For expats
Expat driving licence in the Netherlands: exchange or exam? (2026)
Moved to the Netherlands? Find out if you can exchange your licence, how the 185-day rule and 30% ruling work, and how to pass the CBR exam in English.
Step 1: find out which rule applies to you
Whether you need to take an exam depends on where your licence was issued and on your tax status. This table covers the common cases.
| Your licence | What you do | Exam needed? |
|---|---|---|
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Keep driving on it, or exchange it at your municipality | No |
| Outside the EU, and you have the 30% ruling | Exchange it at your municipality with the Tax Administration decision | No |
| Outside the EU, from a country with an exchange agreement | Exchange it, if your licence meets the conditions on the RDW list | Usually no |
| Any other licence from outside the EU | Drive for up to 185 days, then get a Dutch licence | Yes: theory and practical |
An international driving permit is only a translation. It can’t be exchanged, and it doesn’t extend the 185 days.
Exchanging your licence: how it works
- Apply at your own municipality (gemeente). The RDW issues the Dutch licence, but it doesn’t accept applications sent to it directly.
- Bring your passport or ID, your residence document if you have one, a passport photo and your foreign licence.
- For a licence from outside the EU you usually also need a health declaration (Gezondheidsverklaring), which you submit to the CBR.
- On the 30% ruling? Bring the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) decision that shows the ruling applies to you.
Your partner and children living at the same address may also be able to exchange their licences under your 30% ruling. The rules are applied by the municipality, so check with yours before you go.
Taking the CBR theory exam in English
The car (category B) theory exam is available in English, without an interpreter. It is the same exam as the Dutch one: 50 questions, 30 minutes, and 44 correct to pass. It costs €57 in 2026. If you need extra time, the CBR adds a €13.50 surcharge. The English is British English, so expect words like "carriageway", "give way" and "dual carriageway".
The exam is not a translation test, though. It is built around Dutch roads: cyclists everywhere, trams, right-before-left at unmarked junctions, and roundabouts with shark’s teeth. Drivers who learned elsewhere often lose points because their instincts are right for home and wrong for here.
Booking without DigiD
You normally book at mijn.cbr.nl with DigiD. To get DigiD you need a citizen service number (BSN) and a registered address. If you don’t have DigiD yet, the CBR also accepts a paper application form for the theory exam. It sends you a payment request and then an invitation with your exam date. The paper route is slower, so start early if your 185 days are running.
Rules that surprise drivers from abroad
- Right before left: at a junction without signs or markings, traffic from the right goes first. That includes cyclists.
- Trams: at an unmarked junction a tram goes first, even when it comes from the left.
- Turning right: cyclists going straight on beside or just behind you go first.
- Roundabouts: they almost always have give-way signs and shark’s teeth, so traffic already on the roundabout goes first.
- Zebra crossings: let pedestrians cross, and also those who are clearly about to.
- Woonerf (home zone): 15 km/h at most, and pedestrians may use the whole street.
Dutch traffic words you will meet
| Dutch | What it means |
|---|---|
| Woonerf | Home zone. Walking pace, at most 15 km/h, and pedestrians may use the whole road. |
| Snorfiets | Light moped with a blue plate, top speed 25 km/h. |
| Bromfiets | Moped with a yellow plate, top speed 45 km/h. |
| Brommobiel | Small microcar, top speed 45 km/h. |
| Haaientanden | Shark’s teeth: white triangles on the road meaning give way. |
| Voorrangsweg | Priority road, shown by an orange diamond sign. |
A realistic timeline for newcomers
- Weeks 1–4: register at your municipality, get your BSN and apply for DigiD. Check if you can exchange your licence.
- If you need the exam: study the theory and book it straight away. The wait is usually 1 to 4 weeks.
- After passing theory: your certificate is valid for 1.5 years. Book lessons and the practical exam.
- Aim to finish before day 185, because after that your foreign licence is no longer valid here.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in the Netherlands with a foreign licence?
Yes. EU, EEA and Swiss licences stay valid. A licence from outside the EU is valid for 185 days after you come to live here. After that you need a Dutch licence.
Can I take the Dutch theory exam in English?
Yes. The car theory exam is available in English for €57 in 2026, and it is the same exam as the Dutch one.
Does the 30% ruling let me exchange my licence?
Yes, from any country, as long as the ruling applies to you. Apply at your municipality and bring the Tax Administration decision.
Can I book the CBR exam without DigiD?
Yes. The CBR accepts a paper application form for the theory exam. It is slower than booking online.
Can I exchange an international driving permit?
No. An international driving permit is a translation of your licence, not a licence itself.
How long is a passed theory exam valid?
1.5 years. You need to pass the practical exam within that time.