Driving licence requirement
- Driving licence
Licence to operate a certain category or categories of motor carriages. The current driving licence is in the form of a plastic card the size of a credit card.
You should always carry the driving licence while riding in or on a vehicle for which a driving licence is needed. You must show it every time it is asked by an authorised person, such as a police officer. It may not be a copy and the driving licence may not be damaged. Your citizen service (BSN) is also on the driving licence, allowing it to also serve as proof of identity in many cases. As soon as something is not in order with your driving licence, you are no longer allowed to operate the corresponding vehicle.
A driving licence is only valid for the vehicle category or categories it is issued for. Restrictions may also be indicated on a driving licence, such as mandatory use of an automatic clutch or wearing glasses or lenses. Sometimes, driving licences are only valid when adjustments have been made to a vehicle, because for example you cannot use your foot well. Restrictions are indicated by defined codes on the driving licence.
Driving licence categories
The driving licence lists different vehicle categories for which the licence can be valid. These are:
Driving licence AM
This is the moped driving licence, and you need this to operate a moped, snorfiets, speed pedelec and brommobiel. To be able to obtain this driving licence you must do a theory exam and a practical exam.
With the practical exam, you can choose for an exam on a two-wheeled moped, after which you are allowed to ride in and on all vehicles of this category.
If you only want to use a brommobiel, then you have the possibility to do a brommobiel practical exam. The downside of this is that you are then only allowed to drive in a brommobiel. So, not on a moped, snorfiets or speed pedelec.
If you have never obtained this driving licence, but do you obtain a driving licence for B or A, then you will get category AM with it. From that moment, you are allowed to operate everything within category AM.
Driving licence A1 (light motorcycle)
At the age of 17, you can start motorcycle driving lessons for the category A1, but you are only allowed to do the practical exams vehicle control (AVB) and traffic participation (AVD) from the day you turn 18.
Before you start lessons, you must be in possession of a car driving licence (B) or passed the theory exam for motorcycle. You must have passed the theory exam for motorcycle before doing the traffic participation exam (AVD-exam). Also, it must not have been longer than 1 year since you passed vehicle control exam (AVB-exam).
After obtaining driving licence A1 you are allowed to ride a motorcycle with:
- a maximum cylinder capacity of 125 cc, maximum of 11 kW and less than 0.1 kW per kg of weight of the motorcycle;
- a fully electric drive, maximum of 11kW and less than 0.1 kW per kg of weight of the motorcycle.
In addition, you are also allowed to operate a motorised trike with a maximum of 15 kW.
Driving licence A2 (middle motorcycle)
If you already possess driving licence A1, you are allowed to start motorcycle driving lessons for the category A2 at the age of 19. If you do not possess this driving licence, then you must wait until the age of 20. In both cases, you are only allowed to do the practical exams from the day you turn 20.
If you have held an A1 motorcycle driving licence for two years, then you only have to do one practical exam (traffic participation). Otherwise, you must do both the theory exam as well as the two practical exams (vehicle control and traffic participation). You must be in possession of a car driving licence (B), a motorcycle driving licence (A1) or passed the motorcycle theory exam.
After obtaining driving licence A2, you are allowed to ride a motorcycle with a maximum of 35 kW, less than 0.2 kW per kilogram of weight of the motorcycle and not derived from a vehicle with more than double the power. With driving licence A2 you can also ride motorcycles covered by driving licence A1.
Driving licence A (heavy motorcycle)
This driving licence is for motorcycles with unlimited power. From the age of 21 you are allowed to take driving lessons and do the exam on a motorcycle with unlimited power. You do have to possess a car driving licence (B), a motorcycle driving licence (A1 or A2), or passed the theory exam for motorcycle. If you have already held driving licence A2 for at least two years, then you only need to do one practical exam (traffic participation). Otherwise, you must do both the theory exam as well as the two practical exams (vehicle control and traffic participation).
If you are not yet 24 and have not held your driving licence A2 for at least two years when obtaining your driving licence A, then your driving licence will be temporarily provided with code 80. With this driving licence you are allowed to ride on vehicles falling under category A2. In addition, you are allowed to ride on three-wheeled motor carriages of category A.
- Code 80
If you pass category A between the ages of 21 and 24, you will temporarily receive a restrictive code (code 80) on your driving licence. This code indicates that you are only allowed to ride on motorcycles falling under category A2 and three-wheeled motor carriages of category A.
This code will disappear from your driving licence as soon as you have held driving licence A (or the previously obtained A2 driving licence) for two years, or if you are 24 years old before that.
