People in Denmark have a particular taste for good things in life and don’t just stop at that, they buy the nice stuff. Actually, any foreigner arriving in Denmark will notice that people buy dream cars, phones, electronics and even houses. Assuredly, within just a few months of living in Denmark, a foreigner will entertain the idea of buying either a used car or brand new car from a dealer. This is a possibility because anyone working in Denmark can save up enough money or get a private loan from banks for the purpose of buying a car. But with buying a car in Denmark comes the next obvious question on how exactly to maintain it. Maintaining the car includes things to do with periodic inspection, car insurance, servicing and changing of fluids such as oil, brake fluids and more.
Talk to someone who owns a private car in Denmark and they will confide that buying a car isn’t actually the problem. The real issue is maintaining that car to keep it in usable condition all year round. So many people can buy a car but resell it only a few years if not months later because of maintenance costs that can go over the roof. Of course, how the costs of maintenance and servicing turns out to be depends on the car type, condition at purchase and owners’ driving behaviour among other things
Owning a Car in Denmark
For a foreigner, the first hurdle to jump is the costly and difficult process of acquiring a Daish drivers licence. It is only with this licence that you may expect to drive your car. Of course it is possible to own a car in Denmark even without having a driving licence but then you won’t be able to drive yourself.
To set the conversation forth, everyone needs to understand that owning a car is far much different from maintaining and servicing one. Since Denmark is credited as one of the happiest nations, many expats in the country just like Danes desire to have cars with all the conveniences tagged with having a private vehicle. In Denmark, a car is a personal investment but having one, whether a new or a used car, requires much dedication reflected in its maintenance and servicing to limit breakdowns and account for its reliability.
Something to be on top of your mind when buying a private car in Denmark is that certain demands can’t be ignored. For instance, you must have a valid car insurance, change tyres to match the season, pay half-yearly tax known as afgift, keep a valid driving licence, take the car for a scheduled inspection called Bilsyn. You must only use authorised car verified and approved can inspection centres for your private vehicle. With the periodic inspection, it becomes necessary that you maintain the car in good condition otherwise it is not approved or becomes too expensive to repair. These listed requirements are non negotiable which means that they come automatically for anyone who owns a private car.
A short reflection about cars in Denmark
Currently, Denmark ranks among the best places to live in for expats looking out for greater experiences or challenges. The country has quality services and products which need money to cater for. But, anyone dedicated to work and remains focused can’t find any troubles buying these niceties of life. Actually there are always so many tricks to owning fancy things in Denmark.
Cars in Denmark can’t be seen as mere luxury like in many other countries. In real sense, car ownership is a practical way that someone living in Denmark can manage personal schedules that don’t match the set public transport plans. For example, those working odd hours including night and late evening shifts may not easily catch the last available public means of transport. However, car ownership in Denmark is slightly higher when compared to other European regions. It has high prices in car registrations, which go up to 150% in the car market. Most people in Denmark resort to buying used cars, which are equally expensive in their maintenance and servicing. You will use 12000 to 20000 Danish Krone in a year to care for your vehicle in Denmark. These prices are for inspection, maintenance, servicing, taxes, and insurance.
Car Maintenance and servicing tips in Denmark
A close friend once confided in me that you could have a car, but without proper service or maintenance, it quickly becomes like having a beautiful flower but not watering it. It is just a matter of time that it suffers the tragic fate of death. Car owners need to consider regular servicing and maintenance to promote their cars’ long-term life and performance. It also helps in saving on the costs of car repairs.
Let us consider ways to consider maintaining and servicing our cars in Denmark.
Choose a reliable car insurer in Denmark
Damages and accidents are inevitable, no matter how careful you are. It would be best if you had a car insurer you can trust to ensure your car is protected during damage or an accident. Some of the essential types of car insurance in Denmark are liability insurance needed by the law, and comprehensive insurance, which is not necessarily required by the law in Denmark. Also, it is crucial only to select a car insurer that restores damaged parts with original ones.
Be watchful and careful when Driving in Denmark
When driving your car, do not speed up your engine when it is starting up. It can instantly contribute to the damage to the car engine. When you start driving, the acceleration should be slow. Then it would be best if you changed to neutral at red lights to allow the engine some time to cool.
Change engine oil and filter regularly
Most car owners in Denmark prefer raising the interval between oil shifts. However, recurrent oil changes clean meal pieces and coarse dirt from the engine hence extending the life of a car. It would be best if you changed the oil filters to remove the dirt and oil particles that can easily mix with the new and clean oil.
Take care of your tyres; they carry the entire weight of the car plus load
It is also essential to examine your car tyres regularly and inflate them to the required pressure recommended in your manual. Another aspect to consider is unequal damage. When you have well serviced the tyre pressure, unequal harm notes a period for wheel changeover. Unequal abrasion also includes damaged shock absorbers or brakes and internal tyre wear.
Clean the engine as much as possible to increase its health
You should also wash your engine at least once every year. A clean engine helps your car cool efficiently compared to a dirty one. Also, a clean engine lets you quickly notice leaks and fix their elements. In Denmark, car owners can prefer to have their engines steamed by experts or do it independently. On this note, they ensure they secure vital engine elements like electrical parts, distributor, and air intake with plastic bags before accelerating them. Car owners also use a grease-cutting cleaner and a brush to wash the engine. After the washing, it is essential to rinse it thoroughly.