9.2 Driver's licenses

What documents do you need to be on the road?

Your driving license serves as evidence that you are permitted to operate a certain (type of) motor vehicle.

There are 5 categories of driving licenses. Each vehicle category has a corresponding driving license category.

Category	Vehicle	Age
AM	Moped and light moped, scooter and microcar	Over 16
A	Motorbikes
A1	Light motorcycle	From 18
A2	Medium motorcycle	From 20
A	Heavy motorcycles	From 21
B	Cars	From 18 or 17 with 2toDrive
B+	With trailer	”
BE	With larger trailer	”
C	Trucks and campers	Form 18
C1	Light trucks (3500-7500kg)	”
C	Heavy trucks (+7500kg)	”
CE	With trailer	”
D	Buses
D1	Small bus (max 16 passengers)
D	Large bus
DE	With trailer
E	Trailer or semi-trailer	From 18 and with license for the vehicle type

A motorized tricycle does not fall under driving license category B, but under A.

To drive a car you need a category B driver’s license. With your driving license B you are allowed to drive motor vehicles with four wheels and a maximum permitted mass of up to 3500 kg, suitable for 1 driver and a maximum of 8 passengers. A driving license B is valid for 10 years.

You get your driver’s license by showing during your driving test that you have enough knowledge, insight and skills to drive safely on the road. After you have passed your theory and practical exam at the CBR, you can apply for your driving license at the town hall in your place of residence.

Information is on the driver’s license §

Front data:

• Passport photo
• Full name
• Date of issue of your driver’s license
• Validity date of your driver’s license
• Signature
• Place where your driving license was applied for
• Which vehicles you are allowed to drive (the main categories)

Back data:

• BSN number
• Driving license number
• Different categories listed
• Validity date per category

Applying for a Driver’s License §

You should apply for your driver’s license at the municipal office in your residential city. Ensure this document remains current. Hence, you should apply for a new driver’s license under these circumstances:

• The expiry of your driver’s license
• Loss of your driving license (either lost or stolen). In such an instance, fill in a declaration at the municipal office and promptly request a new license. Police reporting is unnecessary.
• Your driver’s license is damaged, worn, or illegible
• You acquire a new driving eligibility;
• Your driving eligibility for a certain category becomes invalid
• You desire to convert a Dutch military driving license or a foreign driving license to a Dutch driving license.

Applying for a driver’s license? Your driving license will be ready 5 working days after your application. You are not allowed to drive until then. If you are arrested without a driver’s license, you can receive a hefty fine.

Beginner’s driver’s license: fewer accidents §

As soon as you get your first driver’s license, you will receive a beginner’s driver’s license. It does not matter which driver’s license you get (AM, T or B). The beginner’s license is a regular driver’s license with a penalty point system for serious traffic violations.

The aim of the beginner’s license is to reduce the number of traffic accidents. Novice drivers are more often involved in traffic accidents than experienced drivers.

How long are you considered a beginning driver? §

• If you received your first driving license before the age of 18, you are a beginning driver for 7 years.
• If you received your first driving license at 18 years or older, you are a beginning driver for 5 years.

Exception: If you acquire an AM or T driving license and the B driving license before you are 18, then you are considered a beginning driver for 5 years from when you received your B driving license.

2toDrive §

Another initiative targeting young drivers is 2toDrive. This allows individuals to gain driving experience prior to turning 18, under the supervision of an experienced driver, reducing the likelihood of accidents due to inexperience.

A 2toDrive participant can:

• Take the theory exam from their 16th birthday
• Begin driving lessons at 16.5 years old
• Attempt the practical exam once they turn 17
• Upon passing the B driving license test, they can drive under a coach’s supervision
• Once they turn 18, they are permitted to drive independently

Driving Under Supervision §

To join the 2toDrive program, the participant must apply for a mentorship pass, wherein a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 mentors can be registered. A preferred mentor or coach is usually someone from the participant’s immediate circle, such as a family member or friend.

Driving around without a coach? An expensive joke 😂

A condition of 2toDrive is that the young driver only gets into the car under supervision. If a 17-year-old drives without a registered companion, he is not insured for damage or injury. As a result, even a minor collision can cause the bill to rise considerably!

Coach conditions §

• At least 27 years old
• Has been in possession of a Dutch driving license B for at least 5 years
• Can show a valid driver’s license while guiding
• Is registered and lives in the Netherlands
• Has not had any criminal convictions for traffic violations or had to take alcohol or behavioral courses 4 years before applying for the companion pass
• Has not been declared invalid 4 years before the application for the companion pass
• Is not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication while supervising

Points-Based Driving License §

A license applicable to all drivers is the points-based driving license. This license operates on a penalty points system. If you are caught in a checkpoint with an excessively high blood alcohol level or traces of drugs found in your blood, or if you refuse a breath analysis or blood test, you will receive 1 penalty point upon conviction.

