Is the vehicle registration document mandatory when boarding in Denmark?

Hi there, we’re planning our trip to the North Cape this summer. We bought a new vehicle for it. Unfortunately, the registration document is still being processed, and the delay seems long—I don’t think I’ll have it in time for our departure... I have the transfer documents, insurance in my name, and all the supporting paperwork, but not the registration document. So my question is: does the ferry company require the registration document *mandatorily* when boarding in Denmark or not? Thanks for any insights...

Hi there, I think your question should be a bit broader than just about boarding in Denmark... From what I understand, you’ve applied for your "carte grise" (vehicle registration certificate) through the ANTS and now have a CPI (Provisional Registration Certificate). As far as I know, this is only valid for driving in France and for a maximum of one month. I’ve never noticed ferry companies in France or elsewhere asking for the "carte grise". However, they do ask for the registration number (they mainly use it to check the exact dimensions of your vehicle). That said, I’d be much more cautious when it comes to foreign authorities. You’ll be crossing Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and maybe Sweden... before reaching Norway. The chances of being asked to show your papers along the way are slim. But all it takes is one incident, an accident, or an unexpected road check... For example, I once witnessed a personal injury accident in a tunnel in Norway: the police, who were very polite, still kept me at the scene for nearly 2 hours after I presented all the required documents. But you can request a CPI-WW from the ANTS, which I believe is the mandatory document for your situation. I hope you receive your "carte grise" before you leave—it would make things so much simpler and less stressful!

Hi Alex,

For me, the issue isn’t in Denmark or Norway. It’s entirely possible—and even likely—that at the German border, they’ll ask you for a whole bunch of documents. As it happens, under the somewhat questionable pretext of preventing illegal immigration, German police have been conducting systematic road checks for some time now, in addition to identity checks, ignoring their own exceptions. You might, like me—a 58-year-old who’s been an advocate for Europe, who believes in its ideals, and who was at the port of Piraeus in 2015 to hear Angela Merkel’s demands—find this pretty inconvenient. But on top of that, there are other requirements in these cases, like the warning triangle and a first-aid kit that’s up to date, please. Both are mandatory in Germany, and they’ll be requested by young officers whose grandparents traveled through France in the 80s to soak up the sun in Spain—and as far as I know, no one asked *them* for the equivalent, like yellow headlight bulbs. That said, I’ve seen plenty of cars with WW plates (temporary registrations) in Eastern Europe, and clearly, they found a way through.

Michel

Good evening, As far as I'm concerned, I've never been checked in Germany—neither at the border nor afterward—over the past three years (or before that). However, on two occasions, I was stopped by police when entering Denmark by ferry from Puttgarden to Rødby. (Passport check only.) As for the first-aid kit, I thought it was only mandatory for vehicles registered in Germany... In any case, all this should encourage Alex 76000 to make sure they have everything they need to avoid getting into a sticky situation! !

Hi there,

I don’t know where you’re traveling, but in the places I frequent, checks are constant and quite aggressive. Yes, a first-aid kit is mandatory, and it must be up to date. For German vehicles, it’s a bit of an ecological mess—throwing away a plastic box every five years with medical supplies, without any record of it ever being used meaningfully. For foreign vehicles, it just comes off as pretty rude. The fine is a few euros, but I think it’s unlikely and baseless since it goes against the 1977 Vienna Convention.

Michel

I don’t know where you’re traveling, but in the places I frequent, checks are constant and quite aggressive.

Regarding Alex76000’s route, it’s usually entering Germany via Enschede (and Osnabrück), then either heading toward Jutland via Flensburg or taking the ferry from Puttgarden to Rødby. Same spots on the way back. But my last trips were in 2024…

The fine is just a few euros,

Okay, so that probably won’t be Alex76000’s biggest issue.

and without basis, as it contradicts the 1977 Vienna Convention.

I thought that Convention, which came into force nearly 10 years after it was signed (!), mainly covered road signs.

Regardless, nothing stops a country from having its own specific rules on certain automotive matters (for example, in Spain, you need two warning triangles), or—even more annoying in my opinion—setting its own legal blood alcohol limits for driving.

But we’re getting off-topic from the thread’s original concern.

They started a bit earlier with the Austrian border, but the real slip-up is in September 2024. In my opinion, our friend has little chance of passing through Germany without being asked for the vehicle registration certificate, including at the checkpoint you mentioned. A state can always refuse to honor its signature, but it doesn’t have the means to enforce this fine. Yes, Article 3 of the Vienna Convention applies. That’s also why the Germans weren’t required to have yellow headlights to go sunbathe in Salou.

I’m crossing into Germany tomorrow, Aachen. I’ll come back and share my experience. With a bit of luck, I might even explain to them that I’ve filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding this Schengen slip-up.

Michel

Good evening,

So, indeed, this morning the space converted into a permanent control area at the GPS point (50°46'59.2"N 6°10'35.7"E) wasn't in service. There were already two or three vans hanging around, but at 6 a.m. on a weekday, it's a bit quieter.

Michel

Hi, I’m back from a 3-week "Nordic" trip (June 9–29, 4,375 km): Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and back to Belgium. The only customs check was when leaving the Puttgarden–Rødby ferry. The vehicle in front of us, registered in Switzerland, went through without any issues, and for us, they just asked where we were headed—no document requests (for us or the car). After 2 minutes, everything was fine. Never saw another check after that, just a few speed cameras.😉 Currently, after 15 days, still no toll charges from Norway.

Happy travels,

Vivien

Same for us. We left Belgium from June 1st to July 2nd (Germany - Denmark - Sweden - Norway). Just passport control when we boarded the ferry between Kristiansand in Norway and Hirtshals in Denmark, but we were warned in advance by the company about this identity check to board. For info, I started my travel journal here

Hi,

I was a bit surprised that neither of us saw any fixed police checkpoints on the highway when entering Germany, even though they’re "permanent" installations. They reduce traffic to one lane and divert cars to a rest area. When entering from Austria, this can sometimes cause 5 km (3 mi) of traffic jams. From what I’ve observed, they tend to focus on vehicles that aren’t German or from the country on the other side of the border—basically, third-country vehicles. After that, though, you’re generally left alone, even if you’re heading to Iceland or the Faroe Islands. Of course, occasional police checks—or very rarely, customs checks—are always possible.

Michel

As far as I'm concerned, I crossed into Germany from Belgium via the E42 highway on June 9th. No checks at all. The only sign I was in a different country was how fast some drivers were going...

Very well. That means they’ve come to their senses. Still, you can definitely see differences in driving styles, aside from speed. But this ethnography of the Belgian driver would take us too far off track 😄.

Michel

Hi, the provisional certificate is only valid within French territory. During our trip in September 2024 with our van via the road to the North Cape, we were never stopped for checks. But at the end of September on our return, Germany was starting to implement checks at the border crossing. Odile