Can you take the Dutch practical driving test in English?
No. The CBR offers the theory exam in English, but the practical driving test is given in Dutch. If you want the examiner's instructions in English or another language, you bring an interpreter: a sworn interpreter you hire yourself, or your driving instructor if they speak both languages. Your driving school must say so when it books the test.
Theory in English, practical test in Dutch
Many expats assume that because the theory exam is available in English, the driving test is too. It is not. The theory exam has an official English version with its own fee; the practical test does not. The examiner speaks Dutch, and the way to get the instructions in another language is an interpreter.
| Theory exam | Practical test | |
|---|---|---|
| In English | Yes, official English version | No |
| With an interpreter | Yes, booked through the CBR | Yes, a sworn interpreter or your instructor |
| Who books | You, in Mijn CBR | Usually your driving school |
Taking the test with an interpreter
The CBR allows an interpreter on the practical test for the car. There are two options:
- A sworn interpreter you hire and pay yourself. They must speak Dutch and your language well enough and show a valid interpreter's card if the examiner asks.
- Your driving instructor, if they speak both languages well enough. They show a valid WRM card, the instructor's licence.
Your driving school states that you bring an interpreter when it books the test, and makes clear who sits in the back of the car and in what role.
The interpreter translates what the examiner says, nothing else. Dashboard symbols and the spoken directions of the sat nav or radio are not translated. Set the navigation to your language before you start.
How the test works
The whole test takes 55 minutes. Before you drive, the examiner checks your ID, you do an eye test in the car park and answer questions about the car. Then you drive for about 35 minutes: part of it on your own with a sat nav, part of it on the examiner's directions. You hear the result straight after the drive.
Bring a valid ID and the completed self-reflection form (formulier Zelfreflectie). Your theory result must still be valid on the day: it stays valid for 1.5 years after you pass. Before you can take the practical test at all, the CBR must have approved your health declaration.
Should you learn the Dutch instructions instead?
If you take lessons with a Dutch-speaking instructor anyway, the instructions on the test are the same few dozen phrases you hear in every lesson: turn left, turn right, at the roundabout take the second exit, park behind the car. Many expats learn those and skip the interpreter. If you are not sure you will understand the examiner, an interpreter avoids mistakes that have nothing to do with your driving.
Pass the theory first: the CBR theory exam in English. The whole route and its costs: how to get a driving licence in the Netherlands and what it costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Dutch practical driving test in English?
Not as a separate English exam. The CBR offers the theory exam in English, but the examiner gives the practical test in Dutch. If you want the instructions in another language, English included, you bring an interpreter.
Who can be my interpreter on the practical test?
A sworn interpreter you hire yourself, or your driving instructor. Both must speak Dutch and your language well enough. A sworn interpreter shows a valid interpreter's card, an instructor a valid WRM card.
What does the interpreter not translate?
The interpreter translates what the examiner says. Dashboard symbols and the spoken directions of the sat nav or radio are not translated, so set the navigation to your language before you start.
How long does the practical driving test take?
55 minutes in total, of which about 35 minutes of driving. Part of the drive you follow a sat nav on your own, part of it the examiner's directions.
What does the practical test cost?
The CBR charges €143,50. Your driving school usually books the test and includes the fee in its price.
Sources, checked on 3 November 2026:
- CBR: Mag ik een eigen tolk meenemen bij mijn praktijkexamen?
- CBR: Hoe gaat het praktijkexamen auto?
- CBR: open data, exams per variant (2025)
Written by Nawfal Serraji, traffic law specialist and founder of HaalTheorie.