Taxi driver’s card and diploma
Do you want to work as a taxi driver in the Netherlands? You must have a taxi driver’s diploma. You must also have a ful or limited taxi driver’s card (chauffeurskaart or taxipas). You use the taxi driver’s card for identification and to record your working hours in the taxi on-board computer.
Taxi driver's diploma
In the Netherlands, taxi drivers need a taxi driver's diploma from the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, CBR, in Dutch). Only then you can apply for the mandatory taxi driver’s card.
There are 2 different taxi driver's diploma's you can sit an exam for:
- Full taxi driver's card exam (in Dutch): for all types of taxi transport.
- Limited taxi driver's card exam (in Dutch): if you drive regular passengers, on set routes, and at regular times. You are not allowed to handle financial matters in the taxi.
You apply to the CBR (in Dutch) for your examinations. Each exam consists of a theoretical and a practical exam. CBR offers taxi driver's exams in Dutch only. You need a valid B driving licence to take the practical exam. Do you have a code 100, 101, or 105 on your driving licence (in Dutch)? Then you are not permitted to transport persons professionally.
Taxi driver’s card
To work as a taxi driver, you must also have a valid taxi driver’s card in addition to the diploma. To apply for the taxi driver’s card, you will need a valid taxi driver's diploma, a certificate of conduct (Verklaring omtrent het gedrag, VOG), and a health certificate. You can obtain or extend your full or limited taxi driver’s card with Kiwa Register (in Dutch). The card is valid for 5 years.
Renewing or replacing a taxi driver’s card
Do you want to renew your taxi driver’s card? You can do so with Kiwa Register (in Dutch). If your card is stolen, lost, or damaged, you must deactivate your card with Kiwa (in Dutch) before you can apply for a new card.
Taxi on-board computer
You can use your taxi driver’s card to register your journey data, working hours, driving times, and rest times in the taxi on-board computer (Boordcomputer taxi, BCT). Using the on-board computer was mandatory until 1 July 2025. You can now upload your driving times and rest periods in the Central Database for Taxi transport (Centrale Database Taxivervoer, CDT, in Dutch). You can do so with an app or a device. From 1 January 2028 the CDT is mandatory for all taxis drivers and taxi entrepreneurs.
Inspection of your taxi driver’s card
You always need to carry your taxi driver’s card and taxi operator licence when transporting paying customers. Your taxi drive's card must be displayed in a manner clearly visible to passengers. You may be issued with a police report, a fine, or a criminal record if you cannot show either when subjected to a traffic check.
If you commit a criminal offence, such as an assault or driving under the influence of alcohol, your taxi drive's card will be withdrawn.