Cycling in Denmark: the rules, and how to buy a used bike without getting scammed

Do you need a bike in Denmark?

Nobody will make you buy one, but most people here get around by bike, and a bicycle is a vehicle under the Road Traffic Act - with equipment rules and fines attached Færdselsstyrelsen.

What kit does the law require on a bike?

A two-wheeled bike may be at most 3.5 metres long and 1 metre wide, and it must have at least two independent brake systems. It must also carry Færdselsstyrelsen:

• A white reflector visible from the front, and a red reflector visible from behind.
• At least two yellow reflectors that move as the bike moves, usually on the pedals, visible from behind.
• On each wheel, a yellow side reflector or white reflective tyre or rim sides.
• A front light giving white or yellowish light, and a rear light giving red light, both visible from at least 300 metres.

The bell must sit on the handlebar and cannot be replaced by a horn or anything else noisy Sikker Trafik. Lights must be on from sunset to sunrise and must not dazzle other road users Sikker Trafik.

What are the rules of the road for cyclists?

Cyclists follow much the same rules as drivers Sikker Trafik.

• Use the cycle path or cycle lane where one exists. If there is none, keep to the right of the carriageway.
• Obey lights and signs. No turning right on red unless a sign permits it, and no riding against a one-way street.
• Give hand signals when you turn or stop.
• Two abreast is allowed if there is room and it does not inconvenience traffic; fall into single file if someone signals to overtake.
• No handheld phone. A phone in a mount or used by voice control is fine. Music is legal, but keep one ear free.
• Keep both feet on the pedals and one hand on the handlebar, and do not hold on to another vehicle.
• Not on the pavement, and not through a pedestrian crossing unless you get off and push.
• Secure children properly in a seat designed to carry them, including in cargo bikes.
• There is no fixed alcohol limit for cyclists, but you may not cycle if you are too drunk to do it safely.

Are helmets compulsory in Denmark?

No. Denmark has no helmet requirement for adults or children Sikker Trafik. Nearly every adult you see without one is doing nothing illegal.

Helmets are still the single most useful thing you can buy, and any helmet sold here must be CE-marked Færdselsstyrelsen.

What is a stelnummer, and why does it matter?

The stelnummer is the frame number stamped into the bike. Danish numbers are one to five letters, then at least one digit, ending in a letter - for example ABC1234A - and the police register holds Danish numbers of up to 19 characters Politi.

It identifies your bike if it is stolen, and insurers treat it as a precondition for a theft claim, which is why the police ask for it Politi. Find yours under the bottom bracket where the pedals are, or on the seat tube; on e-bikes with a centre motor it is often stamped on the motor plate. Note it down and photograph it.

How do you check a used bike is not stolen?

This takes two minutes. Never skip it.

1. Find the frame number on the bike.
2. Enter it in the police bike register Politi.
3. If it shows as reported stolen, walk away and tell the police.
4. If the number is missing, ground off, or longer than 19 characters, be more careful: the register cannot check imported or over-long numbers, so no match proves nothing.

Police can also stop cyclists at random to check whether a bike is reported stolen, so riding one is a real risk even if nobody reports you Politi.

How do you buy a used bike without getting scammed?

Buy in person, in daylight, and do these things:

1. Check the frame number in the police register first Politi.
2. Ask for photo ID, and check the name matches the receipt you are about to write.
3. Insist on a slutseddel - a short receipt with the frame number, brand, model, price, date, and both signatures. Insurers expect this if the bike is later stolen.
4. Take all the keys to the lock. A seller with one spare key and a story about the rest is a warning sign.
5. Test brakes, gears, lights and bell, and look for cracks around frame joints and welds.
6. On an e-bike, ask for the charger and the battery’s age. A replacement battery can cost more than the bike.
7. Refuse any story that dodges the register: “no papers”, “bought it from a friend”, “the number is hard to read”.

Bike shops sell refurbished bikes with a warranty and a receipt, which is worth the extra money if you cannot judge a frame yourself Cyklistforbundet.

What does a used bike cost in 2026?

Treat any figure as indicative. A basic used city bike on DBA often sells for a few hundred kroner up to a couple of thousand, while branded bikes, cargo bikes and e-bikes hold their value and routinely cost several thousand DBA.

The practical differences matter more than the headline price. New tyres, a chain, a lock and a service can add DKK 1,000 or more to a cheap bike, so a slightly dearer bike in good condition is often the better buy. Budget for a proper lock too, because insurers usually require one approved by Dansk Varefakta Nævn If.

What do you do if you discover the bike was stolen?

Stop using it immediately. Buying or handling stolen goods is hæleri, a criminal offence, and it does not matter that you did not know.

Contact the police on 114, explain where and when you bought it, and hand it over. Keep the receipt and any messages with the seller: they help the police and support your account Politi. If it is your own bike that was stolen, report it with the frame number and then claim on your insurance Politi.

What about insurance, winter and parking?

Your contents insurance (indboforsikring) normally covers bike theft and vandalism up to a set amount per bike, but only if the bike was locked with an approved lock and the theft was reported to the police If.

Winter cycling is normal here and cycle paths are cleared with the roads. What goes wrong is equipment: batteries die in the cold, lights fail and salt eats chains. Service the bike in autumn, fit winter tyres, and check your lights weekly - riding without them is the most common fine Cyklistforbundet.

Park in the racks outside stations, shops and workplaces. Do not leave a bike blocking a doorway or leaning on a wall: municipalities tag and remove bikes obstructing public space.

What it costs and how long it takes

Common mistakes

• Buying without checking the frame number. The register is free and the seller is not always honest.
• Accepting a bike with no receipt. You lose your insurance cover and any defence if it turns out stolen.
• Forgetting lights in autumn. The rules bite when days shorten and police run light campaigns.
• Riding on the pavement or holding the phone. Both are fines here, unlike in many home countries.

If something goes wrong

If you are stopped for something you believe you did not do, stay calm and ask for the officer’s details. The fines come from the Road Traffic Act and are published by the cyclists’ association, so you can check the tariff yourself Cyklistforbundet.

If your bike is stolen, report it to the police on 114 or online with the frame number, then claim on your contents insurance Politi. If your bike is removed while parked, contact your municipality, which holds abandoned bikes for a set period before disposal.