and follow them or you could get fined if caught.

If in doubt about the Danish rules of the road, get a copy of På Vej Brochure put out by the Danish Road Safety. Click on publikationer and than click on the brochure entitled På Vej.

You will find lots of practical and helpful information. Explore more transportation options in Denmark

Learn more about driving in Denmark in your imported car and if it is worth the expense.

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