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Boating in Denmark: foreign licences, insurance and alcohol rules
Boating in Denmark with a foreign licence works if your boat’s flag state recognises that licence, but not on Danish charter boats that require one. Fast boats also need liability insurance, and fixed alcohol rules apply.
Using a foreign licence in Denmark
- You may skipper in Danish waters with a foreign certificate if the boat is registered in a country that recognises it.[1]
- Foreign licences are not recognised for Danish registered boats that require one, so you cannot charter such a boat in Denmark with a foreign certificate. Approved providers can assess it as a route to a Danish licence.[1]
- A speedboat licence (speedbådsbevis) is needed for planing boats under 4 m from 19 kW (25 hp) and, depending on power, for boats of 4 to 15 m; the minimum age is 16.[2]
- Other leisure boats under 15 m need no licence, boats of 15 to under 24 m need a duelighedsbevis, and jet skis need their own licence.[3][4]
Insurance for speedboats and jet skis
- Foreign speedboats under 15 m and jet skis must have liability insurance in Danish waters if a comparable Danish boat would need a licence. Simple transit without calling at Danish ports or shores is exempt.[6]
- Only people covered by the policy may operate these boats, and cover follows the liability limits of the Danish Merchant Shipping Act (Søloven § 175).[6]
- According to ADAC (2019), the minimum cover is DKK 27 million for personal injury and DKK 13.5 million for property damage.[5]
Harbour fees
- According to ADAC, there are no charges for using Danish waterways; harbours charge mooring fees.[5]
Proof of insurance and other papers
- Where insurance is compulsory, the certificate must be on board while under way and shown on request. It states the hull number (HIN) and the names and addresses of insurer and policyholder.[6]
- According to ADAC, also carry your licence, registration papers, proof of ownership, an EU declaration of conformity for boats from 1998 and a radio certificate if needed.[5]
Lifejackets and safety equipment
- Outside harbour, every leisure boat must carry approved lifejackets or buoyancy aids that fit everyone on board (SOLAS or EU approval). The skipper is responsible.[7]
- Other safety equipment must suit the season, boat type, size and voyage; there is no fixed list. Whether this order binds visiting foreign boats has not been checked.[7]
Alcohol and jet ski rules
- A fixed limit of 0.5 per mille applies to boats of 15 m or more, licensed motorboats and jet skis. On other boats it is forbidden to operate if alcohol impairs safe handling.[8]
- In Danish internal waters such as harbours and fjords, the rules are enforced against foreign boats too. Fines are roughly one month’s net income times the per mille value, at least DKK 1,500.[8]
- Jet skis are banned from international nature reserves, wildlife reserves and protected sea areas, and within 300 m of the coast may only pass straight through at right angles at no more than 5 knots.[4]
- According to ADAC, harbour channels usually have a 3 knot limit.[5]
Towing a boat trailer in Denmark
- The European Commission gives 80 km/h for a car towing a trailer under 3.5 t in Denmark, on motorways and expressways as well as on other rural roads, and 50 km/h in towns.[10]
- Motorways and expressways allow 100 km/h if the towing car has ABS and weighs up to 3.5 t, the trailer is up to 3.5 t and suitable for 100 km/h, its tyres are at most 6 years old with a speed rating of at least 120 km/h and it carries a 100 km/h sticker. Whether foreign rigs can use this rule is not confirmed.[10]
- Storebælt bridge charges depend on the measured total length and height, including trailer, bike rack and tow bar; evening, weekend and holiday discounts apply only to vehicles under 6 m.[11]
Search and rescue contacts
Denmark checks proof of insurance on fast boats, so keep the certificate showing the HIN on board.
NAMMERT customers can get their liability confirmation in English.
Questions
Is my foreign licence valid in Denmark?
Yes, if your boat is registered in a country that recognises it. It is not accepted for Danish boats that require a licence.
Can I charter a boat in Denmark with a foreign licence?
Not a Danish boat that requires a licence, because foreign certificates are not recognised for those.
Do I need insurance for my boat in Denmark?
For speedboats under 15 m and jet skis that would need a licence in Denmark, yes, unless only passing through.
What are the alcohol rules for boats in Denmark?
0.5 per mille for boats of 15 m or more, licensed motorboats and jet skis; on other boats alcohol must not impair safe handling.
Sources
As of: 11 Oct 2026. Rules change. Check with the authorities of the country before you travel.
- Søfartsstyrelsen: Brug af udenlandske beviser i Danmark, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- Søfartsstyrelsen: Speedbådsbevis, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- Søfartsstyrelsen: Duelighedsbevis, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- Retsinformation: Bekendtgørelse Nr. 809 über Wassermotorräder und Badezonen, vom 09.08.2019, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- ADAC Skipper-Portal: Revier Dänemark, Stand Mai 2019, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- Retsinformation: Bekendtgørelse Nr. 462 über Haftpflicht für Speedboote unter 15 m und Wassermotorräder, vom 11.05.2018, in Kraft seit 15.05.2018, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- Søfartsstyrelsen: Order Nr. 1687 über Sicherheit beim Betrieb von Freizeitbooten (englische Übersetzung), Order vom 12.12.2016, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- Danish Maritime Authority: FAQ on sailing under the influence of alcohol, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- JRCC Denmark: SAR Cooperation Plan 2026, Ausgabe 2026, abgerufen 2026-10-11
- Europäische Kommission, Your Europe: Road rules and safety (Denmark), abgerufen 2026-10-11, Seite zuletzt geprüft 24/04/2025
- Sund & Bælt, Storebælt Prices, abgerufen 2026-10-11
