Failed the Dutch car theory exam: what do you do now?

You can try again soon. As soon as your result is in, usually within 24 hours, you can book a new exam. It stings, but you’re not the only one.

First check your result form to see which topics let you down, and practise exactly those. Doing another pile of full practice exams helps less than you’d think.

When can you retake it?

You can book again once your result is processed, within 24 hours.

CBR fact, checked on 16 October 2026. You can book a new theory exam once the result of your previous exam has been processed. That happens within 24 hours. When you get your result by email, you book through Mijn CBR or through your driving school. You don’t need to authorise your driving school again. Retaking the exam on the same day is not possible. Source: cbr.nl.

Being able to book doesn’t mean you should yet. Wait until your practice exams show you’re ready. Below you’ll see how to tell.

What does a new exam cost?

A new exam costs € 50.50 again, or € 57.00 if you take it in English.

CBR fact, checked on 16 October 2026. The car theory exam costs € 50.50 in 2026. The car theory exam in English costs € 57.00. Source: cbr.nl and cbr.nl.

You pay that again every time you book. An extra week of practice is cheaper than failing twice. For the full picture, see what a Dutch driving licence costs.

Can you see what you got wrong?

No, you only see how you did per topic.

CBR fact, checked on 16 October 2026. For the car theory exam you can’t see which questions you got wrong. Your result form does show how you did on each exam topic. Source: cbr.nl.

That form is your best tool. You won’t see which question went wrong, but you will see which topic you haven’t mastered yet. Start there.

Watch out for old advice

A lot of advice online still describes the old exam, with three parts that each had their own pass mark. That exam no longer exists.

CBR fact, checked on 16 October 2026. Since 7 April 2025 the car theory exam has 50 questions in one continuous test. You pass with at least 44 right within 30 minutes. Before that it had 65 questions in three parts: hazard perception, knowledge and insight, each with its own pass mark. The photo test is gone. The CBR now tests hazard perception with animated videos without sound. Source: cbr.nl.

Reading somewhere that you have to “pass hazard perception separately”, or a pass mark per part? That’s the old exam. Now only your total counts: 7 mistakes and you fail, wherever they are. How the exam works today is in how the Dutch car theory exam works.

How to do it differently this time

1. Start with your result form. Write down the two or three topics where you scored worst. That’s your list.
2. Learn the topic, not the questions. Reread the explanation and practise questions on just that topic until you understand why the answer is right.
3. Then practise full exams, against the clock. Set a timer for 30 minutes and count your mistakes the way the CBR does. You have just over half a minute per question.
4. Only book once you pass comfortably a few times in a row. If you only just reach 44, one tricky question on the day can make the difference. Aim for fewer than 6 mistakes.
5. Look at what happened last time. Did you run out of time, did the videos throw you, or did you hesitate on right-of-way questions? Then practise exactly that.

Failed twice? Then don’t do the same thing again. Really start with steps 1 and 2, even if you skipped them before.

Want to practise in English? Practise for your retake with the online car theory course.