Ten things for foreigners to know when learning to drive in Denmark
Foreign residents from outside the EU are sometimes required to learn and take a driving test in Denmark – even if they can already drive. We asked driving instructors and foreign drivers in Denmark for their best advice.
Do a bit of homework
A bit of home study and focus on technical aspects – which may be different from other countries where you have driving experience – can set you on your way, according to both an instructor and a testee.
“Starting from attending the theory classes, a consistent focus on the technical instructions when you are driving with your instructor is extremely important”, Martin Kremmling, a driving instructor from Næstved, told The Local.
“I found the driving licence handbook very helpful, especially when I had to understand the uniquely Danish technical and theoretical aspects of driving,” Kiama Chola, a Kenyan expat who previously held an American driving licence, said.
Rosa Camero, a Mexican native who had driven for almost two decades prior to moving to Denmark, said it was like starting from scratch. “What helped me pass my theory test was taking online tests every single day,” she said.
Prepare yourself psychologically
Getting started on your journey to getting a driving licence in Denmark requires preparing oneself psychologically.
“When you are behind the wheel of a car, your mental strength is what will help you in driving safely and efficiently,” says Kremmling.
Learn to drive from the passenger’s seat
Unlike in many other countries, Denmark does not allow a learner’s permit that allows students to continue practising their driving with a parent or someone with a valid driver’s licence. Therefore, many students have to pay to drive with their instructors
“Understandably, the process of getting a driver’s licence in Denmark is expensive. But, a student can learn by just being a passenger,” says Kremmling.
“If you can sit in the passenger’s seat and see how the driver prepares and manoeuvres, it will go a long way in helping when you are behind the steering wheel”.
Maya Pandya, an Indian native who moved to Denmark, agrees.
“It helped me to observe and learn while sitting next to my husband as he drove, especially changing speeds from the highways to city limits, and at the roundabouts,” she said.
Find the driving school and the language of instruction that is best for you
“I had to find the right school and instructor before investing my time and money in getting my driver’s licence,” Hina Akram, who moved from Pakistan to Copenhagen, told The Local.
Akram chose Urdu to be the language of instruction and tests. While this was helpful in overcoming the language barrier, she notes that some terms don’t have exact translations from Danish.
Some Danish schools offer driving instructions in various languages – this will often be stated on the school’s website, or you can call them to find out. When taking the practical test, if a foreign language is chosen, a translator will have to be hired at an extra fee of around 1,000 kroner.
READ ALSO: What to know about taking the Danish driving test as a foreigner
Communication is key
Open communication is key to success, according to some who learned to drive in Denmark after moving here.
“My first driving school and instructor were not a good fit for me, as I could not fully understand them. It changed when I changed my school and instructor, whom I could understand and ask any question, no matter how silly it may have sounded,” Chola says.
Driving instructor Deniz Cicek said he modifies his teaching based on his student’s level of manoeuvring.
“For some of my foreign students, I had to begin with teaching them to manoeuvre a shopping trolley before letting them sit behind the steering wheel”, says Cicek.
Civek said he uses videos on TikTok and YouTube to engage his students and for them to take note of driving safely while learning how to master the theory and road tests.
READ ALSO: How and when should I exchange my foreign driving licence for a Danish one?
Respect and acknowledge uniquely Danish road safety needs
“Despite being from the EU, driving in Denmark - especially in Copenhagen - is quite different,” said Kristel, an Estonian who moved from London. She had to be especially aware of the biking lanes and bikers in Denmark.
“I encourage my foreign students, especially those from outside of Europe, to understand key signs on the road, arrows and lanes that they may not be familiar with, before getting started,” Kremmling said, adding that he encourages his students to begin with cycling to understand traffic and develop better judgement around safe driving.
“I was learning new terms for the first time. For instance, ‘unconditional give way duty’. I worked with my instructor to really understand how it plays out while driving,” Pandya said.
Remember “mirror-mirror-shoulder”
Every instructor will tell their students this well before they turn the ignition.
“Checking your rear-view mirror, the side mirror, and looking over your shoulder should become natural for every driver,” says Kremmling.
This is echoed by Cicek. “The mirror-mirror-shoulder check is probably the most important thing in a practical exam. Every practical test examiner will be looking at you if you have checked your mirrors and looked over your shoulder”, he says.
“Road safety is taken seriously and being meticulous is the way to being a safe and successful driver in Denmark. Especially so in the city centres, where there are many cyclists on the side lanes – so one has to be extra vigilant,” Chola notes.
Try not to stress about the exam
“Most of my foreign students who fail their exams seem to be taken over by stress,” says Kremmling.
One way to avoid this is prioritisation, according to Camero.
“It can be overwhelming and stressful to remember everything at once. So, I prioritised based on what I saw on online tests and what my driving instructor said would be important. That helped a lot,” she said.
Another way is to imagine driving with your instructor.
“For your practical test, it can be nerve-wracking for foreign students to be driving with someone they are meeting for the first time. I always suggest that they imagine that they are driving with their driving instructor, with whom they have established a comfort level,” Cicek says.
Use online resources to prepare
Several sites offer practice theory tests. These include Teoriklar, Sikkertrafik and Bedrebilist.
“It is worth investing in as it helped me pass my theory after having been unsuccessful without these online tests two previous times,” says Pandya.
Know that the practical test evaluators are on your side
At the end of it all, both Kremmling and Cicek emphasise that students need not fear test evaluators but consider them as allies in their process.
“They are nice and there to help”, says Cicek.
