Taxi driver’s card and diploma
All taxi drivers in the Netherlands must have a driver’s card (BCT card, Boord Computer Taxi card). The driver’s card must be displayed in a manner clearly visible to passengers. You can obtain or extend your driver’s card from Kiwa Register. Among other things, you will need a taxi driver's diploma and a Certificate of good conduct (Verklaring omtrent het gedrag, VOG) to be eligible for the card. The card expires after 5 years.
Taxi driver's diploma
In the Netherlands, taxi drivers need a taxi driver's diploma. There are several types of exams (in Dutch) for obtaining a taxi driver’s diploma from the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, CBR). It depends on which specific taxi driver's card you want to apply for:
- Full taxi driver's card: for all types of taxi transport (in Dutch).
- Limited taxi driver's card: if you drive regular passengers, on set routes and at regular times (in Dutch).
- Target group transport: for contract transport of elderly people, children and people with an impairment (in Dutch).
You apply to the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR, in Dutch) for the examination.
Continuous screening
Your behaviour as a taxi driver is continuously screened. You can also take a course in social skills for taxi drivers. If you commit a criminal offence, such as an assault or driving under the influence of alcohol, your driver's card will be withdrawn.
Taxi on-board computer
The BCT driver's card gives you access to the on-board taxi computer. The on-board computer automatically registers journey data, working hours, driving times and rest times.