Non-Danish vehicles

The Motor Vehicle Agency considers several different criteria when assessing whether you can obtain a permit to drive a foreign-registered car in Denmark, including whether you are registered in the Danish civil registration system (Det Centrale Personregister)(CPR).

Left Denmark/not registered in CPR

If you are not registered in the CPR register with a Danish address and you are staying in Denmark for less than 185 days within a 12-month period, you can drive on foreign number plates without paying Danish vehicle registration tax (Registreringsafgift). 

Registered in CPR with a Danish address

If you are registered in the CPR register with a place of residence in Denmark, you cannot, as a general rule, use a foreign-registered vehicle in Denmark. 

Registered in CPR with residence abroad

If you are registered in the CPR register and are resident abroad, there may be situations where you can obtain a permit to drive a foreign-registered vehicle in Denmark. Such situations are usually where you are staying in Denmark temporarily. This could be due to employment or studying in Denmark, for example. It may also be that, as a Danish citizen, you primarily reside abroad as a pensioner or because of work, and wish to drive directly between the border and your Danish residence in connection with holidays and days off.

When assessing whether you can obtain a permit to drive a foreign-registered vehicle in Denmark, we look at various criteria depending on your specific situation. 

We base our assessment on the following factors, among others:

• Have you retained a place of residence in your home country?
•  What is the purpose of your stay in Denmark?
• How long do you expect to stay in Denmark?
• How often do you return to your home country?
• Do you have a partner/spouse and child(ren) in Denmark or in your home country?

Apply for a permit to drive in Denmark on foreign number plates

You can apply for a permit to drive a foreign-registered vehicle for private purposes in Denmark by completing the form below.

It costs DKK 400 to have your application processed. 

Private driving on foreign number plates

You must submit the following documents with your application:

• A copy of the vehicle registration certificate
• Your contract of employment or study agreement contract

In addition, it may be relevant to submit:

• Your current certificate of residence, issued by the authorities in your home country
• A marriage certificate  
• A birth certificate for any child(ren) 

If you are applying for a permit to drive directly between the border and your place of residence, you do not need to pay a processing fee.

Persons who are sent abroad by the Danish state do not need to apply for this permit to drive in Denmark on foreign number plates if the persons in question are not registered as having left the country according to the Danish Civil Registration System Act (CPR-loven).

If you are from the Faroe Islands or Greenland, you can apply to be exempted from paying vehicle registration tax if you are staying in Denmark for a limited period of up to three years. You must bring your vehicle with you when entering Denmark.

How to apply for exemption from vehicle registration tax

Electronically

Complete Form 21.033 EN (Tax Exemption/Quarterly Tax) and submit it together with the below documents:

• A certificate of residence showing that you have resided in the Faroe Islands or Greenland for at least 5 years within the past 12 years.
• An employment contract or a study contract to document the duration of your stay in Denmark.
• A copy of the Faroese or Greenland registration certificate for the vehicle.
• An inspection report from a Danish vehicle inspection centre, where the vehicle has undergone an extended inspection on registration.
• Documentation showing that the vehicle has been brought into Denmark as removal goods. Read more about removal goods (in Danish only) on the website of the Danish Customs Agency (Toldsstyrelsen)

Regular post

You can also submit the documents in the above list by regular post to the Motor Vehicle Agency, addressed to:

Motorstyrelsen
Nykøbingvej 76, Bygning 45
4990 Sakskøbing, Denmark

Generally, you are not allowed to drive a vehicle that is registered outside Denmark if you live in Denmark.

However, you may do so, if for a limited period of time you:

• have a loan car from a non-Danish garage while your own is being repaired outside Denmark
• need to test vehicle equipment or test non-Danish registered vehicles.

If one of the above scenarios applies to you, you should inform the Danish Motor Vehicle Agency via below form before you cross the border to Denmark.

Driving a vehicle with non-Danish plates in Denmark

If you bring a vehicle with foreign number plates to Denmark, you need to inform the Danish Motor Vehicle Agency (Motorstyrelsen) before crossing the border.

Complete below form and have your vehicle registered within 30 days of arrival.

Driving a vehicle with non-Danish plates in Denmark

Please see Importing vehicles and Find inspection centres (Synshal) by entering your postal code for further information.

If you live in Denmark and wish to drive through Denmark in a foreign-registered vehicle (transit journey), you must first apply for a permit for the journey (transit permit).

