Theory Mastery

Licence validity: age determines the term

What the exam asks here: 'A licence is always valid for 10 years, right?' is the assumption the counter in Alkmaar hears weekly.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 10 questions

The trap

Many learners think: A few weeks past the expiry date you may still drive normally — there is always a grace period on an expired licence.

The rule is: The licence must not have lost its validity, no exception. There is no statutory grace period

Challenge

'A licence is always valid for 10 years, right?' is the assumption the counter in Alkmaar hears weekly. The regulation has three different terms, tied to age — and above 75 an extra requirement is added that has nothing to do with the validity term itself.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Licence validity: age determines the term

The model

Under 65: valid for 10 years. Between 65 and 70: valid until age 75 (never more than 10 years). From age 70: valid for 5 years. There is no grace period — the licence must never have lost its validity.

Read this section on its own page: The model: Licence validity: age determines the term

Core

The law ties the validity term to age at issuance: under 65 you get a standard 10 years; between 65 and 70 validity runs until your 75th birthday (never more than 10 years); from age 70 the term is 5 years. The book presents the same rule as an age-at-RENEWAL table — 'until 65 standard 10 years at renewal, between 65 and 70 max. 10 years, from 70 max. 5 years' — mathematically the same (65+10=75, 70+5=75), just a different starting point. The licence must never have lost its validity (the law); a statutory grace period after the end date does not exist. Two extra invalidating events, besides simply expiring: exchanging your Dutch licence for a foreign one, or committing fraud with the details on it. From age 75 an extra requirement is added, separate from the validity term itself: at renewal you must undergo a medical examination. That is not a fourth term, but a condition on top of the 5-year term that already applies from age 70.

Read this section on its own page: Core: Licence validity: age determines the term

Why it matters

Anyone counting on one standard term is in for surprises at the counter in Alkmaar: an expired licence without any grace period means no longer being authorised to drive, with all the consequences that has for insurance and liability. And anyone who at age 76 only checks the 5-year term misses the medical examination that is arranged separately.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Licence validity: age determines the term

Active recall

At the town hall in Alkmaar, a 68-year-old resident is renewing their licence. How long will the new licence be valid?

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Teach back

Explain: which three validity terms does the licence have by age, and what extra requirement is added from age 75?

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Memory hook

<65: 10 years · 65-70: until 75 · ≥70: 5 years. No grace period. From 75: medical exam added.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Licence validity: age determines the term

Source: WVW 1994 art. 107 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Same terms, two framingsLaw (age at issuance)Book (age at renewal)<65 years10 years from issuanceat renewal standard 10 years65-70 yearsvalid until 75at renewal max. 10 years≥70 years5 years from issuanceat renewal max. 5 years
What to look at: B licence validity ladder: <65 years 10 years, 65-70 years until 75, ≥70 years 5 years, from 75 medical exam required.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At the town hall in Alkmaar, a 74-year-old resident is queuing to renew his licence. How long will the new licence remain valid, and does he need to demonstrate anything extra?

Show the answer

Under 65: valid for 10 years. Between 65 and 70: valid until age 75 (never more than 10 years). From age 70: valid for 5 years. There is no grace period — the licence must never have lost its validity.

Exam questions on this topic

About Licence validity: age determines the term: which statement is correct?

  1. Someone who renews their licence at 70 or older also gets a licence that is valid until the day they turn 75.
  2. A few weeks past the expiry date you may still drive normally — there is always a grace period on an expired licence.
  3. Exchanging your Dutch licence for a foreign one is itself a reason the Dutch licence loses its validity.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Exchanging your Dutch licence for a foreign one is itself a reason the Dutch licence loses its validity.

Exchanging your Dutch licence for a foreign one is itself a reason the Dutch licence loses its validity

Why learners get this wrong: Someone who renews their licence at 70 or older also gets a licence that is valid until the day they turn 75.

Open this question

About Licence validity: age determines the term: which statement is WRONG?

  1. If you exchange your Dutch licence for a foreign one, the Dutch licence also simply remains valid.
  2. The licence must not have lost its validity, no exception.
  3. 10 years applies up to age 65; 65-70 gives validity until age 75 (never more than 10 years); from age 70 the term is 5 years.
  4. 'Until the 75th birthday' applies only when the licence is issued at 65 to 70; someone who is 70 or older at issue gets 5 consecutive years.
Show the answer

Correct answer: If you exchange your Dutch licence for a foreign one, the Dutch licence also simply remains valid.

Exchanging your Dutch licence for a foreign one is itself a reason the Dutch licence loses its validity

Why learners get this wrong: A few weeks past the expiry date you may still drive normally — there is always a grace period on an expired licence.

