No-overtaking signs

What does the no-overtaking sign mean?

The no-overtaking sign is sign F1: a round white sign with a red border and two cars. It means: motor vehicles may not overtake each other. So in your car you may not overtake a car, motorcycle, bus, lorry or tractor here. Sign F2 shows where the ban ends.

A round sign with a red border is always a prohibition. You will find more of these signs under prohibition signs. Do not confuse F1 with sign C12, which shows a car above a motorcycle. That is not an overtaking ban: the road is closed to all motor vehicles.

Signs F1, F2, F3 and F4: what do they mean?

Sign	Meaning	What does it mean for you?
	F1: no overtaking	You may not overtake a motor vehicle. Not a motorcycle or tractor either.
	F2: end of no overtaking	The F1 ban ends. All other rules still apply.
	F3: no overtaking for lorries	Only lorries may not overtake a motor vehicle. In your car you may overtake.
	F4: end of F3	The overtaking ban for lorries ends.

A quiet, empty road does not cancel the ban. And if there is an F1, you may not overtake a motor vehicle even where the line is broken.

Who may you overtake at sign F1?

Sign F1 is the no-overtaking sign: a round white sign with a red border, showing a red car and a black car side by side. You do not need to know the number. Recognise the sign by the two cars.

At this sign you may only overtake vehicles that are not motor vehicles: a bicycle, normal e-bike, light moped (snorfiets), moped or speed pedelec. A mobility vehicle, such as a mobility scooter or Canta, and a tram are not motor vehicles either.

Recognise	Vehicle	Overtake at sign F1?
	Car, motorcycle, bus, lorry or tractor	No.
	Brommobiel (microcar)	No: the rules for motor vehicles apply.
	Bicycle, moped, light moped, speed pedelec	F1 does not ban it. It must still be safe.

Even if sign F1 does not ban it, overtaking must be safe. A solid line or a zebra crossing can still forbid it.

May you overtake a moped at sign F1?

Yes. A moped does have an engine and a yellow plate. But in the Dutch traffic rules (RVV) it is not a motor vehicle. So F1 does not ban overtaking a moped. The same goes for a light moped and a speed pedelec. Which vehicle is which is explained under mopeds, e-bikes and motorcycles.

May you overtake a brommobiel at a no-overtaking sign?

No. Officially a brommobiel is a moped. But Article 2a of the RVV says that the motor-vehicle rules apply to a brommobiel. So at F1 you may not overtake a brommobiel, even though it only drives 45 km/h.

May you overtake a tractor at a no-overtaking sign?

No, not without a supplementary plate. A tractor is a motor vehicle, even when it drives slowly. Is there a plate under F1 saying “inhalen tractors toegestaan” (overtaking tractors allowed)? Then you may overtake the tractor. The plate only allows overtaking the tractor. It does not let the tractor overtake others.

Even with this plate you may not cross a solid centre line. See overtaking across a solid line.

What does the no-overtaking sign for lorries mean?

The no-overtaking sign for lorries is sign F3. It looks like F1, but it shows a red lorry. It means: a lorry may not overtake a motor vehicle here. The ban ends at sign F4.

F3 does not apply to you in a car. So you may overtake a lorry here, if it is safe.

At which sign may you overtake a lorry? At F3 and F4 you may in your car. At F1 you may not, because a lorry is a motor vehicle. Sometimes F3 has a plate with times below it. Then the ban only applies at those times.

What is the fine for overtaking at a no-overtaking sign?

In 2026, overtaking at sign F1 costs €320 for a car or motorcycle (offence code R593). A lorry driver who overtakes at F3 also pays €320 (R594). €9 administration costs are added. Source: OM fines book 2026 (Dutch).

Overtaking signs · Overtaking on the left and right · Overtaking by situation · Road markings when overtaking · Getting in lane