Getting a Danish Driving License – It’s easier than you think!

Whether you’re in Denmark for work, study, or simply starting a new life, having a Danish driving licence (kørekort) makes daily life significantly easier-especially outside major cities. While the process may seem confusing at first, it’s very achievable with the right information. This guide helps you navigate it successfully:

• A step-by-step overview of the Danish driving licence system
• Practical tips and official resources
• Expert Insights from driving schools that support internationals
• Personal stories from EU and non-EU residents

🚗 License Categories in Denmark

Denmark issues various licence categories based on vehicle type:

COMMON CATEGORIES

Category B: Cars/vans up to 3,500 kg

• Age requirement: 18 (17 with supervision)
• Most popular among international residents

Category AM: Mopeds up to 45 km/h

• Age requirement: 18
• Suitable for urban transport

SPECIALIZED CATEGORIES

Motorcycles:

• A1: Light motorcycles (up to 125cc) – Age: 18
• A2: Medium motorcycles (up to 35 kW) – Age: 20
• A: All motorcycles – Age: 24

Professional Transport:

• C1/C: Light/heavy trucks – Age: 18/21
• D1/D: Small/large buses – Age: 21/24
• BE: Cars with trailers over 750 kg

Special Vehicles:

• LK: Small mopeds (up to 30 km/h) – Age: 15
• TM: Tractors and equipment – Age: 16

Refer to the Danish Road Traffic Authority (Færdselsstyrelsen)for more.

🛣️ 3 Pathways to a Danish License

• First-Time Applicants : If you don’t hold a licence or your foreign licence isn’t eligible for exchange, you must start from scratch.

What You Need to Do:

• Enroll in a Certified Driving School (Køreskole):

• • • Mandatory
    • Includes: 29 theory lessons, 16 practical lessons, 4 maneuver yard sessions, 4 lessons on a closed track
    • Theory/practical exam will be registered by the driving school and you will receive booking confirmation from borger service/driving school, please double confirm about dates. 

• First Aid Course: 6–8 hours (approved for licence applicants)

• Medical Certificate: Issued by your GP (General Practitioner)

• Theory Test (Teoretisk Prøve):

• • • 25 multiple-choice questions (pass with 20 correct)
    • Available in Danish and English
    • Conducted at the Danish Police licensing department.

• Practical Driving Test (Køreprøve):

• • • Conducted by a certified examiner.
    • Demonstrate driving, parking, merging, roundabouts, highway usage, and vehicle checks.

• Application at Borger.dk Driving Licence Portal:

• • Submit documents i.e. first aid certificate, medical certificate, passport photo, and residency documentation.
  • Pay a fee (approx. DKK 600–1,000)

    Estimated Total Cost: DKK 10,000–15,000 depending on region and additional lessons.

2. Driving & Exchanging a Foreign Licence in Denmark :

The Foreign Driving Licence Rules in Denmark depend on your country of origin and residence status, below I did research and made your path easy. 

EU/EEA Licence holders:

• Can drive indefinitely with valid EU license
• Must exchange if license expires/lost
• Valid licences can be exchanged without a test.
• Required documents: passport or residence card, CPR number, original driving licence, and a compliant passport photo.

Non-EU/EEA Residents:

• Eligible to drive in Denmark for up to 180 days from the date of your official residence registration (folkeregister address).

After 180 days, you must exchange your driving licence by visiting Local Borgerservice by following the procedure according to your country of origin which is categorised as Group 1 & Group 2.

Group 1 – No Test Required: Australia, Canada (certain provinces), Japan, South Korea, Russia, Switzerland, certain U.S. states

Group 2 – Tests Required: India, China, Brazil, Pakistan, etc. Must pass both theory and practical tests.

1. Prepare Documents: Passport, residence proof, CPR, current driving licence, Medical certificate, passport-sized photo
2. Book Appointment at Local Borgerservice – Kommune
3. Submit documents and pay applicable fees at Kommune.
4. Complete the Theory & Practical driving exam within the time said by Kommune if your country comes under Group 2 category. 
5. To pass the theory exam at least 20 correct questions is needed out of 25
6. Processing: 2–4 weeks on average depends upon Test result if applicable. 

Check: Life in Denmark– Transport

👨‍🏫 EXPERT PERSPECTIVE: Inside a Danish Driving School – Interview with Kruse Conny (Kørelærer) in Kolding

We spoke with Conny Kruse, whose family business Kruse’s Køreskole has been operating since 1945. With 37 years of experience as an instructor and a student body split evenly between Danish and international learners, Conny offers unique insights into the challenges and successes of international drivers in Denmark with one manual and one automatic car. She had 4 new badges in a year. 

The programme Conny’s school offers includes 29 theory lessons and 24 practical driving sessions. Lessons are offered in Danish, English and German and both manual and automatic cars are available. The programme enables learners to achieve a category B License (Cars up to 3,500kg) and it is also possible to train in driving tractors and construction vehicles. Practical lessons include specialized training and experience of a variety of road and weather conditions. The whole process normally takes three months, Conny says, if students complete paperwork early and authorities don’t have waiting times.

Conny told us about Denmark’s unique driving philosophy: “In Denmark, it’s important to set other people above yourself,” she says. “Our law isn’t about ‘What is my right?’ but ‘How can I be of service in traffic?’ We do have a duty to consider others. Sometimes internationals come to us thinking a driving license is just something you buy, and driving schools are places to come when you have time. But it is an education with a final exam, just like every other type of education.”

