Van driver certificate in Denmark: who needs it, the 3-day course and the 2026 tachograph rule
Parcel distribution is one of the most common ways to start driving professionally in Denmark, and most of it happens in vans on a regular B licence. What many new drivers do not know is that Denmark has its own qualification for van drivers who carry goods for others. If it applies to your route, you need it before your first shift.
Who needs the van driver certificate
You need a varebilschaufføruddannelsesbevis when all three of these apply:
- You transport goods for hire or reward, that is for someone else (in Danish, "for fremmed regning"), not your own goods
- The van, or the van and trailer together, has a permitted total weight between 2,500 and 3,500 kg
- You carry items weighing more than 11 kg each
You still drive on your normal category B licence. The certificate is an addition to it, not a different licence.
Drivers who hold the driver qualification certificate for trucks (the chaufføruddannelsesbevis with code 95) automatically have the same rights and do not need a separate van certificate. Færdselsstyrelsen can also exempt experienced drivers who can document at least two years as a van driver, as their main occupation, between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2019.
The basic course
- At least three days (22 hours), including at least four hours of first aid
- Taken with a training provider approved by Færdselsstyrelsen
- Ends with a written test that Færdselsstyrelsen sets and runs electronically
- The certificate itself is issued free of charge
Training providers usually list it as "Grundlæggende kvalifikation for varebilschauffør".
Once you have the certificate, carry it whenever you drive and show it to the police if they ask.
Renewal every five years
The certificate is valid for five years. To keep it, you complete at least two days (15 hours) of periodic training, again including at least four hours of first aid. The training can be split into one-day courses of at least seven consecutive hours, completed within three months. There is no exam.
New in 2026: tachographs in international van transport
From 1 July 2026, vans over 2.5 tonnes that carry goods internationally must have a tachograph installed. Drivers on those routes must follow the EU driving and rest time rules and use their own driver card in the tachograph, as truck drivers do. The change concerns international transport.
What employers usually ask for
- A category B driving licence
- The van driver certificate, or a date for when you take the course
- A Danish tax card before your first payday, because without one 55% tax is withheld from your pay (see how to get one)
How DriverJobs.dk can help
DriverJobs.dk is run by Clever Recruiting, a Danish recruitment agency (CR Recruiting Group ApS, CVR 46664426). Applying is free and takes about two minutes, and we get back to you within 24 hours. Tell us which licence and certificates you have when you apply, and we tell you what each route requires before you accept it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a B licence enough to drive a delivery van in Denmark?
A category B licence covers vans up to 3,500 kg. But if you transport goods for hire or reward in a van with a permitted total weight of 2,500 to 3,500 kg and carry items heavier than 11 kg, you also need the van driver certificate.
How long is the van driver course?
The basic course lasts at least three days (22 hours), including at least four hours of first aid, with a provider approved by Færdselsstyrelsen. It ends with a written test set by Færdselsstyrelsen.
How long is the van driver certificate valid?
Five years. To renew it you complete at least two days (15 hours) of periodic training, including at least four hours of first aid. There is no exam.
I already have a truck driver qualification with code 95. Do I need the van certificate as well?
No. Holders of the driver qualification certificate for trucks automatically have the same rights as holders of the van driver certificate.
Do I need the certificate for newspaper or small-parcel routes?
The requirement applies when you carry items heavier than 11 kg for hire or reward in a van or van combination between 2,500 and 3,500 kg. Routes with only letters, newspapers and small parcels in a car usually fall outside it, but check what the specific route involves.
Does my van need a tachograph?
From 1 July 2026, vans over 2.5 tonnes used in international goods transport must have a tachograph, and the driver must follow the EU driving and rest time rules and use a driver card. The change concerns international transport.
Do I have to carry the certificate while driving?
Yes. You must carry it while driving and show it to the police if they ask.
Sources
- Færdselsstyrelsen: Varebilsuddannelser
- Bekendtgørelse nr. 412 af 25. april 2025 om kvalifikationskrav til visse førere af køretøjer i vejtransport
- Færdselsstyrelsen: Varebiler bliver en del af køre- og hviletidskontrollen (March 2026)
- Færdselsstyrelsen: Ansøgning om fritagelse for kvalifikationsuddannelse for varebilschauffører (PDF)
Facts checked on 17 October 2026. Rules change; check the sources above.