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Regulations and vehicles
Passenger cars

Rules for passenger cars

As of 1st October 2023, diesel-powered passenger cars must have a particulate filter or be at least Euro 5 in order to be used legally in the low emission zones. 

Non-Danish vehicles

Owners of non-Danish diesel-powered vehicles, which are registered the first time before the current date limits, must register the vehicle with documentation for the vehicle being fitted with a diesel particulate filter or the Euro standard in order for it to be used legally in the low emission zones.

You must register your vehicle no later than on the same day that you enter the low emission zone.

If you fail to register your passenger car with particulate filter, along with the required documentation mentioned below, you can be charged a fixed-penalty notice of 1.500 DKK.

It is possible to get the fixed-penalty reduced to 1.000 DKK if you subsequently forward documentation that the vehicle applies with the low emission zone rules.

Passenger cars that do not meet the date requirements and do not have a particulate filter or meet the Euro standard requirements do not have access to the low emission zones, and will be charged a penalty of DKK 1,500.

Does your vehicle comply the rules?

See here whether your vehicle complies with the low emission zone rules and can be used legally in the low emission zones now and after 1st October 2023.

The particulate filter requirement is met in case your passenger car is at least Euro 5 or has a particulate filter fitted. In the Danish Vehicle Register (DMR) is it possible for owners of Danish vehicles to see the Euro standard of your car or whether it has a particulate filter fitted. For non-Danish vehicles, the information will often appear on the registration certificate or in the respective country's vehicle register.

The rules apply to both Danish and Non-Danish passenger cars.

 

The fixed-penalty for passenger cars used illegally in the Danish low emission zones is DKK 1,500.

Can your passenger car get a particulate filter?

See here whether your vehicle can get an approved, open particulate filter.

Retrofitting a particulate filter in Danish passenger cars

You must contact a workshop if you want to retrofit a diesel particulate filter to your passenger car. Once the filter is fitted, it must be registered by an inspection centre. At the inspection centre, the filter is tested, and the inspection centre also ensures that the filter is registered in the Danish Vehicle Register (DMR).

There are no requirements for the type of particulate filter that must be fitted to a vehicle in order for it to meet the low emission zone requirements. Passenger cars may get booth open and closed particulate filters retrofitted.

Please, note that not all particulate filters are approved for all car models, which is why some passenger cars may need to be retrofitted with a more expensive, closed particulate filter if they are to be used in the low emission zones.

Open particulate filters are cheaper than closed filters, but they do not filtrate equally efficient. If approved for your vehicle, open particulate filters can usually be ordered and installed by a mechanic, while closed particulate filters must be ordered from specialist particulate filter fitters and can be installed on the vast majority of vehicles.

If your car gets a particulate filter, you will be able to save DKK 1,000 in taxes per year.

The detailed rules for retrofitting particulate filters for passenger cars are laid down in:

Incorrect registration

If your passenger car has a factory-fitted or retrofitted particulate filter that is not properly registered, you can have it registered by taking it for an inspection. You can read more on the Danish Road Traffic Authority’s website.

If your passenger car cannot get a particulate filter

If your passenger car cannot get a particulate filter retrofitted, you can in special cases register an exemption or apply for a dispensation.

 

The rules in the low emission zones do not apply to:

  • Vehicles registered in Denmark as vintage. This must be stated in the Danish Vehicle Register (DMR).

  • Non-Danish vehicles, which are more than 30 years old.

  • Vehicles used by the military, police, emergency services or similar emergency services, if these vehicles do not usually drive in a low emission zone and there is an extraordinary need to use the vehicle in a low emission zone, or the vehicle is used for training activities.

Cleaner air in the cities

The new low emission zone requirements for diesel-powered passenger cars help ensure cleaner air in the major cities.

As of 1st October 2023, it will no longer be legal to use diesel-powered passenger cars without a particulate filter in the low emission zones in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense. See a map of the low emission zones here.

The municipalities have decided to sharpen the low emission zone requirements after a legislative amendment in the Danish Parliament on 22nd March 2022 made it possible for the municipalities to include diesel-powered passenger cars in the low emission zone regulations.

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