Producer responsibility for vehicles
Producer responsibility for vehicles means that those of you who import new or second-hand cars to Denmark must contribute to ensuring that the substances and materials contained in vehicles are utilised as much as possible and treated environmentally correct at the vehicle’s end of life. Furthermore, producer responsibility contributes to ensuring that vehicles are not abandoned illegally on streets or in nature, thus becoming so-called ‘orphan’ vehicles.
We have changed IT systems
In September 2025 we changed our IT system managing the producer responsibility for vehicles.
Find out what you need to be aware of
Registration and reporting
Vehicles and automotive batteries
If you import vehicles the producer responsibility covers new as well as second-hand vehicles, and all batteries are covered by a separate producer responsibility system. Therefore, remember to report all the batteries you import - also those that are fitted in the car when imported.
More about batteriesWhich vehicles are covered by producer responsibility?
A passenger car (M1) destined for the transport of up to nine persons including the driver is subject to the duty of registration for imported vehicles.
The rules apply to both new and second-hand imported vehicles.
A small truck (N1) with a weight not exceeding 3,500 kilograms destined for the transport of goods is subject to the duty of registration for imported vehicles.
The rules apply to both new and second-hand imported vehicles.
Data from the Motor Vehicle Agency
Since 2013, DPA has every year received data from the Motor Vehicle Agency about businesses (CVR number) having registered passenger cars and small trucks in Denmark in view of sale for the first time. Data are transferred to those of you that are registered as importers. If you have not registered your business, all CVR numbers connected with vehicles entered by the importer will be entered in the producer register in connection with the data transfer.
This means that if you are a car importer you must control and authenticate that the information and number of vehicles (pcs) transferred to the register are correct. In addition, you must yourself report the quantity (kilogram) of automotive batteries, other batteries, and stand-alone electrical accessories. We recommend that importers of vehicles register the weight of the automotive batteries prior to sale.
Your registration for producer responsibility
The registration in DPA, the annual reporting, and authentication of reported quantities is mandatory.
Non-confirmation or approval of reported quantities leads to a inactivation in the producer register. In such case it is no longer legal to place your cars and other in-scope products on the market in Denmark.
If you are inactivated because of non-compliance with your duty to report and you wish to re-register, you must contact DPA. The re-registration will trigger a new registration fee and you will have to complete your reporting.
End-of-life vehicles
Is the car at its end-of-life?
The producer responsibility also means that producers and importers must ensure that owners of end-of-life vehicles have free access to handing over the end-of-life vehicle to the importer, a dealer, or an environmentally approved car breaker.
See also Collection and management of end-of-life vehiclesAs mentioned, not only importers have a responsibility. Dealers may also be obliged to take back the vehicles, and car breakers are responsible for ensuring correct environmental treatment.
Car owners and scrapping premium
The last owner of an end-of-life vehicle also has an environmental responsibility for the vehicle. The owner is obliged to hand over the vehicle for environmental treatment, either with the importer/the dealer, a repair shop, or a car breaker that is approved for receiving end-of-life vehicles. In this connection an incentive system has been introduced: a car scrapping premium is paid to the last owner of the car when it is taken to a car breaker.
Shortcuts
Car scrapping
See what you must do as a car owner when your car has reached its end of life and must be scrapped
Register as importer
See how to register as a new importer of vehicles and automotive batteries in the producer register
Annual reporting
Read more about annual reporting of vehicles and automotive batteries
Car breaker reporting - guidelines
See guidelines for car breakers’ reporting of environmental treatment and scrapping of end-of-life vehicles
Car breakers’ reporting
Go to Reporting of environmental treatment of vehicles
Economy and fees
See current fees for products subject to producer responsibility
Legislation relating to vehicles
See the statutory basis for producer responsibility for vehicles and treatment of end-of-life vehicles
Producer responsibility for batteries
Read more about producer responsibility for automotive batteries
Legislation relating to batteries
Find legislation relating to batteries, including automotive batteries
Collective schemes
See list of collective schemes in Denmark There is only one such scheme for vehicles
Approved car breakers
Go to list of approved car breakers in Denmark