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Denmark car import tax calculator · 2026

What does it cost to register an imported car in Denmark?

Enter the car you have your eye on and see straight away the registreringsafgift, VAT and registration costs Denmark will charge. Amounts in kroner.

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In short

Denmark has Europe's heaviest registration tax: 25 %, 85 % and 150 % of the car's Danish value plus a CO₂ surcharge. The tax is levied on what the car is worth in Denmark, not on what you paid, and for a used car it falls in step with the value.

typical, EU car with COC
2–4 weeks
of the Danish value (2026 brackets)
25 / 85 / 150 %
CO₂ surcharge
294–1,115 kr / g
of the tax for electric cars in 2026
40 %

Last updated: · Sources & method: every rate is checked against the official source named in the guide; all amounts are indicative.

Calculate the taxes

Satser 2026 · Motorstyrelsen ✓

Origin

The car

Transport

Exemption

Registration & paperwork

Worked examples: what does it cost in practice?

Two typical cars, calculated with this tool for a purchase in Germany. Change any detail in the calculator above to see your own figure.

Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI (petrol), 2023, 60,000 km, 125 g/km CO₂

Purchase price:
DKK 164,100
Transport (indicative):
DKK 4,920–DKK 8,210
VAT (intra-EU acquisition)DKK 0
RegistreringsafgiftDKK 110,169
Toldsyn (import inspection)DKK 1,200
Registration & number platesDKK 1,180
Number platesDKK 0

Taxes & fees on topDKK 112,549

BMW X5 xDrive30d (diesel), 2021, 90,000 km, 185 g/km CO₂

Purchase price:
DKK 358,100
Transport (indicative):
DKK 4,920–DKK 8,210
VAT (intra-EU acquisition)DKK 0
RegistreringsafgiftDKK 414,088
Toldsyn (import inspection)DKK 1,200
Registration & number platesDKK 1,180
Number platesDKK 0

Taxes & fees on topDKK 416,468

Step-by-step guide: importing a car into Denmark

Importing a car into Denmark

Denmark has Europe's heaviest registration tax: 25 %, 85 % and 150 % of the car's Danish value plus a CO₂ surcharge. The tax is levied on what the car is worth in Denmark, not on what you paid, and for a used car it falls in step with the value.

Before you buy

  • Run the numbers first: a 180,000 kr used car with 142 g/km carries roughly 190,000 kr of tax; electric cars are cheap to import in 2026 (40 % of the tax, 161,300 kr deduction).
  • Look up the Danish new price of the exact model — Motorstyrelsen scales the tax with the value drop.
  • Ask for the COC; without it the Færdselsstyrelsen must approve the car individually.
  • The old exemption for moving households no longer removes the registration tax — only a temporary permit.

Documents you will need

  • Foreign registration certificate and deregistration where issued
  • Invoice or purchase contract
  • COC or Færdselsstyrelsen approval
  • Toldsyn report from a synshal
  • Value assessment / registration tax assessment from Motorstyrelsen
  • CPR number, ID and Danish address; non-EU: customs declaration with duty and VAT paid

Step by step

  1. 1

    Buy and bring the car in

    Drive it on export plates or transport it. Non-EU cars clear customs first: 10 % duty and 25 % VAT.

  2. 2

    Toldsyn

    Book an import inspection (toldsyn) at a synshal: identity, mileage and condition are recorded for the tax assessment. 1,000–1,500 kr.

  3. 3

    Registration tax at Motorstyrelsen

    Apply online (Motorregistret) or through a registered dealer. Motorstyrelsen sets the Danish value and the tax; pay it, or have a dealer with a credit account pay on your behalf.

  4. 4

    Plates

    Once the tax is paid the Motorregister issues the registration; collect plates at a synshal or Motorstyrelsen (1,180 kr).

  5. 5

    Insurance and ejerafgift

    Insure before plates; the biannual ejerafgift starts with registration.

Traps

  • Assuming the tax is based on your invoice — it is based on the Danish market price, which is usually higher.
  • Cars with damage or high mileage: document it at the toldsyn, it lowers the value and the tax.
  • Electric-car tax rises every year until 2035 (40 % in 2026, 50 % in 2027) — the year of registration decides.

Official sources

Run this route in the calculator in kroner, with the 2026 brackets, CO₂ surcharge and the value scaling.

Calculate for Denmark

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to import a car into Denmark?
2–4 weeks — typical, EU car with COC
Which taxes do you pay when importing a car into Denmark?
Denmark has Europe's heaviest registration tax: 25 %, 85 % and 150 % of the car's Danish value plus a CO₂ surcharge. The tax is levied on what the car is worth in Denmark, not on what you paid, and for a used car it falls in step with the value.
Which documents do you need to import a car into Denmark?
Foreign registration certificate and deregistration where issued; Invoice or purchase contract; COC or Færdselsstyrelsen approval; Toldsyn report from a synshal; Value assessment / registration tax assessment from Motorstyrelsen; CPR number, ID and Danish address; non-EU: customs declaration with duty and VAT paid.
What are the most common mistakes when importing a car into Denmark?
Assuming the tax is based on your invoice — it is based on the Danish market price, which is usually higher. Cars with damage or high mileage: document it at the toldsyn, it lowers the value and the tax. Electric-car tax rises every year until 2035 (40 % in 2026, 50 % in 2027) — the year of registration decides.
Do I pay VAT or customs duty when importing a car into Denmark from another EU country?
EU country: no customs duty, no VAT on used cars (new cars: 25 % Danish VAT). The registreringsafgift — 25 / 85 / 150 % of the Danish value plus a CO₂ surcharge — is due on every import.
What applies when the car comes from outside the EU?
Outside the EU: customs value = price + transport + insurance; 10 % duty and 25 % VAT on top, then the registreringsafgift on the Danish value.
What should I check before buying a car to import into Denmark?
Run the numbers first: a 180,000 kr used car with 142 g/km carries roughly 190,000 kr of tax; electric cars are cheap to import in 2026 (40 % of the tax, 161,300 kr deduction). Look up the Danish new price of the exact model — Motorstyrelsen scales the tax with the value drop. Ask for the COC; without it the Færdselsstyrelsen must approve the car individually. The old exemption for moving households no longer removes the registration tax — only a temporary permit.

Import into Denmark from another country

Other destinations

These guides describe the usual procedure as of September 2026 and are indicative. Rules, fees and deadlines change and vary by region and office; carimportcalculator.com accepts no liability for decisions based on them. Confirm the steps with the authority named in each guide or a licensed agent before you buy.