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Buy, private lease or flex lease an EV in Denmark?

You can buy the car, lease it privately (privatleasing) or flex lease it (flexleasing). The main difference is who loses money if the car drops more in value than expected, and how much cash you need up front.

By Allan Noer · 2 min read · Updated 12 October 2026

Buying

You own the car and can drive as much as you like. But the depreciation is yours, and it is the biggest cost of a new car. Used EVs have fallen more in value than petrol cars in recent years. Remember the interest too: either on the car loan, or on the money you could have kept elsewhere.

Private leasing

You pay a first payment and then a fixed monthly payment, typically for 3 years. Then you hand the car back. If the car loses more value than expected, that is the leasing company's problem. Servicing and the annual vehicle tax are often included, but you pay the insurance yourself. If you drive more than agreed, every km over the limit costs extra, and damage beyond normal wear can cost money when you return the car.

Flex leasing

Flex leasing is mostly used for expensive cars and used cars imported from abroad. The leasing company pays the Danish registration tax (registreringsafgift) bit by bit, only for the time you have the car. In return there is usually a large down payment, and you are often liable for the car's residual value: if the car is worth less than agreed when the contract ends, you pay the difference. Terms vary between companies, so read the contract carefully.

Flex leasing and EVs in 2026

In 2026, EVs priced under about 420,000 DKK pay no registration tax. Then there is no tax to spread out, and flex leasing only makes sense for the most expensive EVs. From 2027, the tax on EVs rises every year, and flex leasing becomes relevant for more cars.

How to compare

Add up all payments: first payment or down payment, monthly payments and what you pay on return.
Check what the payment covers: servicing, tyres, vehicle tax, roadside assistance.
Pick a mileage limit that fits your driving. Going over is expensive.
With flex leasing: ask what the residual value is and who is liable for it.
Compare with the cost per year of buying the same car, including interest.
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