This penalty point lasts for 5 years, after which it’s removed, resetting your points to zero. If you are then convicted a second time within 5 years for driving under the influence of excessive alcohol (or drugs), two scenarios could occur:

• Second conviction < 1.3 per mille alcohol. You will receive a strong warning and continue to drive for another 5 years with 1 penalty point.
• Second conviction > 1.3 per mille alcohol. In this case, you lose your driver’s license immediately. Before you are permitted to drive again, you must prove that you are capable of driving safely and pass a driving test again.

The aim of the point-based driving license is to counteract drunk driving.

Typically, 0.5 permille represents 2 glasses of alcohol.

This means as a new driver, you can consume at most one drink if you intend to drive.

Your blood alcohol content after having one alcoholic drink is influenced by factors like: your gender, height, weight, whether you have eaten etc. If you are petite and light, your blood alcohol content after a drink will be higher than a person who is two meters tall and weighs 100 kilos.

If you are convicted for driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, your driving license will instantly be revoked. It better be!

Driving License B - Car and Trailer §

Permitted maximum mass: the empty weight of the trailer + the weight of the load (load capacity).

Driving License B and Trailer §

With your B class driving license, you can tow a trailer or semi-trailer with your car, provided the weight is:

• Up to 750 kg (empty weight + loading capacity);
• Over 750 kg, if combined weight of the car and trailer doesn’t exceed 3500 kg (empty weight + loading capacity).

For towing larger trailers, a B+ or BE class driving license is required.

Driving License B+ §

The B+ class driving license falls between B and BE class. With a B+ class driving license (or code 96), you can tow a trailer with your car, provided the combined weight of the car and trailer is:

• Up to 4250 kg (empty weight + loading capacity).

Driving License BE §

With a BE class driving license, you can tow larger trailers or semi-trailers, provided the weight is:

• Up to 3500 kg (empty weight + loading capacity);
• Over 3500 kg (empty weight + loading capacity), but only under specific conditions.

Certificate of Fitness §

To operate a vehicle, a Certificate of Fitness is required. This certifies you are physically and mentally fit to drive. In some cases, a Health Declaration must be filed with the CBR.

Health Declaration §

A Health Declaration must be completed when applying for a driving license for the first time, or when obtaining a license in a new category. It’s also required when renewing your license if you are 65 or older, or have existing health conditions.

Medical Examination §

In certain cases, a medical examination is mandatory to obtain a Certificate of Fitness. This applies when applying, renewing or extending your C or D class driving license, or if you are 75 or older.

How long is a driver’s license valid? §

The duration of validity for your driver’s license is:

• 10 years (from the date of issuance) for AM, A, and B driver’s licenses for all drivers below 65 years of age
• 5 years for C and D driver’s licenses
• For every driver aged between 65 and 70 applying for a new driver’s license, the new license is valid until their 75th birthday.
• 5 years for all drivers aged 70 and above.

Adjusted validity period Sometimes an applicant receives a driver’s license with an adjusted validity period. For example, when it is safer to shorten the validity period in view of someone’s mental or physical condition.

When is your driver’s license not valid? §

Your driver’s license becomes invalid if:

• You obtain a new or replacement driver’s license (the old one is no longer valid)
• You pass away (duh!)
• our Dutch driver’s license has been exchanged for a foreign license
• You have made a personal modification to it (ie. tampering)
• You’re temporarily prohibited from driving (see next section)
• Your driver’s license is declared temporarily invalid (see next section)

Suspension of Your Driver’s License §

Without a valid driver’s license, you may not drive. There are several scenarios where you might temporarily lose (as in lose the right to use it, meaning to be invalidated) your driver’s license.

Your driver’s license has been confiscated §

If a police officer stops you due to a severe violation, they can confiscate your driver’s license immediately.

⚠️ If your driver’s license is confiscated, you are immediately no longer allowed to drive yourself.

Your driver’s license may be confiscated if: §

• You refuse a breath or blood test;
• You’re identified as driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• You exceed the allowed maximum speed by more than 50 km per hour
• You pose a serious risk to traffic safety
• During an arrest, you appear mentally or physically incapable of driving. In this case, the police will seize the driver’s license and the CBR will carry out an investigation

Driver’s License Suspension: §

If the police seize your driver’s license, the CBR is automatically notified. They then assess the necessary measures to reinstate your license. These may include an investigation or compulsory participation in a course. If deemed fit to drive, you may resume driving. If required to attend a course, the CBR will return your license immediately, and you’re allowed to drive while attending the course.

Driver’s License Retention: §

After confiscation, the public prosecutor can retain your license pending the court’s decision.

Driving Ban: §

The court or applicable criminal order will determine if your offense is severe enough to warrant a temporary or permanent driving ban.

Educational measures

Depending on your violation, there are different types of educational measures (courses) that you are required to attend:

• The Educational Measure for Behavior and Traffic (EMG).
• The Alcohol Educational Measure (EMA).
• The Light Alcohol Educational Measure (LEMA).

See Actions taken by the CBR

Invalidated Driver’s License: §

Your driving license will be automatically invalidated if:

• You’re convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs twice within a 5-year span
• You refuse to participate in a breath or blood test.

In case of re-offending, the CBR will need to reassess your fitness to drive. This means you will have to reapply for your driver’s license and retake both the theory and practical exams.