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Driver's licence

dotwhit
March 12, 2011 12:47:51 PM CET

I have to exchange my international driver's licence for a Dutchy one and I've heard I not only have to re-sit both theory and practical tests but also have to pay for a dual-control car when I do it. Bizarre, since I've been driving around in the Netherlands for over a year. Looks like I'm up for over 200 euro just to get my licence. Anyone heard of any short cuts for getting an NL driver's licence?
coinjock
March 12, 2011 2:55:43 PM CET

dotwhit (Mar 12 2011, 11:47 AM) said: > original post
I have to exchange my international driver's licence for a Dutchy one and I've heard I not only have to re-sit both theory and practical tests but also have to pay for a dual-control car when I do it. Bizarre, since I've been driving around in the Netherlands for over a year. Looks like I'm up for over 200 euro just to get my licence. Anyone heard of any short cuts for getting an NL driver's licence?

Oh, if you get by with only 200Euro's, I think you will be getting the best deal EVER! Brace yourself for a painful reality.

As far as shortcuts go, good luck with that too. Over the years, it seems every possible loophole, or shortcut has been identified, and a firm and fast rule implemented to stop that.

Good luck to you.
nerissa
- 312 posts
March 17, 2011 5:45:10 PM CET

Yeah, sorry Dotwhit but you can't exchange an Australian license for a Dutch one. You need to sit the theory and practical exam.

There are condensed practical courses out there where you can do your lessons and practical exam in one day, but you're looking at around €600 or so (which is still cheaper than all the lessons that a beginner needs to take).

Be careful though, I'm not sure how long you're allowed to drive in the Netherlands without obtaining a Dutch license. I think it's only about 6 months, so you're probably uninsured atm if you crash (god forbid, touch wood).

If you have the 30% ruling you can exchange your Australian license, but only within the first 6 months of being granted the permit. Or if you can get hold of a UK license you can drive on that until it expires (or up to ten years) and then exchange it. But unless you have a residence permit (or UK passport) for there that's impossible. Not sure on the rules for Ireland - if you can do it that way, it might be cheaper to take a trip and change your license there...? That way you don't have to take the tests...
sydney_girl
- 2 posts
March 17, 2011 6:52:00 PM CET

Nerissa are you sure it hasn't changed? I was told recently at my town hall - next to the Heineken) that i could exchange my Aussie license for a Dutch one. Not that i am going to drive here or that i particularly care too much but thought i'd throw in what i heard a few weeks ago?
Deleted Member
- 7374 posts
March 17, 2011 8:38:33 PM CET

sydney_girl (Mar 17 2011, 06:52 PM) said: > original post
Nerissa are you sure it hasn't changed? I was told recently at my town hall - next to the Heineken) that i could exchange my Aussie license for a Dutch one. Not that i am going to drive here or that i particularly care too much but thought i'd throw in what i heard a few weeks ago?

If you are here for a job that would get you the 30% tax ruling, sure. For the rest of us, unless a country has a mutual agreement with the Netherlands, you have to go through the whole process all over again. So Americans and Canadians (outside Quebec) and I'm sure Australians aren't exempt...
nerissa
- 312 posts
March 18, 2011 11:24:05 AM CET

sydney_girl (Mar 17 2011, 05:52 PM) said: > original post
Nerissa are you sure it hasn't changed? I was told recently at my town hall - next to the Heineken) that i could exchange my Aussie license for a Dutch one. Not that i am going to drive here or that i particularly care too much but thought i'd throw in what i heard a few weeks ago?

