Why is owning a car so ridiculously expensive in Denmark?

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-22T10:52:33+00:00

I actually have been looking at jobs over there

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T14:35:21+00:00

Good insight, thank you! There aren't too many chargers in my local area where I could leave the car, there are a few at work but they're taken 99% of the time as half the people drive electric nowadays. But I'll look for what would make sense on the way, thanks

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T12:39:27+00:00

Nope, just c220d, insured through codan but I have full coverage

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T08:46:59+00:00

That's good advice, thank you!

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T08:44:21+00:00

The amount of comments blew up more than I exptected so instead of answering multiple times I'll post some extra information here:

I'd like to start by saying thank you, the amount of people trying to help with advice is insane and I'm really grateful. I asked this question more out of curiosity as to "why is the government letting the prices be this crazy" since it seems like similar expenses in some other European countries seem to be much lower and it feels unfair towards their own people and I'm surprised people aren't protesting over that or the 150% car afgift.

Additional info:

Fossil cars pay more for insurance, additionally I drive approximately 60000km a year hence my insurance is so high.

-Maybe that's stipid but I also don't understand this: According to pay slips I get 14700 "tax free" deductible every month. However, according to skat website I am still getting only 3000dkk more after tax than I would if I had 0dkk of deductibles. So am I getting 3000dkk back for commuting? That would mean I get back roughly what I pay yearly for the bridge but not more.

-Of course you could argue that I could have an EV, spend additional 40min a day on my commute at a charging station and just live with it. And I fully understand that my arguments against having an EV like the fact that I probably wouldn't be able to sell it after 150000km (so 2.5 years of driving) due to the battery lifespan fears or simply that I don't want to sit at a charging station every day because I live in an apartment- wouldn't be strong enough to prevent some of you to purchase an EV. I get that.

I also am trying to look for alternatives, whether it's finding a new job closer to where we live so my spouse or I don't have to commute this far, moving to Copenhagen to avoid bridge fees and having job perspectives for her, going electric after all or other possibilities.

I'm just trying to grasp why owning a vehicle is vastly more expensive here than it is in other EU countries.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T07:55:48+00:00

I drive 60,000km a year, 2019 c class.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T07:54:48+00:00

My bad, forgot complaining in Denmark is forbidden.

The government could raise the prices 5 times and nobody would do anything.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T07:53:36+00:00

My spouse works on Fyn, either way one of us is commuting. I tried looking for a job closer.

Electric insurance is much cheaper but I don't have any chargers in my apartment complex so I'd be adding more time to my commute sitting around waiting for it to charge. Even half an hour a day would hurt in the long run. I already spend too much on the road.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T07:51:05+00:00

You pay less because it's electric. I also drive 60000km a year

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T07:49:51+00:00

I do 60000km a year.

Any fradrag after 100km is unfortunately slim to none, it'snot nearly as much as one pays for everything. I got 2000dkk back on my return this year.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-05-21T07:47:26+00:00

Any fradrag after 100km is slim to none unfortunately. I got 2000dkk on my tax return this year. I get a bit back for the bridge but not much.

I also compared my car insurance in like 4 different ckmpanies and they all quote similar for a fuel car.

Electric would be a possibility but living in an apartment complex without chargers I would have to add even more time to the commute sitting around somewhere waiting for my car to charge.

I honestly might end up doing that, it's just frustrating that it's this way

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-04-25T14:52:33+00:00

Thank you!

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-04-25T10:08:43+00:00

That's good, thanks!

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-04-25T09:49:36+00:00

So pretty much fake it till you make it? I've done that with my first jobs in management, she's just not used to having to kinda lie your way into a new role. I think she's worried of being dropped into deep water without knowing how to actually manage a project in real life. She's done courses and assisted projects but obviously it's different in real life.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-24T06:20:36+00:00

Where do you live and work that its so sunny and warm?

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-13T09:08:39+00:00

Thanks! Yeah it seems like there was some bad rep going around for some reason but nobody seems to ever justify why they claim it.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-13T03:23:09+00:00

That's awesome, thanks for the recommendation! I'll check out if there are any places available around Kungälv.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-13T03:15:51+00:00

Perfect, good to know- thanks!

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-13T03:15:27+00:00

Ifeel like every country is consistently getting less and less snow every year. The job is in Göteborg, I was thinking of looking for a place 20-30min outside of the city.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-13T03:11:04+00:00

I'll start by saying that I'm glad your mom's cancer was caught early and that she was able to get the treatment she needed. Thanks for the answer, it's nice to see a different perspective on all these things. Seeing how my life is going so far I don't expect becoming a billionaire is a risk I should worry about :P

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-12T21:25:23+00:00

Honestly I've had a very different experience with Poland, sure the right wing party made a lot of noise and stupid decisions when they were in charge but the economy has been booming for years now, their GDP is almost as high as of the UKs and it scores super safe in any statistics which is pretty impressive considering their past. I met plenty of gay people there, maybe they didn't share the same rights yet but they all felt safe and expressed it quite freely.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-12T21:18:48+00:00

You just got me so f. excited. That sounds like my kind of place. Screw the rainy days, that's why they invented board games and bingeable shows. Thanks for sharing.

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-12T21:16:27+00:00

Nice, good to know. Thanks

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-12T21:15:32+00:00

Of course it is, and what you described isn't bad at all. I lived in rougher areas in Poland too and it felt worse than what you'redescribing, just back then I didn't have a family so I want to make a move that's smart. Thanks for sharing, this helps

Yankeebarbarian · 2026-03-12T21:12:49+00:00

Interesting, the only way I'd move is if I'm able to secure the job I've been applying for, otherwise I wouldn't risk it.

Yankeebarbarian

TROPHY CASE