Buying or importing? The fairy tale of the Danish luxury tax
You hear it all the time: Denmark has a luxury tax. People are always talking about the import tax for vehicles into Denmark if you want to live there. Let me be clear right away: there is no luxury tax here at all. And it's nonsense to say this money goes directly into modernizing roads. Like almost all taxes, the money simply ends up in the big state coffers.
But of course, it's interesting to know what "the German's dearest possession" costs when you bring it to Denmark. I bought a new Fiat 500 Cabrio in 2019, for example. Beautiful sky blue – my "Mister Blue Sky." Built in 2018.
We asked ourselves back then: should we bring it with us or not? I absolutely wanted to have it. I was the first owner, the car was accident-free and didn't even have a dent. In Germany, I might have gotten maybe €12,000 for it. But in Denmark, I would never have found an equivalent car for that money. I would have had to buy a used vehicle with an unknown history. So it was clear: "Mister Blue Sky" was coming with us! The fun ended up costing us €8,500 in taxes – to be paid directly before I got my Danish license plates at the inspection (Synshal).
What does importing cost in 2026? The bare facts
If you're thinking about bringing your vehicle with you today, you need to budget for the so-called Registreringsafgift (registration fee). This is not calculated based on the purchase price you paid back then, but on the current market value in Denmark.
The rates for 2026 are graduated and they're substantial:
- 25% for the value portion up to approximately 76,400 DKK
- 85% for the value portion between 76,400 DKK and 237,400 DKK
- 150% for everything above that
In addition, there's been a CO2 surcharge recently. The more your car emits, the more expensive it gets. For a regular petrol or diesel car, that can quickly mean a few thousand kroner extra.
Motorcycles, motorhomes and trailers
Not everything is taxed as heavily as the classic car:
- Motorcycles: Similar percentages apply here (25/85/150%), but the thresholds are lower. If you bring your beloved bike, you often pay proportionally about the same as with a car.
- Motorhomes (Autocampere): These are taxed like cars, but there are often special minimum tax rates of around 45% if they meet certain equipment criteria.
- Caravans & trailers: Good news here! For normal caravans and trailers, there is no registration fee. You only pay the fees for the technical inspection (Toldsyn) and the license plates.
Electric cars: The last bit of the bonus?
If you have an e-car, 2026 is a transitional year. For a long time, e-cars were almost tax-free, but fees are now being gradually increased. There's still a generous exemption (approximately 161,300 DKK in 2026), but the "free import" is a thing of the past.
My advice to you
Work it out carefully beforehand! The Motorstyrelsen website (the Danish vehicle authority) has calculators that give a rough estimate.
Consider:
1. What is my car worth in Germany? 2. What does a comparable car cost in Denmark (check bilbasen.dk)? 3. Am I emotionally attached to the car and do I know its condition (like I do with my "Mister Blue Sky")?
Often, importing is worthwhile, especially with well-maintained used cars, because the Danish used car market is simply insanely expensive. But be prepared: no money, no Danish license plates!
