Car renting in Denmark as a Foreigner

Transport in Denmark is probably a topic that is likely of great interest to an expat moving to the country or just visiting for a short time. While the public transport system is well developed to include trains and buses, their route plan may not be so suitable to someone who wants to do everything within their own timing. Imagine having to wait for 20 minutes before the next bus comes or being at the train station for another hour waiting for a connecting train. This can be annoying if not nauseating, yeah? So the solution would be car renting which gives more flexibility and time saving. 

Talking of having a private car to move around Denmark calls for the question, how? Here is where the real detail goes. As you may have already read somewhere, buying a new car or second hand car in Denmark may be costly if the intention is to only use it for a short time. Instead, hire or rent a car for the period that suits your stay or planned trip around Denmark. After the expiry of that period, you will return the car and it will be kept standing waiting for the next customer. This will be a great way to pull up a boss-like lifestyle with great convenience to admire. 

Maybe, it would be of interest for you to know a thing or two about Best Cars to Buy as a First Time Car Owner

Drive in style aboard a Rented car in Denmark

When you visit or move to one of the happiest countries in the world, you will need to explore as many places as you can. Denmark is an amazing place to drive around in. You will encounter some of the safest roads in Europe if not worldwide. What’s more is that the drivers are also very friendly. 

The Danish government is very invested in developing some of the best public infrastructure. Thus, their roads are often in good condition and remain well-maintained all year round. So, lucky for you because your drive is likely to be very pleasurable. Let’s take a look at how you can go about renting a car in Denmark. 

The bad news is, Denmark’s high living costs make renting a car in the country very expensive. Especially since you’ll have to fuel the car yourself. So, while driving yourself could be convenient it isn’t exactly the cheapest way to move around. Make sure you have a good plan and a budget that can cover your rental costs. It could also help to weigh your options some more. 

I would recommend renting a car only if you are traveling to places away from large cities like Copenhagen. You will incur extra costs since parking can be very expensive. This is probably why you are seeing so many cyclists on the road.  But I’m assuming you have already considered all these because you are reading this article. So let’s find you a car so that you can set off on your amazing trip.

What you need to know about Renting a Car in Denmark  

As a foreigner who has just landed in Denmark, lets say Copenhagen city, the metro transport system may be a good way to move around. Also, you can easily cycle for short distances inside the city or if convenience is needed, take a Copenhagen taxi. This pretty much reflects the choices that expats have to make each day. But then with a properly recognised driving licence in Denmark, renting a car would be the best alternative so that you may self drive.

If you have a valid driver’s license from any EU country, Iceland, Norway,the Faroe Islands or Liechtenstein then you can drive in Denmark. However, if you are from a non-EU country you are only allowed to drive for 90 days. 

 To rent a car in Denmark, you must be at least 21 years old. But you’ll only be allowed to rent if you have had a license for more than a year. Also, as a foreigner, you will be asked to provide a valid passport before you can rent a car. You should also have a major credit card in your name. Foreigners whose driver’s license is not written in Danish or English are asked to present an international DL. 

I should probably let you know that if you are below 25 years, you will pay a young driver surcharge. This charge could be 125 DKK per day up to a maximum of 1250 DKK for every rental. Furthermore, you can rent any car category if you are this age except Standard Van, Full Size, Premium, and Luxury categories. 

How much it will cost you to rent a car will depend on several factors such as;

• Type of car
• Seasonality
• Additional insurance and protection products included in reservation
• Other add-ons such as Wi-fi access, GPS, child seats, and ski racks
• Whether the car is picked up and dropped off at the same location or domestic one-way
• Number of additional drivers

Where to rent a car in Denmark

The good news is you can find all the main international car rental companies in Denmark. Examples include Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget and Europcar. You can find their offices at Copenhagen airport. So you don’t have to concern yourself so much with where to rent the car. 

As I mentioned earlier, renting a car in Denmark is an expensive affair. You will likely pay 1500–2000 DKK for a week’s rental with the rental companies we mentioned. The simplest way to rent a car in Denmark is by visiting out Sixt or RentalCars. They will look at the nearest car rental companies and give you a quick quote. 

However, RentalCars is slightly cheaper but has a customer care that is inferior to Sixt. The great thing about using these two is that they’ll compare rates for you. They are also convenient because they have 24/7 support and great reviews. With them you are assured of accessing the lowest rate. Finally, they are very reputable when it comes to car hire in Denmark. So don’t stress. 

How to Cut the Costs for Renting a Car in Denmark 

As a foreigner I know you are really big on cutting costs as much as you can. One way to do that is by renting your car from an individual. There are many people in Denmark who advertise their private cars for rent. The most common vehicles at your disposable include, a Skoda Fabia for under 200 DKK a day and a Mercedes van for 650 DKK.

You should also be on the lookout for budget car rental companies that advertise cheap rates. The problem with them is that they will take you through a hard sale when you pick up your car. The best thing for you is to say no to all the extra insurance and upgrades they suggest. If you need to insist on your own child seat, use the GPS on your phone, and only ask for one named driver.

Finally, you can also save costs by taking out an annual excess insurance policy before you decide to rent a car. You can research car hire excess insurance online to see the available options. Most rental companies will cover this with you. In most cases, they ask you to take out an insurance cover. It will help you to lower extra costs in case of an accident. It usually costs approximately £8 a day.