Danish road rules in English
The short answer
In Denmark the general limit is 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside them and 130 km/h on motorways. Where nobody has to give way unconditionally, you give way to traffic from the right. The alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, and 0.2 for the first 3 years with your first car licence.
Source: Undervisningsplan kategori B (May 2026), Færdselsstyrelsen
A short English summary of rules that come up often in the theory test, with the Danish words you will see on signs and hear from your driving instructor. Drivoku's own practice questions are in Danish.
This text was written with AI help, checked against Færdselsstyrelsen and approved by Fri Vei AS. Last updated .
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Our practice questions for Denmark are in Danish only. We do not have English practice questions for the Danish test, so this page explains the rules instead and links to the Danish practice test.
The key rules at a glance
| Rule | In short | Danish word |
|---|---|---|
| Speed in built-up areas | 50 km/h, unless signs show another limit. | tættere bebygget område |
| Speed outside built-up areas | Normally at most 80 km/h. Signs can allow more. | uden for tættere bebygget område |
| Speed on motorways | At most 130 km/h. | motorvej |
| Shark’s teeth | The white triangles across the road: you must give way unconditionally. | hajtænder, ubetinget vigepligt |
| Give way to the right | Where nobody has to give way unconditionally, give way to all traffic from the right. | højre vigepligt |
| Pedestrian crossings | Slow down, and let people in the crossing pass, even if your light is green. | fodgængerfelt |
| Lights | Always lights on when driving: dipped headlights, or daytime running lights in daylight. | nærlys, kørelys |
| Phone | No hand-held phone, smartwatch, tablet or GPS while driving. | håndholdt mobiltelefon |
| Alcohol | Over 0.50 per mille is drink driving. Over 0.2 in the first 3 years with your first car licence. | spirituskørsel, promille |
Source: Færdselsstyrelsen, “Undervisningsplan kategori B”, version 1.1, May 2026 (in Danish), checked 4 November 2026.
What is the speed limit in Denmark?
In a built-up area the general limit is 50 km/h. The “tættere bebygget område” sign (E 55) marks where it starts. Outside built-up areas, except on motorways, you may normally drive at most 80 km/h, but a higher limit can be set by signs where conditions allow. On motorways and their slip roads the general limit is 130 km/h, unless signs show a lower one. On an expressway (motortrafikvej) it is 80 km/h, which signs can raise to 100 km/h in places. The limit is a maximum: always adjust your speed to the road, the weather and the traffic.
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Source: Færdselsstyrelsen, “Undervisningsplan kategori B”, version 1.1, May 2026, checked 4 November 2026. The limits for a car without a trailer.
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Who gives way at a junction in Denmark?
Shark’s teeth (hajtænder), the row of white triangles across your lane, mean you must give way unconditionally (ubetinget vigepligt). You also give way unconditionally without any marking when you drive out from a car park, a property or a petrol station, or from a clearly minor road such as a pedestrian street or a track.
Where nobody has to give way unconditionally, the rule is to give way to the right (højre vigepligt): you give way to all traffic coming from your right. This also applies where the road markings cannot be seen, for example after snow. If the traffic lights at a junction are not working, follow the give way markings, or the right-hand rule if there are none. Our Danish guide Vigepligt has examples.
Do I have to stop for people at a pedestrian crossing?
Drive slowly towards a pedestrian crossing (fodgængerfelt), so that people in it or about to step into it can see you will hold back. If needed, hold back or stop to let them cross, even if you have a green light.
Lights, phones and alcohol
- Lights: from sunset to sunrise, and whenever darkness, fog, rain or similar makes it necessary, you must use at least dipped headlights (nærlys). At other times you use dipped headlights, or special daytime running lights (kørelys) or fog lights instead.
- Phone: you must not use a hand-held phone, smartwatch, tablet or GPS while you drive.
- Alcohol: over 0.50 per mille in the blood (over 0.25 mg per litre of breath) is drink driving (spirituskørsel). If you got your first car licence less than 3 years ago, the limit is 0.2 per mille. Even below the limit you can be punished if you cannot drive safely. Read more in Danish: Promillegrænse.
Mini glossary: Danish to English
| Danish | English |
|---|---|
| kørekort | driving licence |
| køreskole, kørelærer | driving school, driving instructor |
| teoriprøve | theory test |
| praktisk prøve | practical (driving) test |
| lægeattest | medical certificate |
| førstehjælpskursus | first aid course |
| glatbane | slippery-road training |
| vigepligt | duty to give way |
| rundkørsel | roundabout |
| fodgængerfelt | pedestrian crossing |
| færdselstavle | road sign |
| ledsager | companion (for drivers aged 17) |
Can I practise for the Danish theory test in English?
Not with Drivoku. Our questions for Denmark are written in Danish, and we have no English versions. You can still use them to learn the Danish words: try the øveprøve (free practice test) or the færdselstavler (road signs) pages, with a Danish-speaking friend if you can. The real test can be taken in English: see Danish driving theory test in English.
Frequently asked questions
What is the speed limit in Denmark if there is no sign?
50 km/h in a built-up area, normally 80 km/h outside built-up areas, and 130 km/h on a motorway.
What is the drink-drive limit in Denmark?
0.50 per mille in the blood. In the first 3 years with your first car licence, it is 0.2 per mille.
What do the white triangles on Danish roads mean?
They are shark’s teeth (hajtænder). They mean you must give way unconditionally to the traffic on the road you are entering.
Are Drivoku’s Danish practice questions available in English?
No. They are in Danish only. This page explains key rules in English, and the official theory test can be taken in English.
Sources
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- Undervisningsplan kategori B, version 1.1, May 2026 (in Danish): sections on speed, give way, pedestrians, lights, phones and alcohol, Færdselsstyrelsen. Checked 4 November 2026.
Drivoku is made by Fri Vei AS and is not affiliated with Færdselsstyrelsen. This page is a simplified summary, written with AI help and not copied from the law. The authorities and Danish law always apply.
Practise in Danish
We do not have English practice questions for Denmark. Our free practice test is in Danish, so it also teaches you the words in the road signs and the rules.