Last updated on 27 October 2026
Driving without a licence (rijden zonder rijbewijs) means driving a motor vehicle on the road without a valid licence for that category. It is a minor offence under Article 107 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 (Wegenverkeerswet, WVW). Driving while knowing your licence was declared invalid or you are disqualified is a serious offence (Article 9 WVW).
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Legal basis
Article 107(1) WVW requires a licence for the category of the vehicle. Article 107(2) requires the licence to be valid, so not expired. A breach is a minor offence (overtreding) punishable by up to six months’ detention or a third-category fine (Articles 177 and 178 WVW).
Article 9 WVW is more serious. It prohibits driving during a driving disqualification imposed by a court or in a penal order (paragraph 1). It also covers driving with a licence that has been declared invalid (paragraph 2), for example by the Dutch driving licence authority (CBR). Paragraphs 4 and 5 deal with driving after your licence was seized or suspended.
A breach of Article 9 WVW is a serious offence (misdrijf), punishable by up to one year in prison or a fourth-category fine (Article 176(2) WVW). The court can also impose a driving disqualification of up to five years (Article 179(1) WVW).
How it works in practice
During a traffic check, the police compare your details with the driving licence register. Driving with only an expired licence is usually dealt with by a penal order (strafbeschikking).
A breach of Article 9 WVW often leads to a summons to court. For driving while disqualified, the public prosecutor (officier van justitie) often asks for community service or a prison sentence, sometimes with a new disqualification. For a repeat within five years, the disqualification can last up to ten years (Article 179(4) WVW).
A conviction under Article 9 requires proof that you knew, or should reasonably have known, that you were not allowed to drive. The prosecution must prove this, for example with a CBR decision that was delivered to you.
Common pitfalls
Many drivers do not know that their licence was declared invalid. A CBR decision is sent by post. If you move house or ignore your post, a court may still find that you ‘should reasonably have known’.
Another pitfall is the difference between Article 107 and Article 9. An expired licence is in principle a minor offence. But if the CBR has declared the licence invalid, it becomes a serious offence with heavier consequences.
Check your insurance as well. A car insurer’s policy terms may allow it to recover damage from a driver without a valid licence. Read the conditions of your policy.
Related terms
See also driving disqualification, driving under the influence, minor offence and serious offence.
Our criminal lawyers assist suspects and victims in cases involving driving without a licence.
Further reading
More on this subject: Traffic offences: criminal penalties and CBR measures in the Netherlands, Driving licence seizure: how to appeal in the Netherlands.
