Has your truck driver's license expired? Then you need to apply for a new one, at least if you still want to drive your truck for work. But how does that work? What do you need to do?
How long can my truck driver's license have been expired?
Simple. If your truck driving licence has expired, you’re not allowed to drive trucks. If the police pull you over and you can’t show a valid licence, you could get a hefty fine. Most insurance policies won’t cover any damage either. The costs can therefore add up considerably. So our advice is: never do it!
Can I renew my truck driving licence if it’s expired?
If your truck driving licence has expired, you can simply renew it. In principle, it doesn’t matter exactly how long it has been expired. Your driving entitlements for categories C, C1(E), D, D1(E) and DE remain registered. This means you can usually decide if and when you want these higher categories added back to your licence.
Note: Was your driving licence issued before 30 June 1980, or did your truck driving licence expire before 30 June 1985? In that case, you cannot simply renew it and will have to retake your exams first.
Costs of renewing a truck driving licence
Renewing a truck driving licence involves various costs. First, you pay to submit the health declaration to the CBR. The fee is € 41,50 (price as of 2024).
You are also required to undergo a medical examination by a certified doctor. The cost varies by doctor, but is usually between 75 and 100 euros.
Finally, you pay the municipality to apply for your new driver's license, usually around 40 to 50 euros.
You should expect to pay between 150 and 200 euros in total. Please note: the exact cost may vary slightly depending on the municipality and the doctor conducting the examination.
Reapplying for a truck driving licence in 3 steps
Renewing your heavy vehicle driving licence works as follows:
Complete the Health Declaration
To renew your truck driver's license, you need a completed Health Declaration. You can fill it in online at Mijn CBR or pick it up at the town hall and send it to the CBR. You will then receive the forms you need for the medical examination.
Have a medical examination
After completing the health declaration, make an appointment with an officially approved medical examiner for a medical examination. They will measure your blood pressure, test your eyesight, check your urine and assess whether your muscles and joints are still functioning properly. After the examination, the doctor will send your forms to the CBR.
Tip: Read all about the exact costs of a medical examination for your category C driving licence here.Wait for the CBR
Based on your Health Declaration and the report from the examining doctor, the CBR determines whether you are still fit to drive. If you are fit to drive, you can go to the town hall to renew your truck driver's license. You may also need to undergo additional tests, take extra measures, or be deemed unfit to drive altogether.
Act quickly!
Take action immediately if your truck driving licence has expired. The whole process can take weeks. Fortunately, the RDW will notify you about 4 months before your truck driving licence expires. That is often plenty of time. But do you expect to need to see a specialist after your medical examination? Then check whether you can start renewing your licence a month or two earlier.
When only the major categories have expired
Have only the heavy vehicle categories on your truck driving licence expired, while the licence itself is still valid? You are still not allowed to drive a truck. Driving with expired categories is not permitted. Of course, you may continue driving vehicles in the lighter categories.
Tip: Have you, for example, obtained Code 95 basic qualification? Or do you only want to add Code 95 to your licence? Check at the same time whether you can renew your entire licence. That way, all your categories will have the same expiry date and you’ll avoid paying twice. That’s a saving!
Has your NIWO permit and truck driving licence expired?
Do you drive for yourself? In that case, it may not only be your truck driving licence that has expired. The NIWO certificate is also valid for only 5 years, so it is a good idea to check whether you need to reapply for that at the same time. Renewing a NIWO permit takes a little more work than renewing a heavy vehicle driving licence!
Frequently asked questions
You can renew your truck driving licence for up to three years after its expiry date without retaking the exams. If it has been expired for more than three years, you will have to retake both the theory and practical exams.
No. Once your driving licence has expired, you are no longer allowed to drive a truck. This applies to both business and private use. Driving with an expired licence can result in heavy fines and leave you uninsured in the event of damage.
If you fail the medical examination, the CBR will assess whether you are temporarily or permanently unfit to drive. In some cases, you may still be declared fit after an additional examination or treatment.
On average, renewing a truck driving licence costs between 150 and 200 euros. This amount covers the health declaration, the medical examination and the application fee charged by the municipality.
Once all the documents and examinations are in order, you can apply for an urgent service at most municipalities. This often means you will receive your driving licence the next working day. The urgent service costs extra; contact your municipality for details.
