What does a Dutch driving licence really cost?

A Dutch car licence cost € 3625 on average in the first half of 2026, according to CBR research. Most of that goes on driving lessons. The exams have fixed CBR fees: € 50.50 for the theory exam (€ 57.00 in English) and € 143.50 for the practical exam.

Your driving school usually adds its own costs for the practical exam. Below you’ll find every part in the order you’ll usually run into it.

Already have a licence from another country?

Then start here, because it might save you most of the costs below. Depending on the country that issued your licence, you may be able to exchange it for a Dutch one. Read when you can exchange your foreign licence before you book anything.

1. The theory course

This is the one part where you decide how much you spend. You can compare courses and prices. Our courses in English are a one-off payment, with no subscription and nothing that renews by itself.

The exam fees below are fixed. They’re the same for everyone.

2. The theory exam at the CBR

You pay the exam fee straight to the CBR, separately from your course.

CBR fact, checked on 15 October 2026. In 2026 the theory exam costs € 50.50, the same for the car (B), the motorcycle (A) and the moped (AM). In 2025 it was € 48.75. Source: cbr.nl, tarieven 2026.

Want to take it in English? You can, for the car.

CBR fact, checked on 15 October 2026. The car theory exam in English costs € 57.00 in 2026. That’s the regular € 50.50 plus a € 6.50 surcharge. Source: cbr.nl, cost of a car licence.

Curious how the English exam works? Here’s the full story.

The minimum age for the exam depends on the category.

CBR fact, checked on 15 October 2026. You can take the theory exam from 15.5 for the moped (AM), from 16 for the car (B) and from 17 for the motorcycle (A). You can book up to 20 weeks before you reach that age, but on the exam day itself you must be old enough. Source: cbr.nl, minimum age.

CBR fact, checked on 15 October 2026. A passed theory exam stays valid for one and a half years. If you don’t pass your practical exam within that time, you take the theory exam again. Source: cbr.nl, examenvoorwaarden article 2.4.

Your access to the course runs longer than your exam result stays valid. So don’t plan your practical exam too far ahead. More on how long your result lasts.

3. Driving lessons

This is the biggest cost, and the hardest to predict. How many lessons you need differs a lot from person to person. Always ask a driving school for the price of a single lesson and for exactly what’s in a package, so you can compare. Also check whether the exam fees are included or come on top.

CBR fact, checked on 15 October 2026. Getting a car licence cost € 3625 on average in the first half of 2026, according to a CBR survey of exam candidates (July to August 2026). On average, 42.5 hours of lessons are needed. Source: cbr.nl, cost of a car licence.

4. The practical exam

Your driving school pays this fee to the CBR.

CBR fact, checked on 15 October 2026. The practical exam for the car (B) costs € 143.50 in 2026. In 2025 it was € 138.50. CBR fees went up by 3.6 percent on average in 2026, in line with the consumer price index. Source: cbr.nl, tarieven 2026.

5. The licence itself

Passed? Then you apply for the licence card at your municipality.

CBR fact, checked on 15 October 2026. The fee differs per municipality, but in 2026 it’s at most € 53.65. Need it fast? Then you pay € 39.65 extra. Source: cbr.nl, cost of a car licence.

Where you can save

The exam fees are fixed, but every retake costs the full fee again. So the best way to save is to walk into your exam well prepared and pass the first time.

Example for a car licence

Without lessons, without retakes, with the theory exam in English:

Item	Amount
Theory exam CBR, in English	€ 57.00
Practical exam CBR	€ 143.50
Licence at the municipality (maximum)	€ 53.65
Subtotal, without theory course and lessons	€ 254.15

Your theory course and driving lessons come on top. The lessons make up by far the largest part of the total.

See the courses in English.