You must have a permit for each trip through Denmark, for example an outbound trip and a return trip.

You can apply for a permit by completing and submitting form 21.072 to the Motor Vehicle Agency.

Complete and submit form 21.072 (in Danish only)

If you are employed by a foreign business in another EU/EEA country or if you are self-employed having set up a business or working in another EU country, you can apply to be exempt from registration tax.

It is a requirement that your mileage for business purposes abroad exceeds your mileage in Denmark.

If you are resident in Denmark, you are not allowed to drive a company car registered abroad until you have received an exemption from vehicle registration tax from the Motor Vehicle Agency.

Apply for exemption

Please submit the following information to the Danish Motor Vehicle Agency:

• 21.022 B Firmabiler (Company cars) (in Danish)
• A certificate that the vehicle is a foreign company car either used for business purposes outside Denmark for more than 183 days within a 12-month period, or a foreign company car used primarily for business purposes outside Denmark, i.e. most of the kilometres travelled outside Denmark are business kilometres. (If you are an employee, your employer should make such a certificate).
  See example of a certificate for an employee.
  See example of a certificate for a self-employed person.
• A copy of your employment contract. If you are running your own business, you need to submit documentation stating that you have a business abroad.
• A copy of the registration certificate and possible leasing agreement listing the vehicle identification number or registration number.

By email: Log on to E-tax (TastSelv) and select ’Kontakt’ (Contact) > ’Send E-mail’ (Send email) > ’Bil og motor’ (Vehicles) > ’Import/eksport (udland)’ (Import/export (abroad) > ’Biler fra udlandet’ (Foreign vehicles).

By regular post:
Motorstyrelsen
Nykøbingvej 76, Bygning 45
4990 Sakskøbing
Denmark

You can apply to pay registration tax in instalments in two situations:

• You are a non-resident and will be staying in Denmark for a limited period of time exceeding 185 days.
• You have a foreign company car that is either used for business purposes in Denmark for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, or for which most of the kilometres driven are for business purposes in Denmark.

Please note that special rules apply if the vehicle is registered in a third country (outside the EU). The rules are stated below. 

How to apply for quarterly tax

• If you are a non-resident and will be staying in Denmark for a limited period of time exceeding 185 days, you must use form 21.033 EN (Quarterly tax). Submit the following documents together with the form:
  • A copy of the foreign registration certificate.
  • An employment contract or a study contract as documentation of the duration of your stay in Denmark.
  • Vehicle inspection papers from a Danish vehicle inspection enterprise - inspection on registration (customs inspection).
  • Information on VAT and customs duty if the vehicle is imported from a third country (outside the EU). This may be a customs declaration with VAT and customs duty exemption for personal property when transferring your place of residence to Denmark, or a customs declaration showing that customs duty and VAT have been paid on the vehicle. We cannot process your application without a customs declaration. Read more about the rules for customs duties and taxes when you arrive from a non-EU country under If you move to Denmark (only in Danish).   

• If you have a foreign company car that is either used for business purposes in Denmark for more than 183 days in any 12-month period or for which most of the kilometres driven are for business purposes in Denmark, you must use form 21.022 B Firmabiler (Company cars). Submit the following documents together with the form.
• • A copy of the foreign registration certificate.
  • Documentation that the user is employed by a foreign business, e.g. an employment agreement. If you are self-employed, you must submit documentation as proof that you are engaged in commercial activities abroad.
  • Vehicle inspection papers from a Danish vehicle inspection enterprise - inspection on registration (customs inspection).
  • If the vehicle has been imported from a third country (outside the EU), you must also submit details of VAT and customs duty payments. This may be a customs declaration with VAT and customs duty exemption for personal property when transferring your place of residence to Denmark, or a customs declaration showing that customs duty and VAT have been paid on the vehicle. We cannot process your application without a customs declaration. Read more about the rules for customs duties and taxes when you arrive from a non-EU country under If you move to Denmark (only in Danish).   

Submit electronically
Log onto E-tax (TastSelv) and select Kontakt (Contact) > Skriv til os (Write to us) > Bil og motor (Car and engine) > Import/eksport (udland) (Import/export (abroad)) > Biler fra udlandet (Cars from abroad).

Send by post
Motorstyrelsen
Nykøbingvej 76, Bygning 45
DK-4990 Sakskøbing.
Denmark