Dutch driving theory test in English: how the CBR car exam works

Moved to the Netherlands and need a Dutch driving licence? Then you will most likely have to pass the theory test of the CBR, the Dutch driving examination authority. The good news: you do not need to speak Dutch. The car theory test is available in English at every CBR theory test centre.

Short answer: you can book the Dutch car theory test in English through Mijn CBR. The test has 50 questions, lasts 30 minutes and you pass with at least 44 correct answers. For languages other than Dutch or English you can take the test with an approved interpreter.

Who needs the Dutch theory test?

Everyone who wants a Dutch category B licence and does not already hold one that can be exchanged. If you have a licence from outside the EU and EFTA, you can usually drive on it for 185 days after registering in the Netherlands. After that you need a Dutch licence. Some licences can be exchanged without an exam; others cannot. Read how that works on our Dutch page about exchanging a foreign licence (rijbewijs omwisselen). If exchange is not possible, you take the theory test and then the practical test.

The exam format

• 50 questions in one continuous exam, since April 2025.
• 30 minutes in total.
• Pass mark: at least 44 correct, so a maximum of 6 mistakes.
• Question types: knowledge questions about rules and signs, traffic insight questions based on a situation, and hazard perception questions using short animations.
• Result: shown on screen straight after the exam.

The English version has the same content and difficulty as the Dutch one. Some legal terms are shown in Dutch and not translated, so it helps to learn a few key Dutch words, such as voorrang (right of way), bebouwde kom (built-up area) and erf (residential zone).

How to book the test in English

1. Get DigiD. You need DigiD, the Dutch government login, to use Mijn CBR. You apply for it once you are registered at a Dutch address.
2. Log in to Mijn CBR and choose the car theory test.
3. Select the English option. On the CBR website this is called the theory test for car drivers in English. There is also a version with extra time.
4. Pick a location and date. English exams are available at all CBR theory test centres. See the overview of CBR test locations.
5. Bring valid ID on the day. Without it, you cannot take the test.

Having trouble logging in? Our Dutch guide to Mijn CBR and DigiD explains the steps.

Taking the test in another language

If you prefer a language other than Dutch or English, you can take the test with an interpreter. You cannot bring your own; you book one through an interpreting agency approved by the CBR, at least 2 weeks before your exam. The test with an interpreter is taken individually and lasts 45 minutes. You pay the interpreter separately. More details are on our Dutch page about the theory test in another language.

Dutch rules that surprise experienced drivers

Many candidates with years of driving experience fail because Dutch rules differ from what they know. Pay extra attention to:

• Traffic from the right has right of way at uncontrolled junctions, including cyclists.
• Trams have right of way at uncontrolled junctions, even from the left.
• Shark teeth (white triangles on the road) mean you must give way.
• Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside, 100 km/h on an autoweg and often 100 km/h during the day on motorways.
• Cyclists everywhere: hazard perception questions often involve a cyclist you must spot in time.
• Alcohol: the limit for new drivers is 0.2 promille, for experienced drivers 0.5.

Example

You approach a junction without signs or road markings in a Dutch town. A cyclist comes from the right and a car from the left. You go straight on. Who goes first? The cyclist, because traffic from the right has priority. You go before the car from the left. In many countries drivers would not expect a cyclist to have priority here, which is why this is a classic exam question.

Common mistakes

• Relying on driving experience — the test checks Dutch rules, not general driving skill.
• Ignoring the Dutch terms — some words are not translated in the exam.
• Booking too late — plan the test early if your 185 days are running out.
• Practising only single questions — take full mock exams to get used to the 30-minute pace.

Study tip

Practise until you consistently score well above 44 out of 50 on full mock exams. That margin covers nerves and unfamiliar wording on the day.

Key points

Book the English car theory test via Mijn CBR, bring valid ID, answer 50 questions in 30 minutes and get at least 44 right.

Practice

Our practice platform is in Dutch, which is also a good way to learn the Dutch terms used in the exam. Start with car theory practice.

Start practising for free