Driving with a foreign driving licence
Are you relocating to the Netherlands with a foreign driving licence? You can continue to use it for some time. Exactly how long, depends on the country that issued it.
Do you have a driving licence issued in one of the countries of the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and do you now live in the Netherlands? You may continue to drive in the Netherlands with this licence for another 15 years (from the date of issue of the foreign driving licence).
This applies to the following categories:
- AM
- A1
- A2
- A
- B
- BE
This is subject to the validity of the driving licence.
You may continue to drive in the Netherlands with the following categories for a maximum of five years from the date of issue of the licence:
- C1
- C
- D1
- D
- C1E
- CE
- D1E
- DE
This is subject to the validity of the driving licence.
Was your driving licence issued more than 15 years ago without having expired in the meantime? You may continue to use it for another 2 years after the date of your relocation to the Netherlands.
Example
You have been living in the Netherlands since 15 June 2024 and hold an EU driving licence issued on 1 January 2019.
You may operate vehicles in categories AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE until 1 January 2034, provided these categories on your licence are still valid.
For the categories C1, C, D1, D, C1E, CE, D1E and DE, you were permitted to drive until 1 January 2024. Because you have been living in the Netherlands after that date, you may continue to use your driving licence for another two years, until 15 June 2026, provided the categories on your licence are still valid.
After this period
After this period, you must hold a Dutch driving licence. This means you will need to exchange your foreign driving licence for a Dutch one.
Apply for an exchange in time
Would you like to continue driving in the Netherlands after these 15 or 5 years? You will only be permitted to do so with a Dutch driving licence. Would you like to exchange your driving licence for a Dutch one? Be sure to start the process in time. Once those 15 or 5 years have passed and you do not yet have a Dutch driving licence, you will no longer be allowed to drive, including in the event you have already applied for the exchange.
Do you have a driving licence from 1 of the European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and was this licence issued while you were living in the Netherlands? If so, you are not allowed to drive in the Netherlands with your foreign driving licence. You will have to exchange this licence. You can apply to the municipality where you are registered. The municipality will forward your application to us.
Please consult Exchanging a foreign driving licence.
If you have a valid driving licence that was issued in a country outside the EU/EFTA , you may continue to use it for the first 185 days after you relocated to the Netherlands. After that period, you are only allowed to drive in the Netherlands with a Dutch driving licence. If the categories on your foreign driving licence do not have the designations A, B, C, D, E, it is wise to obtain an international driving licence in addition to your foreign one. You can get the international driving licence in the country that issued your current licence.
In some cases, you can exchange the foreign driving licence for a Dutch licence. Please consult Exchanging a foreign driving licence. In all other cases, you will have to retake the theory and practical test at the CBR.
Apply for an exchange in time
Would you like to continue driving in the Netherlands after these 185 days? You will only be permitted to do so with a Dutch driving licence. You may be able to exchange your driving licence for a Dutch driving licence. Do make sure to start the exchange in time. Once those 185 days have passed and you do not yet have a Dutch driving licence, you will no longer be allowed to drive, including in the event you have already applied for the exchange.
Driving licence from Ukraine
If you have a driving licence from Ukraine and are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive (residence permit 46), you may continue to drive in the Netherlands with your driving licence.
Even if the driving licence has expired. You can only exchange it for a Dutch driving licence with a 30% ruling from the Dutch tax authority. For more information, please consult Driving with a licence from Ukraine.
If you are in the Netherlands as a tourist, and not as a resident, you may drive in the Netherlands with your foreign driving licence.
Was your driving licence issued by a country outside the EU/EFTA? The categories on your driving licence must be A, B, C, D, E. If the categories on your driving licence have different designations, it is wise to obtain an international driving licence in addition to your foreign one. You can get the international driving licence in the country that issued your current licence.