For internationals, expats & migrants
Answer three quick questions to see whether you can exchange your licence or need to take Dutch exams.
Written by Chris Prosman Reviewed by Dirk van Zuijlen Checked September 2026
Tell us the country, dates and licence type. Leave out personal details.
🧭 Start here
Answer up to three questions. We will show you what to do next.
Step 1 of 3
The issue country determines your deadline.
EU, EEA and Switzerland
For you may keep driving in the Netherlands for 15 years, counted from the date your licence was issued. For lorry and bus categories (C, D and variants) it is a maximum of 5 years. If your licence was already more than 15 years old when you moved here and had not expired, you may use it for another 2 years from your relocation date.
Outside the EU/EEA
With a licence issued outside the EU or , you may drive for 185 days after moving to the Netherlands. After day 185 you must stop, even if the RDW is still processing your exchange application.
Drive past the deadline and you risk a fine — and your insurer may refuse to pay out.
Just visiting? The deadline doesn't apply if you don't register in the . No category A–E on your licence? Bring an international driving permit too.
You will use these accounts to book an exam, submit forms and check your result. Set them up in this order.
Step 1
You get a when you register with your . Staying for less than four months? Register in the at an RNI desk instead.
Step 2
is your login for Dutch government websites. Apply free at digid.nl with your BSN. Your activation code arrives by post within 5 working days and must be activated within 21 days. Mijn CBR also requires the DigiD app or SMS verification.
Step 3
Sign in to with DigiD. You can book your theory exam, submit your Health Declaration and check your result there.
You can book the car theory exam yourself in Mijn CBR. Set aside about 10 minutes and have a way to pay online.
Log in to with your own . Open the menu and switch the website to English if you prefer.
Choose “Make or change a booking for a test”.
Choose car, category B. The CBR calls the standard car theory exam BTH.
Choose the exam type. Pick the English version here if you need it.
Choose a location, date and time. Evening and weekend appointments cost extra.
Check your booking and email address, accept the terms, then pay online. The confirmation arrives by email.
Start with your route. The other guides cover driving schools, car costs and Dutch road rules.
Exchange your licence Who qualifies, the 30% ruling, the documents you need and how long it takes. Open guide 
Take the CBR exams The four steps, the theory exam in English, what it costs and how to book. Open guide 
Choosing a driving school Look up real pass rates, compare prices and reviews, and avoid the cheapest-school trap. Open guide 
Driving licence costs One overview table: driving lessons, CBR exams and the municipal fee. Open guide 
Bringing your car and road tax Importing and the RDW inspection, and what road tax costs you per quarter. Open guide 
Dutch driving quirks Cyclists, priority from the right, shark teeth, environmental zones and more. Open guide Since 1 October 2026
There are no extra questions. They are different questions. And most courses have not been updated yet.
30 questions · start for free
With a licence from the EU, EEA or Switzerland you may keep driving for 15 years from its date of issue for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE. With a licence from outside the EU/EFTA you may drive for the first 185 days after you move to the Netherlands, and not after that.
Yes, if your licence is from the EU or EFTA, if your country is on the RDW exchange list, if you are covered by the 30% ruling, or if you previously held a Dutch licence issued after 30 June 1985. In every other case you take the Dutch theory and practical exams.
Yes. There is no deadline while you remain a tourist and do not register in the BRP. If your licence does not show categories A, B, C, D or E, bring an international driving permit issued in the same country as your licence.
Yes. Category B automatically includes category AM: mopeds, scooters, snorfietsen, speed pedelecs and microcars. No separate exam needed.
Practise in English with more than 1,700 questions. Every answer includes an explanation, and the mock exams follow the CBR format.
Checked September 2026
Chris Prosman writes and maintains this guide. Dirk van Zuijlen reviews changes against the linked first-party information from RDW, CBR, DigiD, Rijksoverheid and the Belastingdienst. Market-price estimates are recalculated from the dated Theorio driving-school dataset and are kept separate from CBR research.
We review the guide at least every three months and whenever an official authority announces a relevant rule or fee change.
Theorio is not a government authority. For a decision about your own licence, follow the linked official source or contact the RDW or CBR.
The official sources and Theorio dataset below were checked in September 2026. If anything is unclear, check the official source before you act.
