Driving licence validity
Normally speaking, a driving licence is valid for 10 years. This applies to the driving licences for motorcycle, moped (including snorfiets, brommobiel and speed pedelec), passenger car with or without trailer and the tractor. The driving licences for the lorry and bus are valid for only 5 years.
As you get older, the validity of the driving licences for passenger car, motorcycle and moped also become shorter upon renewal.
- Health declaration
A questionnaire in which you declare your mental and physical state to the CBR. The CBR determines whether you are fit to drive based on this statement, or whether further investigation into your fitness to drive is needed. You do not need a health declaration for the moped driving licence.
Validity period from the age of 65
The validity period of your driving licence slowly becomes shorter from the age of 65. For example, when renewed between your 65th and 75th birthday, then it is valid until you turn 75. So, if you renew your driving licence at age 65, then your driving licence is valid for another 10 years. If you renew your driving licence at age 69, then your driving licence is valid for 6 years. From the age of 70, your driving licence is valid for a maximum of 5 years after renewal. From the age of 75, you will also have to undergo a medical examination at every renewal, if you have any other driving licences in addition to the moped driving licence. This does not apply to the moped driving licence.
| Maximum validity period | |
|---|---|
| Younger than 65 years | Valid for 10 years |
| Between 65 and 70 years | Until you turn 75, valid between 5 and 10 years |
| Between 70 and 75 years | Valid for 5 years |
| Over 75 years | Valid for 5 years, mandatory examination (not with AM) |
Loss of validity
A driving licence automatically loses its validity in the following cases:
- A replacement driving licence has been issued, or your driving licence has been reported as missing or stolen. Your old driving licence is then no longer valid, even after retrieval.
- If you have been disqualified from driving (certain or all) motor carriages.
- If changes have been made to your driving licence.
- If your entire driving licence or the driving licence for certain categories has been invalidated.
- If important information of you has changed, such as your surname, your first name(s), the place or date of birth or your gender.
Invalidation of the driving licence
With certain violations or offences, the driving licence will be declared invalid. This happens in the following cases:
- If you have been convicted twice within five years of driving under the influence of alcohol where the blood alcohol level is more than 1.3 per mille. This is equivalent to 570 µg/l of exhaled air.
- If you have been convicted twice within five years of driving under the influence of drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol.
- If you refuse to cooperate with the alcohol check (breathalyser or blood test).
- Points driving licence
Within the Netherlands, a points driving licence is used. This applies to both novice and experienced drivers. You receive a point on your driving licence when you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. If you have been convicted for a second time, and the second time you had a blood alcohol level higher than 1.3 per mille, you will receive a second point and your driving licence will be declared invalid. In that case, you must retake the practical exam.