CBR Driving Exam 2026: Costs Rise and Waiting Times Hit 5 Months

Rijswijk – Taking your CBR driving exam 2026 has officially become more expensive and arguably more frustrating than ever before. As of January 1st, the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR) has implemented its annual tariff adjustment, raising fees by approximately **8.5%**, while simultaneously warning of severe backlogs in the Randstad region.

For expats, obtaining a Dutch license is already a bureaucratic maze. Now, it is also a race against time. With practical exam waiting times stretching up to 20 weeks in major cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht, planning your lessons has shifted from a casual goal to a strategic military operation.

Table of Contents

• The Price Tag: How Much Does It Cost Now?
• The 5-Month Wait: Why Is It So Slow?
• The 30% Ruling Loophole: Skip the Exam
• Theory Exam Changes: Harder to Cheat
• Key Takeaways
• Dutch Learning Corner

The Price Tag: How Much Does It Cost Now?

Driving in the Netherlands has never been cheap, but 2026 sets a new record. The CBR attributes the hike to rising personnel costs and investments in digital security.

Below is the breakdown of the official CBR fees (excluding your driving school’s administrative markup/car rental fee):

The 5-Month Wait: Why Is It So Slow?

If you feel ready to drive today, do not expect to take your test next week.

The Reality:

In rural provinces like Drenthe or Limburg, the waiting time is a manageable 4 to 6 weeks. However, in the Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague), the average wait is currently **18 to 22 weeks**.

The Cause:

1. **Examiner Shortage:** The CBR is struggling to recruit enough qualified examiners to meet the post-pandemic demand surge.
2. **Failure Rates:** The pass rate for the first attempt hovers around **52%**. Every failed student re-enters the queue, clogging the system further.

The 30% Ruling Loophole: Skip the Exam

Before you spend €3,000 on driving lessons, check your tax status.

If you hold the **30% Ruling** (the tax advantage for highly skilled migrants), you and your partner are exempt from the requirement to take a Dutch driving exam. You can simply exchange your foreign license (even from non-EU countries like USA, India, Turkey) for a Dutch one.

Requirement: You must have a valid foreign license and the official 30% ruling letter. The exchange process takes about 2-4 weeks, but it saves you months of stress and thousands of euros.

Theory Exam Changes: Harder to Cheat

The CBR has also updated the theory exam software for 2026 to combat fraud. The new questions are more dynamic, focusing heavily on “Hazard Perception” (Gevaarherkenning). Memorizing old question banks is no longer an effective strategy; you must understand traffic flow logic.

Key Takeaways

• Book Early: Ask your instructor to book the practical exam months before you think you are ready.
• Budget Up: Set aside at least €3,500 for the full process (lessons + exams) if starting from scratch.
• Check 30%: Verify if you can swap your license before enrolling in a driving school.

Dutch Learning Corner