Private use of cars
Read about the options for registering an exemption or apply for a dispensation for the private use of cars.
Note that you can only register exemptions and apply for dispensation for cars from mid 2023.
You can only register an exemption for your car if:
- your vehicle is subject to the low emission zone rules and
- a particulate filter can’t be retrofitted
Exemption options
The exemption options give owners and users of diesel-powered cars, which will be subject to the low emission zone rules from 1st October 2023 onwards, the opportunity to obtain an exemption in a number of specific situations.
These exemptions are divided into the five categories below.
The first two exemption categories are time-limited and are only available for 12 months after the vehicle in question has become subject to the low-emission zone rules. Read all the exemption categories carefully before proceeding with registering an exception, and make sure you have all the necessary documentation ready.
Please note that the exemption takes effect immediately after you have completed the registration. If you register the exemption earlier than 1st October 2023 the exemption will take effect from 1st October 2023.
The five exemption categories:
Resident exemption – time-limited excemption
You can obtain a resident exemption if you were resident in an low emission zone before the date when your vehicle became subject to the low emission zone rules and an approved particulate filter can’t be retrofitted to your vehicle.
With the resident exemption, you can get an exemption for 12 months after your vehicle became subject to the low emission zone rules. The resident exemption only applies to the low emission zone in which you reside. In order to obtain an exemption, you must declare in good faith when registering that the information provided is correct
Six-entry punch card – time-limited exemption
You can obtain an exemption to access low emission zones six times for 24 hours in the 12 months from the date that your vehicle became subject to the low emission zone rules.
A maximum access duration of 24 hours applies to all low-emission zones. With this exemption category, the only criterion is that it’s not possible to retrofit a particulate filter to your vehicle. In order to obtain an exemption, you must declare in good faith when registering that the information provided is correct.
Visiting a hospital or a specialist
You can obtain an exemption if you or a close family member have been referred for treatment at a hospital or by a specialist with an address within a low emission zone, and an approved particulate filter can’t be retrofitted to your vehicle.
The exemption applies to the low emission zone where the hospital or specialist is located. In order to obtain an exemption, you must declare in good faith when registering that the information provided is correct.
Vehicles for the disabled – If you own a vehicle for the disabled
You can obtain an exemption if you own a vehicle for the disabled, which is in private use and an approved particulate filter can’t be retrofitted to your vehicle. As the owner of a disabled vehicle, the exemption applies for 24 months from the exemption registration.
A vehicle for the disabled is a vehicle for the purchase of which financial support has been granted in accordance with section 114 of the Danish Social Service Act, or which has been assigned a “vehicle for the disabled” permit in the Danish Vehicle Register (DMR). If your vehicle isn’t registered as a “vehicle for the disabled” in the Danish Vehicle Register, you must submit documentation of notified support for the purchase of the vehicle in accordance with section 114 of the Danish Social Service Act.
Night-time work – If you carry out night-time work within a low emission zone
You can obtain an exemption if you carry out night-time work within a low emission zone, and you can document this by submitting a declaration for night-time work from your employer. In addition, it’s a requirement that an approved particulate filter can’t be retrofitted to your vehicle.
The exemption for night-time work applies only between the hours of 20:00 and 10.00. A declaration of night-time work from your employer must be attached. The registration for night-time work is valid for six months, after which you must make a new registration of night-time work with a new declaration from your employer.
How to register an exemption
Have the necessary documentation ready when you’re registering for an exemption. You can be asked to provide/upload the following:
- The vehicle’s registration number
- Contact information
- Documentation for a power of attorney
- Documentation for the exemption category
Once the registration has been completed, you’ll receive a receipt after which you can log into the exemption portal and see which active exemptions have been registered for your vehicle.
If you are not the owner or user of the vehicle, please note that you need a power of attorney.
Please note that the exemption takes effect immediately after you have completed the registration. If you register the exemption earlier than 1st October 2023 the exemption will come into force 1st October 2023.
You can register an exception for your car digitally on this page from mid-2023.
Random checks
The Danish Environment Protection Agency conducts random checks of registrations, pursuant to section 28, subsection 2 of the Technical Low-Emission Zone Legislative Decree. Pursuant to section 26 of the Technical Low-Emission Zone Legislative Decree, the Danish Environment Protection Agency may decide that a registration of an exemption is not valid. This can happen if, in the course of checking the information provided, it turns out that the conditions for the exemption haven’t been met.
Dispensations
In special cases, it’s possible to get a dispensation from the rules for short periods of time.
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency can, upon application, grant a dispensation for vans where private use tax is paid in full or in part, if:
- an approved particulate filter cannot be fitted to the vehicle (requires documentation from a particulate filter fitter) and
- a public activity of societal interest cannot be carried out and
- the vehicle cannot be replaced with another vehicle and
- other circumstances speak for it, including that a dispensation will be of secondary importance for the environment and health
As an owner or user of a van, you can apply for dispensation from the requirement for a particulate filter if the requirement affects you in such a way that fulfilling the requirement would entail expropriation. An example of expropriation could be if the owner of a car is atypically severely affected financially.
You can apply for a dispensation for your car digitally on this page from mid-2023.
Please note
Please note that your application for dispensation does not automatically grant your vehicle access to the low emission zones. If you drive in a low emission zone while your application is being processed, you risk receiving an administrative fine.
You will receive a decision from the Danish Environment Protection Agency in your digital mailbox. It can take up to three months for the case to be processed, but the Danish Environment Protection Agency will endeavour to process your application as soon as possible.