No, sorry. The Town Hall gave you the wrong info. Don't worry though, it won't be the last time they do that

This info might help: rijbewijs.nl

I wish it was easier, I've been trying to find any possible loophole to avoid taking driving lessons but I'm coming up empty handed. If only I was one of the chosen few with an EU passport so I could avoid all the dramas!
sydney_girl
- 2 posts
March 18, 2011 12:16:03 PM CET

nerissa (Mar 18 2011, 10:24 AM) said: > original post
No, sorry. The Town Hall gave you the wrong info. Don't worry though, it won't be the last time they do that

This info might help: rijbewijs.nl

I wish it was easier, I've been trying to find any possible loophole to avoid taking driving lessons but I'm coming up empty handed. If only I was one of the chosen few with an EU passport so I could avoid all the dramas!

will you have an EU passport once you become a resident here?

oh that just sux.. and how ridiculous to make people take lessons and a driving test, considering in most other countries, including Australia and England you can swap your license. Well not that i have any desire to drive here anyway , yet another sucky aspect of living here (list is filling up so fast!)
And yeah, forgot that for 30% tax ruling people that's what i was thinking of.
Deleted Member
- 7374 posts
March 18, 2011 12:21:42 PM CET

sydney_girl (Mar 18 2011, 12:16 PM) said: > original post
will you have an EU passport once you become a resident here?

Once you become naturalized...pass the Dutch language test, you will have a Dutch passport. We're ALL residents here already if we have a verblijfsgunning card.

But it's where you driver's licence is from that counts though, not the passport you hold. So an Aussie licence with a Dutch passport still doesn't allow you drive here.
nerissa
- 312 posts
March 18, 2011 1:04:39 PM CET

sydney_girl (Mar 18 2011, 11:16 AM) said: > original post
will you have an EU passport once you become a resident here?

oh that just sux.. and how ridiculous to make people take lessons and a driving test, considering in most other countries, including Australia and England you can swap your license. Well not that i have any desire to drive here anyway , yet another sucky aspect of living here (list is filling up so fast!)
And yeah, forgot that for 30% tax ruling people that's what i was thinking of.

I know, it's just rubbish. I wish I had taken the initiative to change my license to a British one when I lived there. Life would have been so much easier then! But, I shouldn't complain, I have a permanent Sober Bob in my husband
dotwhit
March 18, 2011 2:43:00 PM CET

Thanks for all the comments and advice. It seems the CBR fees are just under 200 euro for both theory and practical tests and there's no way out of paying a driving school for the use of a dual control car which will be 50 to 100 euro. The main thing there is not to allow them to upsell all the extras that they will want to add, so the way I'm seeing it, I'm up for about 300 euro. My only complaint really is the need to have the expense of a dual control car when I've been driving around The Hague for months on my international licence and I've been driving for longer than I care to remember. Bizarre.
livingos75
- 9 posts
September 5, 2011 5:22:00 PM CEST

Hi,
Just looking for some info on where to get a copy of the Dutch road rules. Everyone says on line but the page doesn't work. I am getting dizzy from gong around in circles on the sites.
any leads would be much appreciated.
Nerissa I feel your pain, believe it or not if I had changed my license in Japan it would have been a straight swap. kWho would have thought.
Thanks
Nicol
Nerrida
- 20 posts
September 19, 2011 11:21:46 AM CEST

livingos75 said:
Hi, Just looking for some info on where to get a copy of the Dutch road rules. Everyone says on line but the page doesn't work. I am getting dizzy from gong around in circles on the sites. any leads would be much appreciated. Nerissa I feel your pain, believe it or not if I had changed my license in Japan it would have been a straight swap. kWho would have thought. Thanks Nicol

I found a link that works, but I could only find the booklet in Dutch language.

http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/brochures/2011/03/25/verkeersborden-en-verkeersregels-in-nederland.html
Nerrida
- 20 posts
September 19, 2011 11:25:34 AM CEST

Oh I was just thinking livingos75, If you don't speak Dutch then it might be possible to get the road rules and even do the test in other languages. (Or that's what I heard, anyway.) I'd suggest call the Rijksoverheid (0800-8051) and they should be able to direct you to the information you need.
livingos75
- 9 posts
September 19, 2011 11:33:27 AM CEST

Thanks for your reply Nerrida.
I got these links from someone at the awvb (?)
http://www.theorie-leren.nl/shop/auto/boeken,-examentrainingen-en-cadeauboxen.html

http://www.verjo.nl/
I only speak a little Dutch at this stage and usually drive on the right so I think it would be too stressful to do both.
I could book a test in English through this site
http://www.cbr.nl/reservering.pp
Though some of the pages that get you there are in Dutch.
Hope this can help someone else too.
Nic
foils
- 34 posts
October 12, 2011 2:09:19 PM CEST

