Planning to bring your car to Denmark when moving from abroad? This complete guide explains how to bring your car to Denmark legally, how to avoid Danish customs duty and VAT under the moving goods (flyttegods) rules, how the Danish registration tax (registreringsafgift) is calculated, and how QuickImport can handle the whole registration process for you as a Motorstyrelsen-approved selvanmelder since 2012.
Whether you are an expat moving to Denmark from Norway, Switzerland, the UK, the USA or another country outside the EU — or relocating within the EU from Germany, Sweden or Ireland — the rules and paperwork are essentially the same, and this guide walks you through every step.
What this guide covers
- Bring your car to Denmark: the short version
- Who qualifies for moving goods (Flyttegods)?
- Customs clearance before you enter Denmark
- Notify Motorstyrelsen before crossing the border
- Danish registration tax — always payable
- Get the registration tax assessed by QuickImport
- Do you need a COC document?
- Documents you will typically need
- Step-by-step: from foreign plates to Danish plates
- Typical costs and timeline
- Countries we commonly help customers move from
- Frequently asked questions
Bring your car to Denmark: the short version
When you bring your car to Denmark, three separate processes are involved — and they are often confused: customs and VAT (only relevant for vehicles arriving from outside the EU), Danish registration tax (always payable, regardless of where the vehicle comes from), and the actual registration on Danish number plates in the Danish Motor Register (DMR).
This guide walks you through each step, the documentation you will need, and how QuickImport can handle the registration tax and paperwork for you as an authorised self-declarant (selvanmelder) approved by the Danish Motor Vehicle Agency (Motorstyrelsen). The same rules apply whether you bring your car to Denmark from a neighbouring EU country or ship it from a non-EU country such as the UK, the USA, Switzerland or Norway.
Are you an expat moving to Denmark from a country outside the EU and want to bring your car or motorcycle with you?
You can take advantage of the moving goods regulations (Flyttegods), which allow you to avoid paying customs duties and Danish VAT upon entry to Denmark. However, there are some important requirements you must meet to comply with the rules.
Who qualifies for moving goods (Flyttegods)?
First and foremost, you must have lived abroad (outside Denmark) for more than one year and have owned the vehicle abroad for more than six months.
In addition, the vehicle must be for your personal use, and after registering it in Denmark you must keep it for at least one year before reselling it. If you sell within that year, the Danish authorities can reclaim the customs duty and VAT that were originally waived. The rules apply per person, so if a couple bring your car to Denmark together, both spouses can potentially bring one vehicle each under the moving goods scheme, provided each vehicle meets the ownership requirements.
Customs clearance before you enter Denmark
Next, you need to clear the vehicle through customs. This must be done via a freight forwarder (speditør) before you enter Denmark with the vehicle and before obtaining Danish license plates. We recommend using www.fortoldningsbutikken.dk for the customs clearance, as it must be registered in the Danish Customs Agency’s system.
When entering Denmark with a vehicle as moving goods from a non-EU country, you do not have to pay customs duties or VAT. However, you are always required to register the vehicle in your name afterward and keep it for at least one year before reselling it.
If you fail to comply with these rules or if, for example, you have owned the vehicle for less than six months before entering Denmark, you will have to pay customs duties and VAT. You can also use Fortoldningsbutikken for this process. As a rule of thumb, expect roughly 10% customs duty plus 25% Danish VAT on top of the vehicle’s value when the moving goods exemption does not apply.
Notify Motorstyrelsen before crossing the border
If you drive into Denmark on foreign number plates, you must notify Motorstyrelsen before crossing the border and have the vehicle registered in Denmark within 30 days of arrival. The official form and instructions are available on the Danish Motor Vehicle Agency’s English pages: Non-Danish vehicles – Motorstyrelsen (English). Keep the receipt in the vehicle for as long as it carries foreign plates.
Driving on foreign plates in Denmark after the 30-day deadline can result in fines and — in the worst case — seizure of the vehicle. If you bring your car to Denmark and cannot get the registration finished within 30 days, contact Motorstyrelsen in advance for guidance.