Open this question

About Licence validity: age determines the term: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Every licence renewal requires a medical examination, regardless of age.
  2. The licence must not have lost its validity, no exception.
  3. 10 years applies up to age 65; 65-70 gives validity until age 75 (never more than 10 years); from age 70 the term is 5 years.
  4. Exchanging your Dutch licence for a foreign one is itself a reason the Dutch licence loses its validity.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Every licence renewal requires a medical examination, regardless of age.

The mandatory medical examination for renewal only starts from age 75, not at every renewal

Why learners get this wrong: A few weeks past the expiry date you may still drive normally — there is always a grace period on an expired licence.

Open this question

The mandatory medical examination for renewal only starts from age 75, not at every renewal.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

The mandatory medical examination for renewal only starts from age 75, not at every renewal

Why learners get this wrong: Every licence renewal requires a medical examination, regardless of age.

Open this question

At the town hall in Alkmaar, a 40-year-old resident applies for a new B licence. For how many years is that licence valid?

Show the answer

Correct answer: 10 jaar

Correct: 10.0 jaar.

Open this question

A 68-year-old resident of Alkmaar applies for a new B licence at the town hall. What applies to that new licence?

  1. It is valid until the day he turns 75
  2. It is valid for 10 years, just like any other B licence
  3. First a medical check, after that it is valid until he turns 75
Show the answer

Correct answer: It is valid until the day he turns 75

False — you assume 10 years for everyone. Anyone who is 65 or older but not yet 70 at the time of issue gets a licence that is valid until the day they turn 75. For this 68-year-old that is less than 10 years. (Reglement rijbewijzen art. 25a | WVW 1994 art. 107 | VekaBest p.24 (tail Hoofdstuk 2 §2.1))

Why learners get this wrong: Every category B licence is always valid for 10 years, regardless of the holder's age.

Open this question

The licence of an Alkmaar resident expired three weeks ago. His appointment for a new licence at the town hall is only next week. Until that appointment he may still drive to work by car.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

False — you assume a grace period after the expiry date. There is none: with an expired licence you may not drive, not even when the appointment for a new licence has already been made. (Reglement rijbewijzen art. 25a | WVW 1994 art. 107 | VekaBest p.24 (tail Hoofdstuk 2 §2.1))

Why learners get this wrong: A few weeks past the expiry date you may still drive normally — there is always a grace period on an expired licence.

Open this question

A 76-year-old resident of Alkmaar wants to renew his B licence. What applies to him when renewing?

  1. If the check takes long, he may keep driving for a while after the expiry date
  2. He must have a medical check and then gets 5 years of validity
  3. He must have a medical check and then gets 10 years of validity
Show the answer

Correct answer: He must have a medical check and then gets 5 years of validity

False — you assume 10 years for everyone. Anyone who is 70 or older at the time of issue gets a licence that is valid for 5 years. From 75 a medical check also comes with renewing

Why learners get this wrong: A few weeks past the expiry date you may still drive normally — there is always a grace period on an expired licence.

Open this question

A resident of Alkmaar exchanges their Dutch licence for a foreign one, but wants to keep the Dutch licence as a valid backup document too. Statement: that is allowed, both remain valid side by side.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: If you exchange your Dutch licence for a foreign one, the Dutch licence also simply remains valid.

Open this question

Mr Bakker from Alkmaar is 72 years old. Today he collects his renewed category B driving licence at the town hall. How long is this new licence valid?

  1. 5 years, counted from the date of issue
  2. 10 years, counted from the date of issue
  3. Until the day he turns 75
Show the answer

Correct answer: 5 years, counted from the date of issue

False — you apply the usual term without looking at the age. Ten years applies to someone who is younger than 65 when the licence is issued. Someone who is 70 or older when it is issued gets a licence that is valid for 5 years. (Reglement rijbewijzen art. 25a | WVW 1994 art. 107 | VekaBest p.24 (tail Hoofdstuk 2 §2.1))

Why learners get this wrong: Every category B licence is always valid for 10 years, regardless of the holder's age.

Open this question

Frequently asked questions

‘A few weeks past the expiry date you may still drive normally — there is always a grace period on an expired licence’ – is that true?

No. The licence must not have lost its validity, no exception. There is no statutory grace period

‘Every category B licence is always valid for 10 years, regardless of the holder's age’ – is that true?

No. 10 years applies up to age 65; 65-70 gives validity until age 75 (never more than 10 years); from age 70 the term is 5 years

‘If you exchange your Dutch licence for a foreign one, the Dutch licence also simply remains valid’ – is that true?

No. Exchanging your Dutch licence for a foreign one is itself a reason the Dutch licence loses its validity

‘Every licence renewal requires a medical examination, regardless of age’ – is that true?

No. The mandatory medical examination for renewal only starts from age 75, not at every renewal

‘Someone who renews their licence at 70 or older also gets a licence that is valid until the day they turn 75’ – is that true?

No. 'Until the 75th birthday' applies only when the licence is issued at 65 to 70; someone who is 70 or older at issue gets 5 consecutive years

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