How to get a Dutch driving license: exchange, 30% ruling or CBR exams

Moving to the Netherlands raises a practical question fast: can you keep driving on the license you already have, or do you need a Dutch one? The answer depends on where your license was issued, whether you qualify for the 30% ruling, and how long you have lived here. Some people can simply swap their license at the town hall. Others have to take the Dutch theory and practical exams at the CBR.

Short answer: EU and EEA licenses remain valid in the Netherlands. A license from outside the EU/EEA is valid for 185 days after you register with your municipality. Within that period you either exchange it (if your country is on the RDW list, or if you have the 30% ruling) or you pass the CBR theory and practical exams.

Route 1: you have an EU or EEA license

A license from an EU or EEA country, or Switzerland, is recognised in the Netherlands. You can keep driving on it. Depending on when it was issued, you may have to exchange it for a Dutch license after a certain period, and you always exchange it when it expires. The RDW publishes the exact rules based on the issue date of your license.

Route 2: your country has an exchange agreement

The Netherlands has exchange agreements with a short list of countries and regions outside the EU. According to the RDW list, this includes for example the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Israel and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Quebec. The United States, Australia and most other countries are not on the list. Always check the current list on the RDW website, because it can change and sometimes covers only certain license categories.

To exchange, you generally need to have lived in the issuing country for at least 185 days in the year the license was issued, and your license must still be valid. Read the full procedure on our Dutch page about exchanging a foreign license.

Route 3: you qualify for the 30% ruling

If you, or your partner, have the 30% tax ruling, you can exchange a valid license from almost any country without taking Dutch exams. You show the ruling decision from the Dutch Tax Administration at the municipality. The exchange must happen while the ruling is still active. Once it ends, this route closes.

Route 4: you take the Dutch exams

If none of the routes above apply, you get a Dutch license the same way Dutch learners do:

1. Pass the theory exam at the CBR. You can take it in English. See our guide to the Dutch driving theory test in English.
2. Submit a health declaration (gezondheidsverklaring) through Mijn CBR. It costs €46.90 in 2026.
3. Take driving lessons with a Dutch driving school. Experienced drivers often need fewer lessons, mainly to learn Dutch rules and exam expectations.
4. Pass the practical exam. In 2026 the CBR fee is €143.50.
5. Apply for your license at your municipality. The maximum fee in 2026 is €53.65.

The standard theory exam costs €50.50 in 2026. An exam in English costs extra.

Rules that often surprise newcomers

• Priority from the right applies at equal junctions, including for cyclists. See equal junctions.
• Shark teeth on the road mean you give way. Read more at priority signs.
• Speed limits on motorways are 100 km/h during the day on most roads. All limits are at speed limits in the Netherlands.
• Cyclists everywhere: watch your blind spot when turning right. See blind spot.

Common mistakes

• Waiting too long — the 185 days include time for lessons and exam slots.
• Assuming your country is on the list — most countries are not. Check the RDW first.
• Letting your foreign license expire — an expired license usually cannot be exchanged.
• Forgetting the health declaration — without it, the process stops.

Study tip

Even experienced drivers fail the Dutch theory exam because of local rules. Focus on priority rules, road signs and hazard perception rather than general driving knowledge.

Key takeaway

EU license: keep driving. Listed country or 30% ruling: exchange at the town hall. Everyone else: CBR theory, health declaration, lessons, practical exam.

Practice

Start with Dutch road signs and priority rules, then practice full exams.

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