EU-issued car licence
Check validity before booking a full course
A valid category B licence issued in Poland or Germany can usually be used in the Netherlands under the RDW conditions. The normal 15-year period runs from the licence issue date, while the licence remains valid; it does not start again when you move.
Older licences and licences issued while you already lived in the Netherlands need particular attention. Check your dates and the complete RDW rules. You may only need familiarisation or refresher lessons.
Check an existing EU licence before booking a full course
If Poland issued your licence, start with the official EU-licence conditions for your document. Do not assume that moving means you must take another driving test. Equally, a Polish passport does not turn a licence issued outside the EU into an EU licence.
Be specific when contacting a school: are you seeking a first licence or a refresher while using an existing one? That distinction helps avoid a conversation built around the wrong package. Official licence eligibility and your comfort with local traffic need attention, but they are not the same question.
Choose practice that makes your new journeys easier
For an experienced driver, a useful refresher starts with situations rather than a generic lesson count. You might want to practise cycle crossings, parking in an unfamiliar car or negotiating a junction you find difficult. Tell the instructor what feels uncertain and ask how the lesson will help you assess it independently.
If you drive for work, make clear which ordinary journeys you want to feel comfortable making. Passenger-car lessons are not a promise of professional training or a qualification for another vehicle category. Ask the school to confirm that its teaching and vehicle match the kind of driving you actually need.
- Which situations would I like to handle more confidently?
- Does the lesson vehicle fit my learning goal?
- How will we decide whether further refresher lessons are useful?
Compare practical arrangements as well as price
When work or family commitments limit your availability, ask about actual lesson times before buying a package. Confirm the meeting point, cancellation terms and whether you will generally work with the same instructor. Do not assume that an advertised school location means lessons can start anywhere nearby.
Ask whether English, Dutch or Polish instruction is available from the person who would teach you. Then compare the quoted lesson minutes and what is included. For beginners, request a staged learning plan; for a refresher, agree a focused goal and a point at which to review what you have achieved.
Understand every step
Learning in English, with clarity.
Feeling comfortable asking questions matters. Confirm lesson language with the school before you book, including how your instructor will explain road situations and give feedback.
Explore driving schoolsYour lessons
Ask for an instructor who can teach in English. Discuss your experience and learning goals, rather than assuming a school offers your preferred language.
Your theory test
The CBR car theory test is available in English. Check the current booking and language options on the CBR website.
Your practical test
Agree language arrangements with your school in advance. Do not assume an English-speaking examiner; a practical-test interpreter must meet the CBR conditions.
A fair comparison
Look beyond the lesson price
A lower advertised price is only useful when you know what it covers. Ask each school for a written quote you can compare on the same basis.
- 01Time behind the wheel
- Check the lesson duration and whether it includes pick-up or travel time. Compare an equal number of minutes, rather than the word “lesson”.
- 02What the quote includes
- Ask about assessment lessons, learning materials, exam booking and use of the car during a test. Check which charges are separate.
- 03Flexibility and your car
- Confirm manual or automatic, lesson cancellation terms, package expiry and refunds. Choose a realistic schedule before committing to a package.
Before you get started
A few useful answers
Must I take Dutch exams just because I moved from Poland?
Do not assume so. If you hold a Polish-issued EU licence, check the official conditions for using it. A beginner and someone already entitled to drive can have very different reasons for taking lessons.
Can lessons help even if I do not need a new licence?
Yes, you can discuss refresher instruction for specific skills or unfamiliar situations. Confirm your entitlement to drive separately and ask for lessons with a clear purpose rather than automatically choosing a complete exam package.
Does a school listing guarantee Polish-language lessons?
No. Ask the school to confirm the actual instructor's teaching language and the language used for feedback. Availability should be checked directly before you commit to a lesson plan.
Can I arrange English lessons through every school on Rijmaatje?
Language availability is set by each school. Contact the school before booking and confirm that your instructor can explain lessons and feedback in English. Also agree how language will be handled during test preparation and the practical test.
Go straight to the source
Official rules. A clearer next step.
RDW sets the foreign-licence and exchange conditions; CBR explains the tests. Check the full rules for your own document and situation.
Official guidance reviewed .