So you’ve landed in the Netherlands with your South African licence in your wallet and you’re wondering if you can just keep using it. The short answer: yes, but not for long, and you can’t simply swap it for a Dutch one like people from some other countries can.
Short answer: you can drive on your South African licence for the first 185 days after you move here. After that you need a Dutch licence. South Africa isn’t on the list of countries whose licences can be exchanged, so you either take the Dutch theory and practical exams, or you exchange it using the 30% ruling (the expat scheme) if that applies to you.
I was lucky here: I’d already been driving in Germany for a year before I moved to the Netherlands, so European roads weren’t completely new to me. What did take some getting used to were the bicycles. They’re everywhere, and you quickly learn when you’re allowed to go, when you’re definitely not, and that you always wait for pedestrians. But I got used to it pretty quickly.
The 185-day rule
According to the RDW, you can drive on a foreign licence for the first 185 days after you relocate to the Netherlands. After that, you’re only allowed to drive here with a Dutch driving licence.
Those 185 days go faster than you think, especially while you’re busy with your BSN, a bank account, finding a place to live and everything else on the list. Keep driving after that and you’re effectively driving without a valid licence, which you really don’t want to explain to the police or your insurer after a bump.
Tip: if your licence doesn’t show the European category letters (A, B, C, D, E), the RDW recommends carrying an International Driving Permit as well. You can get one from the AA before you leave South Africa.
Why you can’t just exchange it
The Netherlands has a list of countries whose licences can be exchanged for a Dutch one without taking any tests. South Africa isn’t on it. The RDW is quite clear about it: if your country isn’t on the list, you can’t exchange your licence. Yes, even after 20 years of driving on the N1.
That leaves two routes.
Option 1: The 30% ruling shortcut
If you came here for work as a highly skilled migrant and the expat scheme (the famous 30% ruling) applies to you, you can exchange a driving licence from any country. No theory exam, no driving lessons, no practical test.
What you’ll need:
- A valid decision from the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) showing that the 30% ruling applies to you
- Your South African driving licence
- A health declaration (eigen verklaring) from the CBR, which is required for licences from outside the EU
- A passport photo and your ID
You apply at your gemeente (municipality). The fee differs per municipality, and the RDW says processing takes at least 15 working days after you apply. The health declaration also takes time, so start early. Don’t leave it until day 180.
Partner or family with you? The RDW’s page talks about the person the scheme applies to. If your partner also wants to exchange a licence based on your 30% ruling, check with your gemeente before you plan around it.
I wrote more about this route in my guide to getting a Dutch driver’s license.
Option 2: Take the Dutch exams
No 30% ruling? Then you do what everyone who learns to drive here does: pass the CBR theory exam, then the practical exam. Being an experienced driver helps a lot, but Dutch roads have their own quirks (hello, bikes coming from every direction and priority from the right), so don’t underestimate it.
Step 1: The CBR theory exam
The theory exam is done at a CBR exam centre and you can take it in English. It’s a multiple-choice exam that includes hazard perception questions, and the pass mark is strict. Prices change every year, so check the CBR website when you book. In 2026 the English version costs a bit more than the Dutch one.
Step 2: Lessons and an intake
Most driving schools start with an intake lesson to see how much you still need to learn. As an experienced driver you’ll usually need far fewer lessons than a beginner, mostly to learn Dutch rules and exam habits. Lessons aren’t cheap, so shop around. My driver’s license guide has a few driving schools that expats recommend.
Step 3: The practical exam
Your driving school normally books the practical exam for you once you’re ready. Once you pass, you apply for your Dutch licence at your gemeente, and you hand in your South African one.
This is the route I took. I only had 4 lessons with a driving instructor here in Zandvoort before I went for the practical test, and I passed the first time. She was quite strict. She had this thick notebook and threatened to hit my fingers with it whenever I made a mistake. I guess it worked, because it definitely motivated me to learn fast. She retired a few months later.
Quick checklist
- Note the date you registered and count 185 days forward
- Check whether the 30% ruling applies to you
- 30% ruling: get your tax decision and CBR health declaration, then apply at the gemeente
- No 30% ruling: book the CBR theory exam and find a driving school
- Carry an International Driving Permit in the meantime if your licence doesn’t use the European categories
FAQ
Can I drive in the Netherlands on a South African licence as a tourist?
If you’re just visiting and not living here, you can generally drive on your valid South African licence. Carrying an International Driving Permit is a good idea.
Can I exchange my South African licence for a Dutch one?
Only if the 30% ruling (expat scheme) applies to you. Otherwise you need to pass the CBR theory and practical exams.
How long can I drive on my South African licence after moving here?
For the first 185 days after you relocate to the Netherlands.
Rules and prices change, so double-check the RDW and CBR websites before you plan. Last checked: September 2026.
New here? Start with my Netherlands survival guide for South African expats.
