Part 2 of 6 in Parking & Stopping

Getting in and out

Learn when getting in and out counts as waiting and when stopping suddenly becomes parking in CBR questions.

Written by Reviewed by Dirk van Zuijlen

Updated Reviewed on 3 min read

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On this page Getting in and out
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Letting someone get in or out is stopping, not parking. You only stop for as long as it takes for someone to get in or out.

Do you wait, make a call or set your navigation? Then you are parking. That difference often decides whether it is allowed.

Can you get a parking ticket while sitting in your car?

Yes. Even if you stay in the car, you can be parking. It is not about whether you are in the car. It is about why you have stopped.

  • Stopping: you stop to let someone get in or out straight away, or to load and unload straight away.
  • Parking: everything else. For example waiting for someone, making a call or setting your navigation. Even if it is only brief.

So where parking is banned, you can get a fine while sitting behind the wheel. Where only parking is banned, you may still let someone get out.

Learner car stopping briefly at a kerb with a broken yellow line while a passenger gets in
Stopping: someone gets in and you drive on straight away.

Stopping because traffic requires it does not count

Are you stopped at a red light, in a queue or to give way? Then you stop because you have to. That is not parking and not stopping by choice either.

Set your navigation in a place where you may park. Waiting at a red light is a stop that traffic requires.
Set your navigation in a place where you may park. Waiting at a red light is a stop that traffic requires.

Can you let someone out at a bus stop?

Yes. At a bus stop you may stop to let someone get in or out straight away. Waiting for someone to arrive is not allowed, because that is parking. Loading and unloading is not allowed there either.

Elsewhere it depends on the rule that applies. A quick overview:

What you seePlaceLet someone get out?
Sign E1, no parkingNo parking signAllowed
Broken yellow lineBroken yellow lineAllowed
Bus stopBus stopAllowed, straight away only
Sign E2, no stoppingNo stopping signNot allowed
Solid yellow lineSolid yellow lineNot allowed: this is a stopping ban
Cycle laneCycle laneNot allowed, not on the carriageway next to it either

Can you let someone out on a cycle lane?

No. You may not stop on a cycle lane or on the carriageway next to it. Not even very briefly for a passenger. Find a place further on.

Read all about where you may and may not stop in stopping.

The Dutch Reach: how to open your car door safely

When getting in or out, you may not block or endanger anyone. This also applies to your passenger, and also in a car park.

  • Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder before you open the door. Is a cyclist or pedestrian coming? Then wait.
  • Getting out on the side of the carriageway? Then also watch for traffic from behind.
  • Your passenger also pays attention. They only open their door when it is safe.
Driver looking over their shoulder at an approaching cyclist before opening the door
Look back before you open the door, so you do not hit a cyclist or pedestrian.

A useful habit is the Dutch Reach. You open the door with the hand furthest from it. As the driver, that is your right hand. Your upper body then turns by itself and you look back over your shoulder.

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 6

You stop at 1 of these signs to let a passenger get out. Is that allowed?

Tap the answer you think is right.

Answer options

Answers and explanations for the example questions

  1. Question 1: You stop at 1 of these signs to let a passenger get out. Is that allowed?

    Correct answer: Yes

    Yes, that is allowed. Letting someone get out is not parking. That is called stopping immediately. You are not allowed to park in these places. But you can stop briefly to let someone out.

  2. Question 2: Are you allowed to let someone get in and out here?

    Correct answer: Yes

    You are not allowed to park in a loading and unloading zone, but you may stop briefly to let someone get in or out 🧳. Loading and unloading is allowed.

  3. Question 3: Are you allowed to let someone get in and out here?

    Correct answer: No

    This is a stopping prohibition 🚫, you are not allowed to stop at all here, not even briefly.

  4. Question 4: Are you allowed to let someone get on and off here?

    Correct answer: Yes

    At a bus stop, you may stop briefly 🚌 to let someone quickly get on or off. Loading and unloading takes too long and is not allowed.

  5. Question 5: Are you allowed to let someone get in and out here?

    Correct answer: Yes

    In a disabled parking space you cannot park without a card, but you can briefly stop to let someone get in or out 🧳.

  6. Question 6: Where can you let someone get in and out?

    Correct answer: At B

    At picture A: Look at the curb. You see a yellow line. It is one long line. That means: you may not stop here. Not even for a moment. So you cannot let anyone out here. At picture B: Look at the curb. You see a blue line. You can park here (with a permit). You can also just stop here for a moment. Someone can safely get out of the car here.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to questions that often come up on this subject.

Is waiting for someone in the car stopping or parking?

Voluntarily waiting by the roadside for someone is parking, even if you remain inside or leave the engine running. Only the time needed for immediate boarding/alighting or genuine immediate loading/unloading is excluded from parking. Pulling over to call or set navigation is therefore parking. Traffic-required waiting at red or in a queue is different and does not thereby become parking.

Does your passenger also have to watch out when getting out?

Yes. Your passenger must not obstruct or endanger anyone when alighting or opening the door. Ask them to check, including over the shoulder, and wait for passing cyclists, pedestrians and other traffic. Drivers performing a special manoeuvre let all other traffic go first; the door-opening safety duty also applies to passengers.

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