Short answer: If you'll need the bike for years and can keep it running yourself, a used bike is usually cheapest. If you need it for a semester or a year, or want to skip repairs and theft, a subscription is often the better choice. With us, a subscription costs DKK 594 for 6 months and DKK 1,068 for 12.
Here's the maths, so you can see where the line falls for you.
What does a used bike really cost?
The purchase price is just the start. You also need to count:
- Repairs. According to the Danish Cyclists' Federation, new tyres cost over DKK 500, a chain and cassette on a bike with derailleur gears up to about DKK 1,000, and a headset service about DKK 500.
- An approved lock. Without one, your insurance usually won't cover theft.
- Theft. 44,043 bike thefts were reported in Denmark in 2025. If yours is stolen, you pay the insurance excess (if you're covered at all) and buy another one.
- Selling it when you leave. You rarely get back what you paid, and selling takes time, especially in your last busy weeks.
- The risk of buying a stolen bike. Always check the frame number with the police and get a written sales contract.
The numbers for one year
An example with numbers you can swap for your own. The used bike price and resale are our assumptions, not official figures.
| Used bike | Subscription (12 months) | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront | Purchase price, e.g. DKK 1,500 | DKK 0 setup fee, DKK 300 deposit you get back |
| Every month | DKK 0 | DKK 89 |
| New tyres or other repairs | Often DKK 500 or more | DKK 0 |
| Lock | You buy one | Included |
| Theft | Excess and a new bike | DKK 800 replacement price, deposit deducted, new bike from your shop |
| When you leave | Sell it yourself | Return it to the shop |
| First year | About DKK 2,000, plus theft and your time | DKK 1,068 |
The used bike gets cheaper the longer you keep it, because the purchase price is spread over more years. The subscription costs the same every month, but you never pay for repairs, and there's nothing to sell when you go home.
When buying makes sense
- You're staying for several years.
- You can fix a flat and adjust brakes yourself.
- You have somewhere safe to park it.
- You want a specific bike.
When subscribing makes sense
- You're here for a semester or a year, for example as an exchange student.
- You don't want to spend your first weekend hunting for a used bike, checking frame numbers and haggling.
- You've had a bike stolen before and don't want the full bill again.
- You just want a bike that works. If it breaks, you swap it the same day.
- You don't have a CPR number yet. You can sign up with your passport.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to buy a used bike than to subscribe in Denmark?
Over several years, a used bike is usually cheapest if you can keep it running yourself. Over a semester or a year, a subscription is often just as cheap once you count repairs, theft and reselling.
How much is a bike subscription for one semester?
At Ring Ring, 6 months costs DKK 99 a month, DKK 594 in total. There's no setup fee, and you get the DKK 300 deposit back.
What should I check when buying a used bike in Denmark?
Check the frame number in the police register, ask for the original receipt, and write a sales contract.
How much do bike repairs cost in Denmark?
According to the Danish Cyclists' Federation, new tyres cost over DKK 500, a chain and cassette up to about DKK 1,000, and a headset service about DKK 500.
Sources
Checked 29 September 2026. Most sources are in Danish.
- Danish Cyclists' Federation: Buying a used bike
- Danish Police: Check if a bike is reported stolen
- Statistics Denmark: STRAF10, reported bike thefts
- Forsikringsoplysningen: Bike insurance
The used bike price and resale value in the example are our own assumptions.