Applying for a driving licence

Rates 2024

• Licence: € 51.10 (rate also applies to the exchange of driving licences not issued in the Netherlands)
• Additional costs for spoedaanvraag (urgent application): € 39.65
• Additional costs in the event of loss or theft: € 30.00
• Gezondheidsverklaring (Health Certificate): € 44.50

Do you need your driving licence urgently? Make a spoedaanvraag (urgent application): apply for your driving licence before 14:00. Your driving licence will then be ready the next working day after 11:00.

An urgent application is more expensive. You pay additional charges on top of the standard fee.

Has your driving licence been lost or stolen? Then, unfortunately, an urgent application is not always possible. An urgent procedure is not possible if you want to exchange a driving licence not issued in the Netherlands.

On 1 July 2023, the wet Digitale Overheid (Digital Government Act) took effect. Driving licences can now be used to log in to government websites.

After collecting a new driving licence, within 5 working days you will receive a letter from DigiD containing a PIN code. With that code, you can activate the login function of your driving licence. This makes the driving licence suitable for logging in to government websites. This is not mandatory.

Each licence category has a certain age at which you can apply for it. From the age of 17 you can apply for a beginnersrijbewijs (beginner's driving licence, only available in Dutch). If you are under 18, you may only drive under the supervision of an instructor. To do so, you must first apply for a begeleiderspas (accompanied driving permit) from the Rijksdienst voor het wegverkeer (Netherlands Vehicle Authority, RDW). Only then can you apply for the driving licence. The guide(s) do not have to come with you when you apply for or collect the driving licence. From the age of 18, you may drive independently, without a guide beside you. Go to www.2todrive.nl (only available in Dutch) for more information.

Sometimes you need a Gezondheidsverklaring (Health Certificate) when applying for your driving licence. For example, because of your medical condition, your age or your profession.

The Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen (central office of driving licences, CBR) assesses whether you are healthy enough for a driving licence.

Check the CBR website (only available in Dutch) in good time to see if you need a Health Certificate, because, due to large numbers of applications at the CBR, it can sometimes take 5 months to assess whether you require one.

Advice from the CBR

• Start early
• Do you need to visit one or more medical specialists? Then start 5 months before your driving licence expires.
• Complete the health statement form online through Mijn CBR using your DigiD (only available in Dutch)
• This way is faster than by post and you can check the status of your application at any time.
• Don't have a DigiD? Then buy a health statement form from the CBR. The CBR will assess your health statement and determine whether you can get a Health Certificate or still need to see a doctor for further examination.  
• Take all forms you receive from CBR (after submitting the health statement) with you to appointments with doctor/specialist(s)
• Applicants for a large driving licence and people whose licence expires on or after their 75th birthday must always be examined by a doctor.

For a bromfietsrijbewijs (moped driving licence), you need to pass a theory exam and practical exam at the CBR. You can do this from the age of 16. You do not have to take the exam if you already have another driving licence, with the exception of the trekkerrijbewijs (tractor licence). After passing the exam, you can apply for the moped driving licence the next day. To do so, first make an appointment at the municipal service desk.

After passing the exam, you can apply for the moped driving licence the next day. To do so, first make an appointment at the municipal service desk.

You pay for your moped driving licence when you apply. At your appointment you must bring:

• Valid form of identification
• A passport-sized photo that meets the requirements of the Rijksoverheid (central government) and is not older than 6 months. Please note: you cannot have this photo taken at the municipality.

A moped driving licence allows you to drive a:

• brommer (moped with maximum speed 45 km/h)
• snorfiets (moped with maximum speed 25 km/h)
• brommobiel (brommer with more than 2 wheels, 3-wheeled moped / microcar
• speed-pedelec: an electric bicycle that reaches speeds of more than 25 km/h

A passport-sized photo must meet the requirements of the Rijksoverheid (central government), and should be no older than 6 months. Please note: you cannot have this photo taken at the municipality.

• Apply for the driving licence within 3 years of passing your practical exam.
• You have lived in the Netherlands for at least 185 days in the past year.
• If necessary, you are in possession of a valid Health Certificate (only available in Dutch) from the CBR.

You can collect your new driving licence after 7 days.

Note: if you have a driving licence that was not issued in the Netherlands and want to exchange your driving licence, this will take longer. The RDW will send you a letter when you can collect your new Dutch driving licence. To do so, you need to come to the municipal service desk.

If you live in the Netherlands and have a driving licence issued outside the Netherlands, then you may first drive temporarily in the Netherlands. After that, you must:

• exchange the driving licence through your municipality, or
• if you do not meet the conditions for exchange you must take the driving theory and practical exams through the CBR

First check the conditions for exchanging a driving licence issued outside the Netherlands on the RDW website. If you meet all the conditions, you can make an appointment and apply for the exchange of your driving licence at the municipal service desk.

A driving licence is valid for 10 years, except in the following situations.

• A truck or bus driving licence is valid for 5 years.
• You are between 65 and 70 years old: your driving licence is valid until your 75th birthday.
• You are between 70 and 75 years old: your driving licence is valid for 5 years.
• You are 75 years old or over: your driving licence is valid for a maximum 5 years (depending on medical examination).
• In case of an obligation to undergo a medical examination in connection with illness: dependent on examination.

Is your driving licence missing or stolen? Or do you suspect someone is using it fraudulently? If so, you do not have to report it to the police. You can report the loss or theft of your driving licence online (using your DigiD) at any time on the Rijksdienst voor het wegverkeer (Netherlands Vehicle Authority, RDW) website. The RDW will then block your driving licence and you will need to apply for a new one. Even if you find your missing driving licence. This prevents fraud and misuse.

There are licences for mopeds (bromfiets, snorfiets), brommobiel (3-wheeled moped / microcar), motorcycle, car, truck, bus and tractor. Do you want to drive with a trailer? Then you may need an additional driving licence. Separate requirements apply to each driving licence.

For more information on driving licence categories, go to the Rijksoverheid (central government) website (in Dutch).