The Three Default Speed Limits
Denmark has three default speed limits that apply automatically based on where you are. No sign is needed — these are the law:
| Zone | Default Limit | Visual Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Built-up areas (cities, towns) | 50 km/h | White sign with city/town name (E49) |
| Rural roads (outside built-up areas) | 80 km/h | City name sign with red line through it (E50) |
| Motorways (motorvej) | 130 km/h | Green motorway sign (E42) |
Key point: These limits apply without any speed limit sign. The moment you pass a city name sign, the limit is 50 km/h. The moment you leave (city name with red line), it's 80 km/h. This is automatic.
How the City Name Signs Work
This is the concept most foreigners struggle with:
- E49 (white sign, city name in black): You're entering a built-up area → 50 km/h applies
- E50 (same sign with red diagonal line): You're leaving the built-up area → 80 km/h applies
Many people from countries where speed limits are always posted with explicit signs find this confusing. In Denmark, the city name sign is the speed limit sign.
Speed Limit Signs (Overrides)
The round signs with red borders and numbers override the defaults:
- C31 — Speed limit sign: The number is the maximum speed. Applies until the next sign or the next default zone change
- C33 — End of speed limit: Grey circle with diagonal lines. Returns to the default for the current zone
Example: You're driving on a rural road (80 km/h default). You see a 60 km/h sign. You must drive at max 60 km/h until either a new speed sign appears or you enter/leave a built-up area.
Speed Zones
Speed zones are marked with a square zone sign (E53) showing the speed limit. Key differences from regular speed limit signs:
- Zone signs apply to an entire area — all streets within the zone, not just the road you're on
- They remain in effect until the end-of-zone sign
- 30 km/h zones are very common in residential areas and near schools
- 40 km/h zones are used in some neighbourhoods
Test question trap: If you see a 30 km/h zone sign, the 30 km/h limit applies to all streets within the zone — even side streets without additional signs. It only ends when you see the end-of-zone sign.
Motorway Speed Limits
The default motorway limit is 130 km/h, but many sections are lower:
- 130 km/h — maximum on most motorway stretches
- 110 km/h — common on older motorways, near cities, and in construction zones
- 80 km/h or lower — near exits, in tunnels, and in heavy construction zones
Variable speed limits (electronic signs) are used on some motorways around Copenhagen and can change based on traffic conditions.
Speed Limits for Specific Vehicles
| Vehicle/Situation | Built-up | Rural | Motorway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular car | 50 | 80 | 130 |
| Car with trailer | 50 | 80 | 80 |
| Motorhome over 3,500 kg | 50 | 80 | 80 |
| Bus | 50 | 80 | 80 |
All speeds in km/h. Note that cars with trailers are limited to 80 km/h on motorways — not 130 km/h. This is a common test question.
Speed Cameras in Denmark
Denmark uses both fixed and mobile speed cameras:
- Fixed cameras: Positioned on known speeding stretches. Warning signs (camera icon) are placed before them
- Mobile cameras: Police can set up speed checks anywhere, at any time
- Section control: Measures average speed over a distance (used in some tunnels and construction zones)
Fines for speeding are graduated based on how much you exceed the limit. Exceeding by more than 30% can result in conditional licence revocation.
Tips for Speed-Related Test Questions
- Always check for city name signs in the scenario image — they define the default speed
- Look for zone signs — they override the default for the entire area
- Remember trailer rules — max 80 km/h on motorways with a trailer
- The limit is the maximum — you should drive slower in bad weather, poor visibility, or near schools
- Expressways (motortrafikvej) are not motorways — the default is 80 km/h, not 130
