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Taking the Dutch exams at the CBR

If you cannot exchange, you get your licence through the CBR — the same way everyone who learns to drive here does. It takes four steps, and you can sit the theory exam in English.

What is the CBR?

stands for Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing. It is the organisation appointed by the Dutch government to examine everyone who wants a driving licence here. Your driving school teaches you; the CBR tests you.

Three things the CBR does matter to you: the theory exam, the medical assessment through the , and the practical exam.

The CBR does not issue the licence itself. Once you pass, you apply for the licence at your ; the produces the document and keeps the licence register.

Everything you arrange with the CBR — booking, rescheduling, results — runs through their online portal, Mijn CBR, which you sign into with DigiD.

The four steps to your licence

If you cannot exchange, you get a Dutch licence through the CBR. It takes four steps.

  1. 1

    Pass the car theory exam (theorie-examen B)

    The current exam is one combined test, not separate hazard-perception, traffic-rules and traffic-insight sections. It has 50 scored questions plus 2 unscored test questions; you need at least 44 of the 50 scored questions correct. The standard exam lasts 30 minutes, costs €50.50 and is available in English for €6.50 extra. Your theory result is valid for eighteen months. Prepare with Theorio’s English video lessons and realistic 50-question practice exams.

  2. 2

    Submit your

    Online via , for €46.90 — required for everyone applying for a licence, even if you are perfectly healthy. You answer around 14 questions covering things like your eyesight, hearing, heart and any medication. Answer "no" to everything and approval usually comes quickly; answer "yes" to even one and the CBR refers you to a doctor, which can take weeks to months. Do this early, since without a certificate of fitness you cannot be issued a licence. Once issued, the certificate is valid for about 3 years.

  3. 3

    Take lessons with a registered driving school

    There is no learner permit in the Netherlands: without a licence you may only be on public roads during a lesson with a qualified instructor. Practising with a parent or friend in your own car is not allowed.

  4. 4

    Pass the practical exam

    Your driving school books this exam for you at the CBR — unlike the theory exam, you do not book this one yourself via Mijn CBR. The exam costs €143.50 and takes about an hour, of which you drive for roughly 35 minutes. Once you pass, you apply for the licence itself at the where you are registered — with valid ID and a colour passport photo. Renewals can later be done online with the RDW.

The theory exam in short

The current car theory exam is one combined test rather than separate hazard-perception, traffic-rules and traffic-insight sections. It has 50 scored questions plus 2 unscored test questions, and you need at least 44 of the 50 scored questions correct. Theorio helps you prepare in English with video lessons and realistic 50-question practice exams.

Taking the exam in English

The car theory exam can be taken in English. You select the English version while booking and pay a €6.50 surcharge. The motorcycle theory exam is not offered in English.

If you need more time — for instance because English is not your first language either — you can request an exam with extra time for an additional fee. Always bring valid proof of identity to the exam centre.

Every exam term, in English and Dutch The CBR's own wordlist, searchable, with plain explanations.

What does it cost?

  • Car theory exam €50.50
  • English-language version + €6.50
  • Evening or weekend slot + €6.25
  • Extra time + €13.50
  • Individually supervised exam €68.00
  • €46.90
  • Practical exam €143.50

Fees can change each year. Always check the current amounts on cbr.nl before you book. Driving lessons come on top of this and vary a lot per school and per city.

How to book your theory exam

You can book it yourself in Mijn CBR.

  1. 1 Log in to with your own . Open the menu and switch the website to English if you prefer.
  2. 2 Choose “Make or change a booking for a test”.
  3. 3 Choose car, category B. The CBR calls the standard car theory exam BTH.
  4. 4 Choose the exam type. Pick the English version here if you need it.
  5. 5 Choose a location, date and time. Evening and weekend appointments cost extra.
  6. 6 Check your booking and email address, accept the terms, then pay online. The confirmation arrives by email.
Step-by-step booking guide The full walkthrough covers all 10 steps in Mijn CBR, current costs, booking without DigiD, rescheduling and common booking problems. How to book at CBR

Mijn CBR and DigiD

Everything you arrange with the CBR runs through , and you sign in there with . Always use your own DigiD — never a relative's or your driving school's.

Which DigiD works on Mijn CBR?

  • DigiD with SMS verification
  • The DigiD app
  • The DigiD app with identity document check

A DigiD with only a username and password will not get you in. Add SMS verification or the app first, at digid.nl.

No DigiD?

  • Apply for one at digid.nl. You can do that as soon as you have a .
  • If you cannot, call CBR customer service to arrange your theory exam or your Health Declaration.
  • To let your book your practical exam, you authorise them with a CBR form — that does not need a DigiD of your own.

No BSN yet?

Register with your when you move here and you get a BSN automatically. Staying less than four months? Then you can register in the at an RNI counter municipality and receive your BSN there.

Can I log in with a European eID?

No. Mijn CBR is currently not reachable through eIDAS, the European login scheme. You really do need a Dutch DigiD.

How to prepare

If you do need the theory exam, the fastest route is practising with real exam questions rather than working through a theory book. Hazard perception in particular is a separate exam section that barely exists in other countries.

With Theorio you practise in English: videos that explain every topic, the same format as the real exam — 50 questions, the same scoring — and smart repetition of whatever you keep getting wrong.

Theorio gets you ready on the knowledge side; you then book the theory exam itself yourself via Mijn CBR, as described above. That is different from the practical exam, which your driving school books for you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the Dutch theory exam in English?

Yes. The car theory exam is administered in English if you select that option when booking. It costs €6.50 on top of the €50.50 exam fee.

Do I need a DigiD to book my theory exam?

To book through Mijn CBR you do, and DigiD requires a BSN. Without a DigiD you can request your exam using a CBR application form, but rescheduling is less straightforward.

What does getting a driving licence in the Netherlands cost?

To the CBR you pay €50.50 for the theory exam (€6.50 extra in English), €46.90 for the Health Declaration and €143.50 for the practical exam. Driving lessons are the biggest expense, and your municipality charges a fee for the licence itself.

Read next

Need to take the theory exam?

Practise in English with more than 1,700 questions. Every answer includes an explanation, and the mock exams follow the CBR format.

Sources

Rules and fees checked in September 2026. If anything is unclear, check the official source before you act.