Danish driving licences valid for manual cars abroad after all

The Danish Road Traffic Authority has acknowledged that it gave incorrect information and confirmed to DR News that driving licences with code 148 are valid for both manual and automatic cars abroad.

The authority had previously stated on its website that holders of a code 148 licence could drive both types of car in Denmark, but only automatic cars abroad.

In a written response to DR News, the authority said it had updated its website before the holiday period but had not included the correct information about the national code.

Drivers with code 148 can drive cars with either manual or automatic transmission abroad under the same conditions as in Denmark, the authority said.

The code was introduced as part of a trial scheme that began on 1 July 2024. It allows driving school students to take their driving test and most of their lessons in an automatic car while still receiving a licence valid for both manual and automatic cars.

Students must complete seven lessons in a manual car during their training. In Denmark, driving instruction consists of 24 lessons, each lasting 45 minutes.

There had been uncertainty about whether the rules applied abroad, causing frustration among Danish driving instructors.