Part 3 of 8 in General Legislation & Driver Requirements
Carrying passengers on a B licence
How many passengers can you carry with a Dutch B licence? At most 8 besides you, each with their own seat and seat belt. Plus: children in the car.
Written by Chris Prosman Reviewed by Dirk van Zuijlen
Updated Reviewed on 2 min read
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How many people may you carry with a B licence? At most 8 passengers besides you. On top of that, everyone needs their own seat with a seat belt, and the car must not be too heavy.
How many passengers can you carry with a B licence?
With a B licence you may carry at most 8 passengers. You as the driver do not count. So at most 9 people sit in the vehicle.
How the vehicle is fitted out also counts. A bus with room for 10 or 16 people may not be driven with B, not even if only 7 people are in it now. For that you need licence D1 or D.
The vehicle may also not have a registered maximum mass of more than 3500 kg. Few passengers do not make a heavy vehicle suitable for B. See what you can drive with a B licence.
| Situation | Allowed with B? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 4 passengers in a normal car | Yes | Everyone has their own seat with a belt. |
| 8 passengers in a vehicle with 9 seats | Yes | You do not count towards the 8 passengers. |
| 9 passengers besides you | No | That is more than B allows. |
| 7 passengers in a bus for 16 people | No | The fitting of the bus counts, not how many people are in it now. |
| More people than seats with belts | No | You do not create extra seats and do not share belts. |
Can four people sit in the back seat?
Only if there are 4 seats with a seat belt in the back. If there are only 3, the fourth person may not come along.
Everyone needs their own seat and their own belt. Two people under one belt is not allowed, not even two children. Someone on a lap also counts as a passenger. The luggage space is not a seat.
Also mind the weight. All people and luggage together may not make the car heavier than its registration allows.
Transporting children in a car
A child shorter than 1.35 m sits in an approved child seat or on a booster seat. That applies in the front and in the back. If the child is taller, it uses the normal seat belt.
As the driver you are responsible for passengers under 12. Which seat fits and when the airbag must be off is explained under seat belt, head restraint and child seat.
Practise like the exam
Example questions like in the CBR exam
Real questions from the Theorio app. You can expect similar questions in your CBR exam.
Question 1 of 4
How many passengers are you allowed to transport with a driving licence B?
How many people can you transport if there are 3 seat belts available?
Tap the answer you think is right.
This vehicle is designed for 16 passengers, are you allowed to drive this with a driving licence B?
Tap the answer you think is right.
If you are under 1.35 m, you must use a suitable child seat.
Can you transport a child of 1.20 meters in the front seat?
Tap the answer you think is right.
Answers and explanations for the example questions
Question 1: How many passengers are you allowed to transport with a driving licence B?
Correct answer: Correct value: 8 passengers
With a driving licence B, you may take along 8 passengers, in addition to the driver. This is the maximum allowed number. 👥
Question 2: How many people can you transport if there are 3 seat belts available?
Correct answer: 3 people
The number of passengers is determined by the number of available seat belts. With 3 seat belts, a maximum of 3 people are allowed. 👥
Question 3: This vehicle is designed for 16 passengers, are you allowed to drive this with a driving licence B?
Correct answer: No
A vehicle designed for 16 passengers exceeds the maximum. With a driving licence B, it is not allowed to transport so many passengers. 🚫
Question 4: Can you transport a child of 1.20 meters in the front seat?
Correct answer: Yes
A child of 1.20 m may sit in the front, as long as a suitable child seat is used. if under 1.35 meters, you must use a suitable child seat. 🚸
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to questions that often come up on this subject.
May you drive a 16-seat minibus with driving licence B?
No. A category B car may be designed for at most 8 passengers besides the driver. A 16-person bus requires the appropriate D1 or D category depending on the vehicle specifications. Carrying only 7 passengers does not turn the bus into a category B car.
Does the driver count towards the 8 passengers?
No. Category B allows up to 8 passengers besides you: 9 people including the driver. The car must be designed for that capacity. Everyone uses a separate permitted seat and the required belt or suitable child restraint. Never share a belt.
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