General Driving Rules
- Drive on the right — Denmark uses right-hand traffic
- Headlights on at all times — dipped headlights (low beam) must be on 24/7, even in broad daylight. This is the law, not optional
- Seatbelts mandatory — for all passengers, front and back
- Mobile phones — using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal. Hands-free is allowed
- Right-hand rule — at unmarked intersections, give way to traffic from the right
- Minimum driving age — 17 for category B (car)
Speed Limits
Denmark has three default speed limits that apply unless signs indicate otherwise:
| Area | Speed Limit | How to Recognise |
|---|---|---|
| Built-up areas (cities/towns) | 50 km/h | White sign with city name (E49) |
| Rural roads | 80 km/h | Outside built-up areas, no motorway signs |
| Motorways | 130 km/h | Green motorway sign (E42). Some sections 110 km/h |
These defaults are overridden by speed limit signs (red circle with number). Zone signs (e.g., "30 zone") apply until the end-of-zone sign.
Key detail: When you pass a city name sign with a red line through it (E50), you've left the built-up area and the speed limit returns to 80 km/h unless another sign says otherwise.
Alcohol and Drug Limits
- Blood alcohol limit: 0.05% (0.5 promille) — lower than the US (0.08%) but standard for Europe
- Zero tolerance for drugs — any detectable amount of illegal substances is an offence
- Penalties are severe — fines, licence revocation, and potential imprisonment for repeat offenders
Right of Way (Vigepligt)
This is the most important section for the theory test. Denmark's right-of-way rules:
- Right-hand rule: At intersections without signs or signals, give way to traffic approaching from your right
- Yield sign (B11): Give way to all traffic on the road you're joining
- Stop sign (B13): Come to a complete stop, then give way before proceeding
- Priority road (B15): You have right of way — but always remain vigilant
- Roundabouts: Traffic already in the roundabout has right of way. Yield before entering
- Emergency vehicles: Always give way to vehicles with blue lights and sirens
- Cyclists: When turning right, you must yield to cyclists going straight in the bike lane
Test trap: When a priority road changes direction at an intersection (shown on a supplementary arrow board), traffic on the priority road still has right of way — even if they're turning. Many people get this wrong.
Cyclist Rules for Drivers
Denmark is one of the world's most cycling-friendly countries. As a driver, you need to be especially aware of cyclists:
- Check bike lanes before turning right — cyclists going straight have right of way over you turning
- Minimum passing distance: Leave adequate space when overtaking a cyclist (at least 1.5 metres recommended)
- Bike lanes are real lanes — don't drive in them, don't park in them
- Blind spots: Always check your right-side mirror and blind spot before turning
- Intersections: Cyclists may be approaching faster than you expect — especially with e-bikes
Parking Rules
- No parking within 10 metres of an intersection
- No parking on the left side of the road (except on one-way streets)
- Use a parking disc (P-skive) where signs indicate timed parking — display your arrival time
- No stopping (C51 sign): Red X on blue circle — cannot stop at all
- No parking (C53 sign): Single red line on blue circle — can stop briefly (up to 3 minutes for loading)
- Yellow kerb markings mean no stopping or parking
Motorway Rules
- Minimum speed: You must be able to drive at least 50 km/h to use the motorway
- Overtake on the left only — overtaking on the right is illegal on motorways
- Keep right: Use the right lane unless overtaking
- Hard shoulder: Only for emergencies — never drive or stop on it unless absolutely necessary
- Merging: Traffic on the motorway has right of way. Use the acceleration lane to match speed before merging
- Minimum following distance: The 2-second rule applies (increase in bad weather)
Winter Driving
- Winter tyres: Not legally required in Denmark, but strongly recommended from November to March
- Studded tyres: Allowed from 1 November to 15 April
- Clear your car: All windows, mirrors, lights, and the roof must be cleared of snow and ice before driving
- Adjust speed: Reduce speed in rain, snow, ice, and fog — the speed limit is the maximum, not a target
Penalties for Common Offences
| Offence | Typical Penalty |
|---|---|
| Speeding (up to 30% over) | Fine (graduated by amount over) |
| Speeding (30%+ over) | Fine + conditional licence revocation |
| Running a red light | Fine + possible licence points |
| Using mobile phone | 1,500 DKK fine |
| Drink driving (0.05–0.12%) | Fine (monthly salary × BAC level) |
| No seatbelt | 2,500 DKK fine per person |
