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Changing your driving licence
After a name change or a change of sex registration, an existing driving licence remains legally valid until it expires, but the document then no longer matches the BRP. Applying for a new licence is in such a case practically advisable. Unlike the passport and identity card, the Dutch driving licence does not record sex.
When to apply for a new driving licence?
You are not legally required to apply for a new driving licence after a name change, but at police checks or abroad a different name can lead to misunderstandings. The driving licence is also a widely used identity document in service provision; consistency between documents prevents hurdles with banks, landlords and care providers.
The procedure
You apply for a new driving licence at the municipality where you are registered:
- Make an appointment at Civil Affairs (Burgerzaken).
- Bring a recent passport photo that meets the requirements for driving licences.
- Submit your old driving licence.
- Pay the fee (the amount varies per municipality).
- The driving licence is produced centrally and sent by post, usually within five to ten working days.
More information can be found on the website of the Dutch government.
No sex entry
The Dutch driving licence does not record sex. This is a choice by the legislator and differs from the passport and identity card, which do contain an M or F. For practical administration this means that a new driving licence can already be applied for after a name change, without the sex registration first having to be adjusted.
Validity abroad
A Dutch driving licence is valid in all EU countries and in many countries beyond. If the name on the driving licence differs from that on your passport, this can lead to questions at car rental companies or border crossings. It is wise to keep documents as synchronised as possible.
Categories and notes
When applying for a new driving licence, your existing licence categories and any medical notes are automatically transferred from the Central Driving Licence Register (CRR). No new theory or practical exam is required.
Note: medical entries
For the CBR (Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing) assessment of fitness to drive, biological sex information can be relevant, for instance with certain medication- or hormone-related indications. With hormone therapy (cross-sex hormones) there are effects on blood pressure, mood and — with testosterone — driving ability during the dose-adjustment phase. This is outside the legal name change but is often an under-illuminated practical point during transition.