Vehicle knowledge for the Dutch car theory exam

Terms to know first

The right terms help you recognise what an exam question is asking.

Rijklaar, roadworthy: The vehicle is technically safe, correctly loaded and ready to drive without danger.
Toegestane maximummassa, permitted maximum mass: The empty vehicle plus the maximum permitted load in its registration.
Deelbare lading, divisible load: A load that can be divided into smaller parts without damage.
Ondeelbare lading, indivisible load: A load that cannot be divided for transport without damage or great difficulty.

1. Tyres keep you on the road

Grip, steering and braking depend strongly on tyres and pressure.

The legal minimum tread depth for passenger-car main grooves is 1.6 mm.
Do not drive with visible carcass damage, bulges or an incorrect rotation direction.
Check pressure while cold using the manufacturer’s table and adjust for heavy loads.

Tread, damage, pressure and direction. Check all four.

Vehicle Regulations article 5.2.27

Check tyres, lights, fluids and dashboard. A red warning light requires immediate attention.

View the diagram full size

Driver checks a passenger-car tyre’s tread depth and pressure — Measure the main grooves and check cold tyre pressure against the manufacturer’s table.

2. Dashboard and fluids

A warning light tells you what to check, not always how long you can keep driving.

A red warning light usually means stop as soon as it is safe and check the cause.
Amber or yellow requests inspection or service. Continue only when the manual and situation say it is safe.
Check oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid as described in the manual.

Red: stop safely. Amber: check. Green or blue: function active.

Vehicle Regulations chapter 5; vehicle manual

Four dashboard groups in red, amber, green and blue with an example symbol — Red usually means stop safely and check the cause. Amber requests inspection or service. Green and blue usually show that a function or light is active. Always read the vehicle manual.

3. Vision, mirrors and lighting

Windows, mirrors and lights must be clean, intact and usable.

Adjust seat, head restraint and mirrors before leaving. The blind spot remains, so also look over your shoulder.
Registration plates and required lighting must remain visible and working.
Wipers, demisting and washers must restore sufficient visibility.

Good observation starts with a clean, correctly adjusted car.

Vehicle Regulations chapter 5; RVV article 41

Four separate checks for mirrors, windows, lighting and registration plate — Before leaving, check that mirrors are adjusted, windows are clean, lights work and the registration plate is fully visible.

4. Loads and trailers

A load changes weight, braking distance, view and stability.

Secure the load so it cannot fall, slide or make the vehicle uncontrollable.
Do not cover lights, registration or required reflectors, and respect permitted mass and axle loads.
Check coupling, breakaway device, plug, lights, tyres and mirrors of a trailer.

Secure, visible, within weight and correctly coupled.

Vehicle Regulations chapter 5; load rules

5. ABS, ESC, airbags and driver assistance

A system helps the driver but does not take over responsibility.

ABS is the anti-lock braking system. It prevents wheel lock during hard braking, helping the car remain steerable. During an emergency stop, press the brake firmly and continuously.
ESC is electronic stability control. It may brake individual wheels and reduce engine power when the car begins to skid. It cannot correct excessive speed or insufficient grip.
An airbag inflates during a collision to add protection. It works with the seat belt and never replaces it.
Driver-assistance systems, such as lane assistance or automatic emergency braking, can miss or misjudge something. Keep observing, steering and braking yourself.

These systems support you but do not make the car self-driving. You remain responsible.

Dashboard-style symbols for ABS, ESC, airbag and ADAS driver assistance — The symbols help identify the system. ABS, ESC, airbags and driver assistance support the driver, but none takes over observation, decisions or intervention.

6. Trailer, weight and licence

Use the permitted maximum mass on the documents, not only today’s actual weight.

With B, a trailer may have up to 750 kg permitted maximum mass, or be heavier when car and trailer together have no more than 3,500 kg permitted maximum mass.
With B+ code 96, the combination may reach 4,250 kg permitted maximum mass. Heavier combinations fall under BE conditions.
A trailer above 750 kg has its own yellow plate. Up to 750 kg, it uses a white plate showing the towing car’s registration.

Check licence, documents, actual load and coupling before leaving.

Passenger car with a small single-axle trailer on a Dutch driveway — Before leaving, check the documents, coupling, cables, lights, tyres, load and permitted mass.

7. Required, useful and safe equipment

Not every useful item is legally required, but preparation prevents danger.

The Netherlands has no general list of loose equipment required in every passenger car.
A warning triangle, safety vest, first-aid kit, torch and charging cable are sensible to carry.
Before a long trip, check tyres, lights, washer fluid, oil, coolant and the load.

Know the difference between legally required and sensibly prepared.

8. Load and dimensions for car and trailer

Secure the load first. Then check weight, visibility and projection.

A passenger-car and trailer combination may be no more than 18 metres long. The ordinary maximum width is 2.55 metres and maximum height 4 metres.
Divisible load does not project in front of the car or ordinary trailer and projects at most 1 metre behind. On a passenger car, it may project at most 20 centimetres on each side.
Indivisible load on a passenger car may project at most 1 metre in front and 1 metre behind.
Indivisible load may project farther behind a trailer within the legal limits. If it projects more than 1 metre behind, the prescribed marker is required.
A load may not cover a plate, lights, indicators or reflectors and may not fall, slide or destabilise the combination.

Secure, weigh, measure and keep every light and plate visible.

Vehicle Regulations articles 5.18.11 to 5.18.15

Wooden boards secured with two straps inside a Dutch trailer — The load remains inside the trailer, is secured in two places and covers no light, reflector or registration plate.

What to remember before the exam

If you can explain these rules without help, you understand the core of this topic.

Tyres need at least 1.6 mm tread and no dangerous damage.
A red warning light requires stopping safely and checking.
Adjust seat, head restraint and mirrors before leaving.
Loads must not cover lighting or registration.
Secure loads and check weight and trailer connection.
Loads must be secured and remain within weight and dimension limits.
Indivisible load projecting over 1 metre behind a trailer needs the prescribed marker.

Check yourself

Think first. Then open the answer.

1What is the minimum tread depth for a passenger-car tyre?

1.6 mm in the main grooves around the full circumference.

2A red oil-pressure light stays on. What do you do?

Stop as soon as it is safe and check the cause.

3May a load cover a rear light or registration plate?

No. Required lights, reflectors and registration must remain visible.

4May divisible load project 1 metre in front of an ordinary passenger car?

No. Divisible load may not project in front of the car.

Official sources

This summary uses the official CBR topics, RVV 1990, the Dutch Road Traffic Act and the Vehicle Regulations.

CBR: theory exam topics Overheid.nl: RVV 1990 Overheid.nl: Dutch Road Traffic Act Overheid.nl: Vehicle Regulations Overheid.nl: Driving Licence Regulations

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