Kremmling echoes the same sentiment: “the evaluators are experienced and understand how stressful this can be, particularly for a foreign student.”
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Do a bit of homework
A bit of home study and focus on technical aspects – which may be different from other countries where you have driving experience – can set you on your way, according to both an instructor and a testee.
“Starting from attending the theory classes, a consistent focus on the technical instructions when you are driving with your instructor is extremely important”, Martin Kremmling, a driving instructor from Næstved, told The Local.
“I found the driving licence handbook very helpful, especially when I had to understand the uniquely Danish technical and theoretical aspects of driving,” Kiama Chola, a Kenyan expat who previously held an American driving licence, said.
Rosa Camero, a Mexican native who had driven for almost two decades prior to moving to Denmark, said it was like starting from scratch. “What helped me pass my theory test was taking online tests every single day,” she said.
Prepare yourself psychologically
Getting started on your journey to getting a driving licence in Denmark requires preparing oneself psychologically.
“When you are behind the wheel of a car, your mental strength is what will help you in driving safely and efficiently,” says Kremmling.
Learn to drive from the passenger’s seat
Unlike in many other countries, Denmark does not allow a learner’s permit that allows students to continue practising their driving with a parent or someone with a valid driver’s licence. Therefore, many students have to pay to drive with their instructors
“Understandably, the process of getting a driver’s licence in Denmark is expensive. But, a student can learn by just being a passenger,” says Kremmling.
“If you can sit in the passenger’s seat and see how the driver prepares and manoeuvres, it will go a long way in helping when you are behind the steering wheel”.
Maya Pandya, an Indian native who moved to Denmark, agrees.
“It helped me to observe and learn while sitting next to my husband as he drove, especially changing speeds from the highways to city limits, and at the roundabouts,” she said.
Find the driving school and the language of instruction that is best for you
“I had to find the right school and instructor before investing my time and money in getting my driver’s licence,” Hina Akram, who moved from Pakistan to Copenhagen, told The Local.
Akram chose Urdu to be the language of instruction and tests. While this was helpful in overcoming the language barrier, she notes that some terms don’t have exact translations from Danish.
Some Danish schools offer driving instructions in various languages – this will often be stated on the school’s website, or you can call them to find out. When taking the practical test, if a foreign language is chosen, a translator will have to be hired at an extra fee of around 1,000 kroner.
READ ALSO: What to know about taking the Danish driving test as a foreigner
Communication is key
Open communication is key to success, according to some who learned to drive in Denmark after moving here.
“My first driving school and instructor were not a good fit for me, as I could not fully understand them. It changed when I changed my school and instructor, whom I could understand and ask any question, no matter how silly it may have sounded,” Chola says.
Driving instructor Deniz Cicek said he modifies his teaching based on his student’s level of manoeuvring.
“For some of my foreign students, I had to begin with teaching them to manoeuvre a shopping trolley before letting them sit behind the steering wheel”, says Cicek.
Civek said he uses videos on TikTok and YouTube to engage his students and for them to take note of driving safely while learning how to master the theory and road tests.
READ ALSO: How and when should I exchange my foreign driving licence for a Danish one?
Respect and acknowledge uniquely Danish road safety needs
“Despite being from the EU, driving in Denmark - especially in Copenhagen - is quite different,” said Kristel, an Estonian who moved from London. She had to be especially aware of the biking lanes and bikers in Denmark.
“I encourage my foreign students, especially those from outside of Europe, to understand key signs on the road, arrows and lanes that they may not be familiar with, before getting started,” Kremmling said, adding that he encourages his students to begin with cycling to understand traffic and develop better judgement around safe driving.
“I was learning new terms for the first time. For instance, ‘unconditional give way duty’. I worked with my instructor to really understand how it plays out while driving,” Pandya said.
Remember “mirror-mirror-shoulder”
Every instructor will tell their students this well before they turn the ignition.
“Checking your rear-view mirror, the side mirror, and looking over your shoulder should become natural for every driver,” says Kremmling.
This is echoed by Cicek. “The mirror-mirror-shoulder check is probably the most important thing in a practical exam. Every practical test examiner will be looking at you if you have checked your mirrors and looked over your shoulder”, he says.
“Road safety is taken seriously and being meticulous is the way to being a safe and successful driver in Denmark. Especially so in the city centres, where there are many cyclists on the side lanes – so one has to be extra vigilant,” Chola notes.
Try not to stress about the exam
“Most of my foreign students who fail their exams seem to be taken over by stress,” says Kremmling.
One way to avoid this is prioritisation, according to Camero.
“It can be overwhelming and stressful to remember everything at once. So, I prioritised based on what I saw on online tests and what my driving instructor said would be important. That helped a lot,” she said.
Another way is to imagine driving with your instructor.
“For your practical test, it can be nerve-wracking for foreign students to be driving with someone they are meeting for the first time. I always suggest that they imagine that they are driving with their driving instructor, with whom they have established a comfort level,” Cicek says.
Use online resources to prepare
Several sites offer practice theory tests. These include Teoriklar, Sikkertrafik and Bedrebilist.
“It is worth investing in as it helped me pass my theory after having been unsuccessful without these online tests two previous times,” says Pandya.
Know that the practical test evaluators are on your side
At the end of it all, both Kremmling and Cicek emphasise that students need not fear test evaluators but consider them as allies in their process.
“They are nice and there to help”, says Cicek.
Kremmling echoes the same sentiment: “the evaluators are experienced and understand how stressful this can be, particularly for a foreign student.”
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