FAQ

Yes, for the passenger car licence you can take this test in English directly as a class test. But for the moped and motorcycle theory tests you’ll need to use the services of a TolkenNet interpreter and book this as an individual theory test. The interpreter will translate the questions from Dutch into the language of your choice.

Yes, this is possible at most of the larger CBR driving test centres; be sure that your instructor makes this known to the examiner at your chosen driving test centre. This should be done on the same day of this test by your instructor requesting an English speaking examiner well before the start of the actual driving test.

No, untill you have passed your driving test and hold your Dutch driving licence you can only take driving lessons on the road with an approved (licenced) driving instructor.  Note that temporary or provisional driving licences do not exist in The Netherlands.

Yes, you can take driving lessons in a car from an approved driving instructor from the age of 16 ½; for this you don’t have to be a resident in The Netherlands. Also, a BSN (Citizens Service Number) and a DigId (Digital Identity) are not required.

You do not need to pass the CBR driving theory test first, to be allowed to take driving lessons for the passenger car. But you can only take a driving test after having passed the CBR driving theory test. A hard copy of a CBR Theory Certificate is only issued for the categories A (motorcycle) and AM (moped), because when having riding lessons for these categories, you must hold a valid certificate which you can produce. For the category B the CBR Theory Certificate is only stored as a data file.  A CBR Theory Test Pass is valid for EIGHTEEN months.

The pass rates of all driving schools in The Netherlands always vary, and are only based on the figures of “first-time” pass candidates. Over the last four calendar quarters our score was 61-65%; this year we even score 100%. We owe this very high pass rate to the CBR Preliminary Driving Tests, that we recommend to all our learner drivers. The CBR updates their site with all this information quarterly. Click here to review our latest scores.

Yes, the best way to do this is through the e-learning tool TrafficTrainer; here you can study all the learning materials for the car, moped and motorcycle on-line; there are also heaps (> 11.000 in total) of practice questions to prepare you more than adequately for your Dutch CBR driving theory test.  Also, this site is updated weekly with the latest test questions! This is really considered to be the best, better than all the rest, covering all you’ll find in the books from the publishers for the Dutch driving theory test, with really much…much more! Try the demo for free and the full programme for € 1,30 for just one hour; then you’ll really be convinced.

No. When applying for any type of theory/driving tests or for the Dutch driving licence you will be required to A) physically possess & to be able to show a valid form of identity, and B) be registered as a resident in the GBA (Municipality’s General Registry) with a Citizen’s Service Number (BSN), and C) be able to authorize your driving school to apply for your riding/driving test for you through your DigId (Digital Identity). There are two exceptions with regard to conditions B and C: 1. Diplomatic personnel and privileged persons that are temporarily residing in The Netherlands; you are then not registered in The Netherlands, but possess a written statement issued by the Foreign Ministry confirming that status. 2. Foreign NATO military personnel (or attached civil service) or members of your family that are temporarily residing in The Netherlands, possessing a signed statement issued by your (camp) commander. In these cases you’ll be a temporarily residing person (expat), not registered as a resident in the GBA, but included in a separate PROBAS (Protocol’s Basic Registry) registry, without a BSN; sometimes you might have a Social Fiscal Number (SOFI-Number) for tax reasons, but this is not a BSN-Number.

The International Driving School of The Netherlands only operates with IBKI approved driving instructors; the instructor will always be able to show you his/her IBKI issued “Bevoegdheidspas” (Instructor’s Licence). Further, this school is registered with the CBR (The Central Driving Test Bureau) in Rijswijk (number 2552A1), the BOVAG Driving School Organisation in Bunnik (number 04414600), the Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam (number 34068344) and the Dutch VAT tax office (number NL078002825B01).

No, you can only take riding lessons on the road with an approved (licenced) driving instructor untill you have passed your driving test and hold your Dutch driving licence. Note that temporary or provisional driving licences do not exist in The Netherlands.

Yes, you’ll need to pass the CBR moped theory test for the moped first before being allowed to take moped riding lessons on the road. A hard copy of a CBR Theory Certificate is only issued for the categories A (motorcycle) and AM (moped), because when having riding lessons for these categories, you must hold a valid certificate which you can produce.  A CBR Theory Test Pass is valid for EIGHTEEN months.

Yes; without having passed the CBR motorcycle theory test (category A), you can only follow part one of the training, which is the off-road “AVB” (Algemene Voertuig Beheersing = General Control of the Vehicle). For both part two of the training, the on-road “AVD” (Algemene Verkeers Deelneming = General Traffic Participation) AND the CBR Driving Test, you will have to be in possession of a valid CBR Theory Test Pass Certificate. You can only take this CBR Theory Test at the age of 17; the CBR issues you with a hard copy of your CBR Theory Test Pass Certificate, as when taking riding lessons and the riding test you must hold a valid certificate which you can produce.

No, once having become a resident you are not allowed to drive with an International Driving Licence at all, this is only for tourists and then even only for the amount of time that they are allowed to stay here with that status! After having taken up residency within The Netherlands you are allowed to drive for 185 days on your valid national driving licence; after that you will NOT – except for licences issued in EU/EEA countries and Switzerland – have any entitlement to drive within The Netherlands. Within the grace period of 185 days you should have obtained the Dutch driving licence either by means of an exchange on the grounds of the 30% tax ruling system or by means of a CBR theory and driving test.

No, you can only apply for and/or renew a foreign International Driving Licence (IDP) through your own national automobile association or motoring organization, e.g. the AA or RAC in the UK, the AAA in the USA etc. This means that you can only obtain this licence through that organization in which country your national driving licence was issued. The Dutch national automobile association (ANWB) can only issue International Driving Licences (also called International Driving Permits) to those holding a valid Dutch driving licence. Remember that as a resident in The Netherlands you may not drive with an International Driving Licence beyond the grace period of 185 days. This rule does not apply to driving licences issued in EU/EEA member states and Switzerland.