Theory Mastery

Load, licence plate and view

What the exam asks here: A fully loaded car is tempting to just drive off.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 5 questions

The trap

Many learners think: Load may partly cover the licence plate as long as a bit of it stays readable.

The rule is: The plate front and rear must be CLEARLY READABLE and NOT SCREENED OFF; so fully, not 'partly'. If the carrier covers the plate, a repeater plate is needed

Challenge

A fully loaded car is tempting to just drive off. But your load may never hide three things — and with a trailer a fourth requirement is added. Most learners name at most one. In a moment you will name all four.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Load, licence plate and view

The model

Four requirements, four reasons. 1) LICENCE PLATE: plate front and rear clearly readable, not screened off (Book p.203). 2) LIGHTING: lights and retroreflectors clearly visible, not covered (Book p.205). 3) VIEW: all mirrors usable, unobstructed view out (Book p.204). 4) TRAILER: if it hinders your rearward view through the normal outside mirrors, extra outside mirrors are required (Book p.230).

Read this section on its own page: The model: Load, licence plate and view

Core

Licence plate, lighting, view, trailer — four requirements load may never break. If the bikes cover the plate, a repeater plate is needed. If load covers the lights, move them or use a lighting bar. All mirrors — inside mirror and both outside mirrors (or equivalent camera systems) — must stay usable. And as soon as a wide trailer or caravan blocks your rearward view through the normal outside mirrors, you must fit extra outside mirrors.

Read this section on its own page: Core: Load, licence plate and view

Why it matters

An unreadable plate or covered brake light makes you unidentifiable and unpredictable to traffic behind you — especially dangerous during an autumn storm with poor visibility. Without usable mirrors you drive with a blind spot you cannot see yourself.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Load, licence plate and view

Active recall

During an autumn storm on the A50 you notice the bike carrier covers part of your rear lights, while the wipers run continuously and the navigation screen reports congestion. May you keep driving like this?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Load, licence plate and view

Teach back

Explain why your load may never cover the plate or the lights, and when you need extra outside mirrors.

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Load, licence plate and view

Memory hook

Plate and lights: never covered. Mirrors: always usable. Wide trailer blocks view → extra outside mirrors.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Load, licence plate and view

Source: WVW 1994 art. 5 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

What must stay clear — and what happens if you ignore it?Requirement (book)If you ignore itPlate (front + rear, p.203)clearly readable, not screened offunidentifiable + fineLights + retroreflectors (p.205)clearly visible, not coveredtraffic misses your braking/turningView + mirrors (p.204)unobstructed view, all mirrors usablelarge blind spotWide trailer/caravan (p.230)extra outside mirrors requiredno view of traffic behind you
What to look at: Table: plate, lights and view must stay clear; wide trailer needs extra mirrors.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At the home-improvement retail park in Utrecht you have loaded a bookcase in the back and put bikes on the rear carrier. What must you check about your licence plate, lights and mirrors before driving off?

Show the answer

Four requirements, four reasons. 1) LICENCE PLATE: plate front and rear clearly readable, not screened off (Book p.203). 2) LIGHTING: lights and retroreflectors clearly visible, not covered (Book p.205). 3) VIEW: all mirrors usable, unobstructed view out (Book p.204). 4) TRAILER: if it hinders your rearward view through the normal outside mirrors, extra outside mirrors are required (Book p.230).

Exam questions on this topic

At the furniture centre in Utrecht you tie a bookcase onto the tailgate. It is firmly secured, but covers half of the rear number plate and part of the brake lights. Your navigation shows 40 more minutes of driving.

  1. Drive like this; the bookcase is firmly secured and the trip is manageable
  2. Reposition the bookcase, or fit an extra number plate and light bar
  3. Drive like this; half of the number plate is still readable
Show the answer

Correct answer: Reposition the bookcase, or fit an extra number plate and light bar

False — You think a half-readable plate is enough. The number plate must be fully readable and may not be screened off; if the load covers it, reposition the load or fit an extra plate.

Why learners get this wrong: Your load may cover (part of) the lighting as long as it is well secured or the trip is short.

Open this question

On the A27 towards Breda your wide caravan hinders your rearward view through the normal outside mirrors, while the traffic info announces congestion at the next junction. What is required?

  1. Fit extra outside mirrors on the car
  2. Nothing — the inside mirror is enough then
Show the answer

Correct answer: Fit extra outside mirrors on the car

Why learners get this wrong: With a trailer or caravan the inside mirror is enough; extra outside mirrors are not needed.

Open this question

Statement: during an autumn storm on the A50, your load may cover part of the rear lights as long as the rest of the lights stays visible.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: Your load may cover (part of) the lighting as long as it is well secured or the trip is short.

Open this question

At the Hornbach you load wide garden fence panels onto the back seat and boot, while the day's last sunbeams shine through the rear window. What must remain visible or usable? (multiple answers possible)

  1. Only the rear lights; the plate may be partly covered
  2. The licence plate front and rear (clearly readable)
  3. The lights and retroreflectors (not covered)
  4. The view out through the mirrors (unobstructed)
Show the answer

Correct answer: The licence plate front and rear (clearly readable); The lights and retroreflectors (not covered); The view out through the mirrors (unobstructed)

Why learners get this wrong: Load may partly cover the licence plate as long as a bit of it stays readable.

Open this question

In the queue for the ferry to Terschelling you hitch a wide caravan. Through the normal outside mirrors you mostly see the caravan and hardly the traffic behind you. It is 07:50 and the boat leaves soon. May you drive on board like this?

  1. Yes, extra outside mirrors are advice here, not a duty
  2. Yes, through the inside mirror you see the traffic behind you well enough
  3. No, first fit extra outside mirrors that look past the caravan
Show the answer

Correct answer: No, first fit extra outside mirrors that look past the caravan

False — you rely on the inside mirror. With a caravan behind, the inside mirror looks straight at the caravan; if the caravan blocks your view through the normal outside mirrors, you must fit extra outside mirrors

Why learners get this wrong: Extra outside mirrors for a wide trailer are advice, not an obligation.

Open this question

Frequently asked questions

‘Load may partly cover the licence plate as long as a bit of it stays readable’ – is that true?

No. The plate front and rear must be CLEARLY READABLE and NOT SCREENED OFF; so fully, not 'partly'. If the carrier covers the plate, a repeater plate is needed

‘Your load may cover (part of) the lighting as long as it is well secured or the trip is short’ – is that true?

No. Lights and retroreflectors must be clearly visible (not covered). Fastening or trip length is irrelevant; move the load or use a lighting bar

‘With a trailer or caravan the inside mirror is enough; extra outside mirrors are not needed’ – is that true?

No. If your rearward view through the normal outside mirrors is hindered by the trailer, you MUST fit extra outside mirrors; the inside mirror just looks at the trailer

‘Extra outside mirrors for a wide trailer are advice, not an obligation’ – is that true?

No. Hrases it as a requirement — 'you must fit extra outside mirrors' — so obligatory as soon as the rearward view is hindered, not optional advice

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