Danish registration tax — always payable
When bringing a vehicle from abroad, you must always pay the Danish registration tax. This applies regardless of whether the vehicle is classified as moving goods or not. Danish registration tax is value-based, so the more expensive the car (and the higher the CO2 emission), the higher the import tax. However, electric vehicles have a lower registration tax than other vehicles.
The tax is calculated against the vehicle’s Danish market value (handelspris), not the price you originally paid abroad. For passenger cars, the current tax scale is progressive with brackets of 25%, 85% and 150% of value, combined with a CO2 supplement and various deductions — including a significant deduction for zero-emission vehicles. Motorcycles are calculated on a separate scale.
You need a Danish CPR-number to register a vehicle on Danish number plates. So before registering the car in your name in Denmark, you need to move your address to Denmark, and this must be registered in the CPR-system.
Get the registration tax assessed by QuickImport
You can have the registration tax assessed by QuickImport. We are authorised to calculate and collect registration tax, making the process simple and easy for you. As an approved selvanmelder with Motorstyrelsen since 2012, we set the final registration tax ourselves — it is not a preliminary estimate that Motorstyrelsen has to confirm afterwards. Motorstyrelsen carries out only spot-check audits, and if an audit ever results in a higher amount, QuickImport covers the difference.
We recommend starting with a preliminary assessment so you have a clear understanding of your financial situation in advance. The pre-calculation is binding for 30 days and costs 399 DKK for combustion vehicles and motorcycles, or 299 DKK for electric vehicles via the dedicated EV pre-calculation page. That way, you know exactly what it will cost to bring your car to Denmark before you commit to shipping it.
Do you need a COC document?
In many cases, you will need a COC document (Certificate of Conformity) or a data declaration to import a car from outside the EU. This is important since the Danish registration tax is partly based on CO2-emission, and because after registering the car on Danish number plates, you will have to pay a periodical tax on the car that is based on fuel consumption.
The COC document is issued by the vehicle manufacturer and confirms the exact technical specification (CO2, fuel consumption, weight, power output, emissions class). If you do not have one, you can order it directly here: Order a COC document online. For cars from the UK or the USA a COC is often not available, and a data declaration will be used instead.
Documents you will typically need
Before you bring your car to Denmark, gather the following paperwork. Missing documents are the most common cause of delays in the registration process.
- Original foreign registration certificate (both parts, if applicable)
- Proof of ownership — invoice or purchase contract in your name
- COC document or data declaration
- Customs declaration from Fortoldningsbutikken.dk (only for vehicles arriving from outside the EU)
- Documentation of residence abroad for more than 12 months (for the moving goods exemption)
- Your Danish CPR-number and address
- Photos of the vehicle showing condition and mileage
Step-by-step: from foreign plates to Danish plates
Here is the full sequence of steps to bring your car to Denmark and get it onto Danish number plates:
- Register your Danish address in the CPR system and receive your CPR-number.
- Notify Motorstyrelsen before you enter Denmark on foreign plates.
- If the vehicle comes from outside the EU: clear customs via Fortoldningsbutikken.dk (with or without the moving goods exemption).
- Order a registration tax calculation from QuickImport.
- If required, order a COC document.
- Book a toldsyn (import inspection) at a Danish inspection centre (synshal).
- QuickImport files the registration and pays the tax on your behalf.
- You collect Danish number plates and take out mandatory third-party liability insurance (ansvarsforsikring).
Typical costs and timeline to bring your car to Denmark
The table below shows the typical fees involved when you bring your car to Denmark. The registration tax itself depends on the vehicle’s Danish market value and CO2 emission, so it is impossible to state a single figure — but the surrounding costs are fixed and predictable.
| Item | Typical cost (DKK) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary assessment (combustion / motorcycle) | 399 | Binding for 30 days |
| Preliminary assessment (electric vehicle) | 299 | Binding for 30 days |
| Danish number plates | 1,180 | Paid at plate handover |
| COC document (if required) | Varies by brand | Order via QuickImport |
| Customs duty (non-EU, no moving goods exemption) | ~10% of value | Handled by Fortoldningsbutikken |
| Danish VAT (non-EU, no moving goods exemption) | 25% of value | Handled by Fortoldningsbutikken |
| Danish registration tax | Depends on value + CO2 | Calculated by QuickImport |
Timeline is typically 1–3 weeks from ordering the preliminary assessment to picking up Danish plates, provided documentation is complete. For a smooth process, start the paperwork before you actually bring your car to Denmark.
