Requesting a short-term exemption

Check the conditions

• Your load is indivisible and you cannot transport the load within the legally stipulated dimensions (only available in Dutch). This means that your transport is too large or too heavy.
• You can specify a contiguous list of up to 2 loaded and 3 unloaded routes.
• The exemption applies for “a single combination of specific dimensions”. You can have a single exemption cover a maximum of 4 towing and 4 towed vehicles. In that case, make sure that the combination of vehicles fits the dimensions of the exemption. You pay for each exemption.
• If your vehicle combination is a maximum of 4.50 m wide, 4.40 m high and 60 m long, you can also request an exemption for 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks.
• Your transport is taller than 4.50 metres A detailed route study  (only available in Dutch)must then be submitted with your request.
• If you need additional escorts on top of what is legally stipulated (only available in Dutch), note that this is only possible if we give permission. Please state this along with your request. We will then include extra escort vehicles in your exemption.

What else you need

• Make sure that you have a customer number for exemptions AND the Crosweb certificate for applying for exemptions online. Read:
• Creating an account for exemptions (only available in Dutch). 
If it is for a transport that weighs over 50,000 kg, your vehicle must be appropriate for it. Read: Demonstrating that your vehicle can handle the extra weight.
• If it is a modular vehicle, i.e. one that is made up of parts that each have their own VIN, you will then need a SERT document. Your manufacturer applies to us for that. You will need the SERT number for the request.
• If it is not a Dutch-registered vehicle, get a one-time registration for it. We can then see from your VIN what vehicle is involved.

A route study is important for any short-term exemption. For transports that are taller than 4.40 m, the route study is a mandatory part of your request.

How to carry out a route study

1. Describe your route.
2. State where you expect the awkward points in the route to be: conflicting signage, roundabouts or sharp bends, bridges, overpasses or high-voltage cables.
3. Give a visual representation of the route and photographs of the problem locations.
4. State how you will be resolving each awkward point, e.g. by taking them at a lower speed or by lowering the vehicle height.
5. State how many escort vehicles are needed.
6. Calculate how many minutes your activities will impede other traffic for.
7. State whether you have already contacted the road authorities and, if so, who.
8. Append this information to your exemption request.

If you have received the Crosweb certificate, you can use the certificate to make your request for a single contiguous route (or in parts if so required) from the Digital Road Map for Exemptions (Dutch “DWO”).

Benefits of an online request through the DWO

• Easy to create and append the proposed route. This means the route will be clearer and you will get your exemption much more quickly.
• You can view the status of your application, as well as your previous applications.

This is how it works

1. Create your route proposal using the Digital Road Map for exemptions (DWO).
   • The planned route should include the street addresses of both the loading and unloading locations.
   • Use intermediate points to plan your route accurately.
   • Do not list these ‘via’ points as extra unloading addresses.
   • If you need a manual, see RDW-instructions DWO.
2. In the Digital Road Map, select ‘Save and complete' to save your route.
3. In the Digital Road Map, choose ‘Apply for exemption’ to request an exemption directly via Crosweb for your saved route. Attach:
   • A drawing of your vehicle combination, including the load. Use the Load drawing form for this.
   • Licence plate (for a Dutch-registered vehicle)
   • VIN (for a vehicle with a foreign registration)
   • SERT number (for a modular vehicle)
   • State whether you need extra escort vehicles.
4. Are you applying for an exemption for a route that the RDW can take the decision for? If so, we can decide upon your request within 2 working days.
5. If you are applying for an exemption for a route for which we cannot take the decisions, we then ask the road authorities for advice about their part of the road. That can sometimes take a long time; on average it takes 14 days. We will gather the recommendations together and take a decision.
6. If we approve your request, we will send an e-mail with the exemption. Our decision may sometimes take longer than 14 days. For instance, in these cases:
   • Large dimensions or a greater mass
   • The road authority imposes additional requirements
   • You are submitting a request for multiple partial routes
7. Along with the exemption, you will receive a preliminary invoice. At the end of the month, you will receive a summary account covering all your requests.
8. You now have an exemption for exceptional transport for one route. There are obligations in this case. Read: 'Before you start driving'.

You can also submit an exemption request directly through Crosweb, without the Digital Road Map for exemptions. In that case, you do not attach a route proposal using our road map either. It will then take us longer to process your request.

You can easily use the Digital Road Map for exemptions to arrange an exemption. It can also be done using a form, although there are disadvantages.

Disadvantages of requests using the form

• You cannot attach a proposed route using our road map.
• It is easier for mistakes and ambiguities to arise.
• As a result, it takes a lot longer before you receive your exemption.
• You cannot view the history or status of your request yourself.

This is how it works

1. Download the following forms:
   
   • Application form for a short term exemption
   • Appendix to a request for a short term exemption 
   • Drawing of the load  
2. Send the application form to [email protected]. Attach:
   • A drawing of your vehicle combination, including the form with a drawing of the load.
   • State whether you need extra escort vehicles.
3. If you are applying for an exemption for a route for which other road authorities take the decisions, we will then ask those road authorities for a recommendation about their part of the route. We will collect all the recommendations together and take a decision. This takes 14 days on average.
4. We then send you our decision by e-mail. Our decision may sometimes take longer than 14 days. For instance, in these cases:
   • large dimensions or a greater mass
   • the road authority imposes additional requirements
   • you are submitting a request for multiple routes
5. Along with the decision, you will receive a preliminary invoice. At the end of the month, you will receive a summary account covering all your requests.
6. You now have an exemption for exceptional transport for one route. There are obligations in this case. Read: 'Before you start driving'.
   
   

You now have a short-term exemption for exceptional transport for one route. Read your exemption carefully and observe your obligations:

• You are not allowed to deviate from that route.
• Check beforehand whether you can genuinely take the route in practice.
• For transports wider than 3.50 metres, check no more than 24 hours before you start driving that there are no restrictions on the route caused by roadworks, events or checks. Use the DWO – the Digital Road Map for Exemptions – for this.
• Obligations will be included in your exemption, such as informing the road authority about your journey.

Make sure nothing is in the way

Before you start driving, check the media and websites of the road authorities for news about potential restrictions on your route. For instance, check the website of the RWS (the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management), vanAnaarBeter.nl">vanAnaarBeter.nl. If it transpires that you will not have a clear run, plan your transport at another time or on a different day within the validity period of your exemption.

Hindered during the journey nevertheless

If you encounter an obstacle during your journey that you did not expect, call Verkeerscentrum Nederland (the national traffic centre) to discuss it: +31(0)88-795350">+31(0)88-795350. 

Changing

You can only amend the request if it is not yet being processed. Use the alteration form to do this. Changing the dimensions of the transport is not possible. In that case, cancel the request and submit a new one.

Cancelling

You can only cancel the request if it is not yet being processed. Use the Cancelation form for this. There are costs associated with this.