What does a Dutch driving licence cost?
One table with every cost, from driving lessons to the fee at your municipality.
Written by Chris Prosman Reviewed by Dirk van Zuijlen Checked September 2026
What does a licence cost in total?
- Driving lessons (~41 lessons, Theorio range €60–€80 per hour) €2,460 – €3,280
- Car theory exam (B) €50.50
- Health Declaration €46.90
- Car practical exam (B) €143.50
- Apply for the licence at your municipality Not included in the total Varies by municipality
- Rounded example total (see notes) €2,700 – €3,520
The CBR reports an average total cost of €3,320 from its 2025 research and warns that 2026 may be higher. This example uses the official 2026 CBR fees, 41 lesson hours and Theorio’s rounded €60–€80 hourly range. That range comes from 1,606 comparable advertised starting prices; the median was €67 on 6 September 2026. Your actual paid price may differ.
Check the CBR 2026 tariff pageHow to read this cost breakdown
This example budget is for a first car licence, with 41 one-hour lessons and one attempt at each exam. The rounded subtotal adds lessons, the theory exam, the Health Declaration and the CBR practical-exam fee. Your personal total may be higher or lower.
What else might you need to pay for?
Allow for theory books or an app, passport photos and the municipal application fee. The CBR practical-exam fee is not necessarily the amount your driving school charges: ask about the exam car, instructor support and any lesson beforehand. Extra lessons, retakes, exam-language supplements and any medical examinations are outside this example budget.
How to compare lesson packages
Compare prices per 60 minutes and check which exams and additional costs are included. Ask for a lesson estimate after a trial lesson and check the price of extra lessons. Do not count an exam twice if it is already included in your package.
Read next
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 
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
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.
Checked September 2026
How we check this guide
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.
Sources
The official sources and Theorio dataset below were checked in September 2026. If anything is unclear, check the official source before you act.