Countries we commonly help customers move from
Many of our customers come from Norway and Switzerland, bringing their vehicles to Denmark as moving goods. However, we can assist with imports from most EU and non-EU countries — including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, the USA and Canada. Right-hand-drive vehicles from the UK and Ireland can be registered in Denmark, but the process has a few extra requirements. Start ordering a calculation of the registration tax here.
If you bring your car to Denmark from within the EU (Germany, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy and so on), no customs duty or VAT is charged on the vehicle itself — only the Danish registration tax. If you bring your car to Denmark from a non-EU country (UK, USA, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Canada) the moving goods rules can save you the 10% customs duty and 25% VAT, provided you meet the conditions.
Frequently asked questions about bringing your car to Denmark
How long can I drive on foreign number plates in Denmark?
Once you are registered in the CPR system as a Danish resident, you must have the vehicle re-registered on Danish plates within 30 days. You must also notify Motorstyrelsen before crossing the border, and keep the confirmation receipt in the vehicle until the Danish plates are fitted.
Do I really avoid all customs duty and VAT under the moving goods rules?
Yes — provided you have lived outside Denmark for more than 12 months, have owned the vehicle for more than 6 months before the move, use it for private purposes, and keep it for at least 12 months after registration in Denmark. If any of these conditions is not met, you will owe roughly 10% customs duty plus 25% Danish VAT on the vehicle’s value, in addition to the Danish registration tax.
Does the moving goods exemption apply to the Danish registration tax as well?
No. The moving goods rules only waive customs duty and VAT. Danish registration tax (registreringsafgift) is always payable when you bring your car to Denmark and register it on Danish plates, regardless of where you or the vehicle come from.
Can I start the process before I arrive in Denmark?
You can start gathering documentation and order a preliminary tax assessment before you arrive. However, the final registration in your name requires a Danish CPR-number and address, so the last steps have to wait until you are formally registered as a Danish resident.
Do I need a COC document if I bring my car to Denmark?
In most cases, yes. The COC confirms the exact CO2 emission, fuel consumption and technical data used both for the registration tax calculation and for the ongoing green ownership tax. If a COC cannot be obtained (typical for cars from the UK and the USA), a data declaration is used instead. You can order a COC document online here.
How much does a preliminary assessment cost?
A preliminary assessment (forhåndsvurdering) costs 399 DKK for combustion cars and motorcycles, and 299 DKK for electric vehicles. It is binding for 30 days, so you know exactly what the registration tax will be before you commit to shipping the vehicle to Denmark. Order one on the import order page.
Is QuickImport’s tax calculation preliminary or final?
Final. QuickImport is an approved selvanmelder with Motorstyrelsen and independently calculates and pays the registration tax. Motorstyrelsen only carries out random spot checks; if a spot check ever results in a higher amount, QuickImport covers the difference.
Can I import a right-hand-drive car from the UK or Ireland?
Yes. Right-hand-drive passenger cars can be registered on Danish plates. The vehicle must pass a Danish import inspection (toldsyn) and, as the UK is now outside the EU, customs and VAT rules apply unless you qualify under the moving goods exemption.
Can I use QuickImport for customs clearance as well?
No — QuickImport handles the Danish registration tax and the registration on Danish number plates. Customs clearance and import VAT are handled by a freight forwarder such as Fortoldningsbutikken.
How do I get started when I want to bring my car to Denmark?
Order a preliminary calculation of the Danish registration tax on our import page, and — if needed — a COC document. You will normally have your binding tax result within a few working days. For more general information about importing vehicles to Denmark, see Motorstyrelsen’s English guide: Importing vehicles — Motorstyrelsen.