Conny says some international students can face language barriers if they do not speak Danish or English well. Some also underestimate the course commitment or face issues with delayed medical certifications. However, the key to success is thorough preparation through: 

• Comprehensive theory materials
• Digital and analog practice tests
• Extra support for nervous drivers
• Flexible learning approaches

Above all she says it’s important to go to driving school “because you want to, not because you need to. And take the license because you want to drive, not because you need it.” 

connykruse.dk, Contact: +45 40459252. The next intake of learners in English is in September 2025.

Approximate Total Investment for Non-EU international (Group 2 Countries):

• Application fee: 280 DKK
• Photos: 100 DKK
• Medical Check including Eye Test: 500-600 DKK
• Theory Resources: 299 DKK
• Theory Tests: 900-1200 DKK
• Driving Lessons: 500-700 DKK per lesson

Licence Validity and Renewal

• Categories A & B: Valid for 15 years.
• Categories C & D: Valid for 5 years.
• Renewal: Requires a medical examination, especially for older drivers.

📣Real Voices: International Experiences with Danish Driving Licence

We spoke to some internationals with different stories as well as a Danish driving school working with internationals to get their perspectives on obtaining a driving license here. 

1. From Hungary 🇭🇺 for EU Licence Holders

Tunde Balazsi realized Denmark would be her long-term home, so exchanging her Hungarian license became a priority. “The process was quite straightforward, as EU citizens can expect,” she says.

She took some time to collect necessary documents like her original Hungarian licence, Valid ID/Passport, residence permit/CPR number, passport photos, and a medical certificate due to her licence category. Tunde visited Borgerservice, where her paperwork was verified, and she received a temporary permit to drive. She waited 3–4 weeks for the official Danish licence. “Everything went smoothly,” Tunde reflects.

For her, no surprises arose, but she advises, “If you’re planning to live in Denmark long-term, exchange your license sooner rather than later. It avoids complications if you lose your original or if it expires. All information can be found on the internet or you can call your Kommune and speak to them in English or in Danish”

2. Two Non-EU Perspectives: Different Cities, Different Journeys, Similar Goals 

Apoorva and Chandru S., originally from India(Bharat) 🇮🇳 , share experiences typical for many newcomers adjusting to Danish driving rules. Both had valid Indian licenses when they arrived but soon realized that driving in Denmark requires adapting to new traffic laws and right-hand driving — a significant change from India’s left-side driving.

Apoorva’s Journey

Apoorva moved to Vejle in Jutland, a city in a more rural part of the country.  Her children were coming to Denmark and she needed to be able to drive them to school and around town. She applied to exchange her Danish licence. However, the process took several years due to relocation, studies, cost uncertainties, and limited English test availability. She prepared for the theory test using online platforms like Prøve.dk, took driving lessons, and submitted documents including her Indian licence, a medical certificate, and passport photos at Vejle Kommune. 

Apoorva says, “Always take advice from someone from your country who has got a license in Denmark. Try to gather as much information as possible before you start. It is a good idea to talk to the authorities as well. They are pretty helpful.” 

Chandru’s Journey 

He has been living in Odense for 18 months and started his application one month after arriving in Denmark. He was aware of the 6-month rule and had lived in Sweden previously, where drivers have one year to get new licenses. He compared both countries’ rules. At Borgerservice, he was informed that passing the theory test on his first attempt would allow him to extend his temporary driving permit beyond the initial 180 day period. 

He had to pass both theory and practical tests. He took driving lessons with Kør Fynt, a school known for having English-speaking instructors, which helped his learning. During his year-long journey to get his license, he faced different challenges including multiple exam cancellations, limited lesson availability and having to adapt to driving on the right. Despite the challenges he persevered. Chandru emphasises the importance of starting early and practising extensively on online test platforms like Prøve.dk. 

The translator was obsoleted as per new traffic rules.  

3.First-Time Internationals Behind the Wheel 

At Conny Kruse Køreskole in Kolding, we met a diverse group of first-time drivers, each with unique motivations. 

Here’s what they shared with us:

🇵🇭 Two Filipino women told me their main motivation was independence and learning the rules properly in a new country. 

🇵🇱 A Polish learner shared that she first started taking lessons in Polish in Horsens. But the chemistry wasn’t right, and the process took much longer than expected. She later switched to Conny’s school, where English lessons gave her more comfort

and confidence and she enjoyed learning with her Danish partner, who chose an English course to support his girlfriend.

🇹🇷🇳🇵 Students from Turkey and Nepal were studying in Denmark and described that if driving school is comfortable and welcoming, especially those who may feel overwhelmed by the complexity of Danish traffic rules and procedures then journey is easy. 

Conclusion & Tips for a Smooth Process

Navigating the Danish driving licence process doesn’t have to be a bumpy ride. Whether exchanging an EU license like Tunde, navigating the non-EU process like Apoorva and Chandru, or starting from scratch like the international students at Conny’s school, success comes from understanding that a Danish driving license is more than a document. It’s an education in Danish traffic culture and values. 

Whether you’re coming from Berlin, Bangalore, or Boston, knowing what to expect saves time and frustration.

✅ Early start – especially for non-EU residents before 180-day deadline

✅ Thorough preparation by taking practice tests from prøve.dk and other resources

✅ Language comfort & Cultural driving habits as per Danish norms

✅ Right school choice that offer English instruction

✅ Stay Updated: Requirements may vary by Kommune

✅ Preparation pays off: Online tools, mock tests, and simulator practice can boost your confidence.

No matter who we are, the right support — whether through language-friendly schools, trusted referrals, or simply feeling understood — makes all the difference. My advice to others : Ask around, choose a school that makes you feel at ease, and don’t hesitate to take the first step — even if it’s your first time behind the wheel. A Danish Driving Licence will open the door to greater independence and integration in Denmark.