Driving licence B
This is the driving licence for passenger cars. With this driving licence, you are allowed to drive in all passenger cars up to a maximum permissible laden weight of 3500 kg. It may not (cannot) carry more than eight passengers, driver not included.
Possibly, you can tow a light trailer.
Driving licence E behind B
If you have driving licence B and do you want to drive with heavier trailers and combinations than is allowed with driving licence B, then you must obtain driving licence E behind B.
Driving licence C1 and C1E
These driving licences are necessary for light lorries and company cars, with a maximum permissible laden weight between 3500 and 7500 kg. They cannot accommodate more than eight passengers. Trailers with a maximum permissible laden weight exceeding 750 kg require E in addition to C1.
Driving licence C and CE
These driving licences allow you to drive heavier lorries. Again, if you want to tow trailers with a maximum mass higher than 750 kg, you need driving licence E in addition to C.
Driving licence D1 and D1E
Driving licence D1 is meant for small auto buses, up to a maximum of eight metres and a maximum of 16 passengers, the driver not included. Trailers with a maximum permissible laden weight exceeding 750 kg require E in addition to D1.
Driving licence D and DE
Driving licence D is valid for bigger auto buses like touring cars and public transport buses. These are allowed to be longer than eight metres and carry more than 16 passengers. Trailers with a maximum permissible laden weight of 750 kg require E in addition to D.
Driving licence T
This is the driving licence you need to be able to drive an agricultural or forestry tractor, a motor carriage with limited speed or mobile machines on public roads.
Exceptions driving licence requirements
For some motor carriages a driving licence is not required. The most important ones are:
- Special mopeds
These are appointed by the minister as compulsory licencing. With this, think of a segway. The speed limit of these vehicles never exceeds 25 km/h. However, a minimum age could apply for these special mopeds, for a segway this is 16 years. - Narrow LBTs and MMBSs (maximum of 1.30 metres wide)
These are narrower agricultural and forestry vehicles (LBTs) and motor vehicles with a limited speed (MMBSs) which are used for mowing, weed control, sweeping, snow ploughing and collecting dog waste. - Motorised disability vehicles
- During a driving lesson, driving test (CBR) or a driving exam (CBR)
During driving lessons, or taking a driving test or driving exam you do not have to have a driving licence.
You do not need a driving licence for a narrower MMBS such as this lawnmower.
It is also not required to have a driving licence for a special moped, such as this segway.
Note! If you have received a disqualification from driving, then you are no longer allowed to drive any motor carriage. This also applies to motor carriages which do not require a driving licence.
Age
There are different minimum ages at which you can obtain the driving licence for a particular motor carriage. So, you can get the moped driving licence earlier than the motorcycle driving licence. And for a lorry or auto bus, you have to be a bit older again, unless you are following targeted transport training for this vehicle.
| Minimum age for practical exams | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| AM Moped |
16 years | Is included with A and B |
| A1 Motorcycle max 11 kW |
18 years | You can take lessons from the age of 17 |
| A2 Motorcycle max 35 kW |
20 years | If you already have A1, then you can take lessons from the age of 19 |
| A All motorcycles |
21 years | Restrictive code 80 |
| 22 years | If you have held the A2 licence for 2 years, no code 80 | |
| 24 years | No A2 needed, no code 80 | |
| B Passenger cars |
17 years | 2toDrive, with coach, only in the Netherlands You can take lessons from the age of 16.5 Drive independently from the age of 18 |
| BE Trailer |
18 years | |
| C1(E) Light lorry |
18 years | |
| C(E) Heavy lorry |
18 years | With certificate of competence |
| 21 years | Without certificate of competence | |
| D1(E) Small auto bus |
18 years | With certificate of competence |
| 21 years | Without certificate of competence | |
| D(E) Big auto bus |
18 years | With certificate of competence |
| 24 years | Without certificate of competence | |
| T Agricultural vehicles |
16 years |
Requirements for the instructor
The instructor must also follow certain rules. They must be in possession of a valid instructor’s pass (you are always allowed to ask for this). They are also not allowed to combine motorcycle driving lessons and moped driving lessons, or a car driving lesson and a motorcycle driving lesson.
Additionally, they must be in contact with the pupil. In a car this is easy of course, but on a motorcycle or moped it has to be done by means of a walkie-talkie and an earpiece worn by the pupil (radio contact).
On the website www.ibki.nl, under the heading driving instruction, at the competency checker, you can also check if your driving instructor is qualified.
Front of the instructor’s pass
Back of the instructor’s pass