You can book a test in English - but book ahead, they only have a few a year (in my town anyway). One word of caution - I tried to sit the test, thinking I was fully informed having found the English and Dutch offical 'Road Rules' online. I then discovered that the actual test is full of questions about tyre pressure in snowy conditions, blood alcohol levels and sundry other 'essential' things that are not even glossed over in 'Road Rules'. I got nervous. The questions are on timers. I failed. Money wasted.

Apparently I should have done the 'normal' thing and paid to attend a driving school where they coach you for the exam and guarantee that you'll pass - for an upfront fixed fee. This is how the system is stitched up. Learning to drive is a Dutch industry in itself, and as pointless (to my mind) as an uitzendbureau. Welcome to the bureaucracy. Mind you - if you find free online info that covers tyre pressure, speed into corners in varying road conditions, how often you must check your oil, and what types of insurance are mandatory vs. optional - who knows what else... I'd love to know!

This post was edited by foils at October 12, 2011 2:13:15 PM CEST
aussielauren
- 2 posts
December 8, 2011 9:06:14 PM CET

I've just gotten my Dutch driving license this week... Yay!!!
The whole process cost about 1000euros (theory test, 5 lessons, pre-test, practical test, actual license...).
I did everything in English. More than half the people in the theory test failed (as they announce your results in front of everyone!) but I studied on the website www.traffictrainer.nl which has a study course in English and cost ~20euros for a months access. Really helpful... Has all those questions about tyre pressure... Would be nearly impossible to pass with just the rules book I think!
Hope that's helpful...
foils
- 34 posts
January 5, 2012 1:34:03 PM CET

aussielauren said:
I've just gotten my Dutch driving license this week... Yay!!! The whole process cost about 1000euros (theory test, 5 lessons, pre-test, practical test, actual license...). I did everything in English. More than half the people in the theory test failed (as they announce your results in front of everyone!) but I studied on the website www.traffictrainer.nl which has a study course in English and cost ~20euros for a months access. Really helpful... Has all those questions about tyre pressure... Would be nearly impossible to pass with just the rules book I think! Hope that's helpful...

WOW - thanks v. much - that's starting me thinking...
jeuring
- 1 posts
February 3, 2012 5:05:44 PM CET

Having never driven on the wrong side, I was wondering how difficult it would be for me to rent a car at schiphol and drive to Zwolle. I dont particularly want to get a train with all our luggage or get a taxi at over 200 euros for the trip, when I can hire a car for the same money for a week.
roanna
- 3 posts
February 15, 2012 6:54:48 PM CET

Hi everyone.

So I have just booked in for my theroy in two weeks. There are quite a few english test a month in utrecht- if you call 3 a lot.

I still haven't found an english book, but am going to try the http://www.traffictrainer.nl/website/default.asp that was suggested- so thanks.

Has anyone found a book?? Any other suggestions? hints? tips? Have driven a bit in europe, but never in the Netherlands. My mum is coming over in June and I really need to get my licence so we can go on a road trip! I have a british licence (I am a kiwi) but I applied for it while I was a resident in the Netherlands... and there are so many flash cars around I don't want to tempt fate and the insurance company!!

any ho, wish me luck!
roanna
- 3 posts
February 15, 2012 6:59:26 PM CET

jeuring said:
Having never driven on the wrong side, I was wondering how difficult it would be for me to rent a car at schiphol and drive to Zwolle. I dont particularly want to get a train with all our luggage or get a taxi at over 200 euros for the trip, when I can hire a car for the same money for a week.

In all honesty driving on the wrong side is not so hard. The hard part is knowing where to go and figuring out how to get back when you take a wrong turn. A great co-driver or Navigation will help. If you can drive on the motorway and change lanes and take the big round abouts... it is not so different to be on the other side.

Just think about where you need to be before you turn!!! think RIGHT!!!