How to Get a Category D1 Driving Licence in Denmark?

Denmark's D1 license is intended for a different type of job than you might expect: it's designed for special transport, disability transport, patient transport, and small shuttle buses, not for city or regional public bus routes, which require the full Category D license. This piece covers what D1 authorizes, when you can start training early, and the numeric codes that indicate commercial passenger rights on your license.

What Category D1 covers

D1 authorizes passenger vehicles designed to carry up to 16 passengers in addition to the driver, with a maximum length of 8 meters. You can also tow a combination consisting of a D1 vehicle and a trailer with a permitted total weight up to 750 kg.

Minimum age

You can obtain D1 from 21, or from 18 if you're pursuing it as part of vocational education.

You need Category B first

D1 requires you to already hold a Category B (car) license before applying; it's an extension, not a standalone license.

Starting training early

This is important to know. If you're planning ahead. If you meet the requirements to obtain your bus license before turning 21, you can start training once you've obtained Category B and turned 17 years and 9 months, well ahead of the minimum licensing age.

D1 is built for special transport, not public buses

This is an important distinction. D1 is primarily used for special, disability, and patient transport, as well as smaller shuttle buses. It's not the category you need if you want to drive city buses or regional buses in scheduled public transport; that requires the full Category D license instead.

Documents and eligibility

• A valid Category B licence
• An approved medical certificate confirming fitness to drive a bus, including vision and hearing
• A valid first-aid certificate, if you don't already hold one from your Category B license

Where to apply

You submit your bus license application to Borgerservice (citizen service) at any municipality of your choosing, regardless of where in Denmark you live. Your municipality of registered residence determines your usual residence in Denmark for licensing purposes.

Theory and practical exams

You need to pass both a theory exam and a driving test to demonstrate that you can maneuver a minibus correctly and safely.

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission vehicle typically restricts the resulting license to automatic vehicles only.

D1E: adding a heavier trailer

D1E requires you to already hold both Category B and D1. It's needed if the trailer you want to tow behind your minibus exceeds the 750 kg limit of standard D1.

The codes for commercial passenger transport

Commercial passenger transport (erhvervsmæssig personbefordring) isn't a separate license category;y it's an annotation, a numeric code indicating special conditions and rights on your license. If you're qualified for commercial passenger transport in both D1 and D, code 425 appears on your license; if it's specifically for D1 only, code 426 appears instead.

What full Category D requires beyond D1

The full Category D course typically runs around six weeks and costs roughly 3,800 kroner if you're employed. If you're unemployed, funding is often available through your local jobcentre or your statutory right to six weeks of job-oriented education.

Validity

Bus licenses, including D1, D1E, and DE, are issued with a 5-year validity and require a new medical certificate at each renewal.

Tips that actually help

• If you're aiming to start before 21, get your Category B license and begin bus training from 17 years and 9 months.
• Confirm whether D1 or full Category D actually suits your intended work; special transport versus scheduled public bus routes are different.
• Check whether you already hold a first-aid certificate from your Category B license, since this can save you from repeating the course.
• If you'll need commercial passenger rights, understand the difference between code 425 and code 426 on your license.

Where this fits going forward

D1 in Denmark offers a genuine, well-defined route into special passenger transport, distinct from the full bus license needed for public routes. If your plans involve professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, see which employers are hiring on FastDriver.eu, and explore our broader job guides. Our driving license in Denmark and license eligibility pages cover the broader picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change and may vary by driving school in Denmark. Always confirm current requirements with official Danish sources before making decisions, such as Færdselsstyrelsen (Danish Road Traffic Authority). FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.