Apply for driving license for car or motorcycle

You need a valid driver's license to drive a car or motorcycle on public roads. You cannot apply for your license until you have passed your driving test.

Driver's license lost or stolen?

Has your driver's license been lost or stolen? Report it online at RDW. Then go to the municipality to apply for a new driving license. You do not have to report it to the police.

Validity

A driver's license for car or motorcycle is valid for 10 years. Are you older than 65? Then your driver's license is not valid for as long. This is because you must have a medical examination starting at age 75. Read more about your driver's license from age 75 at Rijksoverheid.nl.

Foreign driving license

Has your driving license not been issued by the Netherlands, but by another EU country or an EFTA country? Then you may use that driving license in the Netherlands as long as it is valid.

17 years

If you are 17 years old, you can apply for a youth driving license. You may then drive a car with a companion next to you. To do this, you need to apply for a companion pass at the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer (RDW). Read more about the youth driving license at 2todrive.nl.

Renewing your driving license online at the RDW

All information about renewing your driving license directly with the RDW can be found on their website.
Read that information carefully and/or watch the video before you apply. After 2 working days you will receive an email that you can pick up your driving license at the municipality. You do not need to make an appointment.

Note: You can only renew online if you are in possession of a valid Dutch driving license. If you have reported online to RDW that the driving license is missing/stolen then online renewal is not possible. Please make an appointment at the municipality to apply for a new driving license. 

Exchange foreign driving license

Did you obtain the driving license outside the Netherlands? You can exchange the driving license for a Dutch driving license in some cases. Check the RDW to see which documents you need for your appointment at the municipality. Schedule your appointment online. 

The main requirements for applying for a driver's license are:

• You passed your driving test.
• You have the Dutch nationality, or the nationality of another person EU country or an EFTA country. Either one of these situations applies to you:
  • You have a valid residence permit.
  • You have Ukrainian nationality and are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive.
  • You are in the Netherlands because of Association Decision 1/80 of the EEC/Turkey Association Council.
• You lived in the Netherlands for at least 184 days in the past year.
• You apply for your driver's license within 3 years of your driving test. Otherwise, you must take the exam again.
• You are 18 years of age or older, or
• You are 17 years old and you have a companion pass. You can apply for a companion pass through the RDW website.

After 5 working days, you can pick up your new driver's license at the municipality. You have 3 months to collect your driver's license.

Rush request

Does 5 business days take too long? Then apply for your driver's license with an urgent application. If you apply for the driver's license before 2 p.m., it will be ready after 2 working days at the latest. You do pay extra money for an urgent application.

Has your driver's license been lost? Then an urgent application is not always possible. Ask the municipality about this.