A young woman at the wheel and a young man beside her look back smiling from inside the car
Photo: via 2toDrive

If you are 17 and you have passed, you may take to the road with a coach beside you. That is supervised driving, also called 2toDrive. Here you read how to arrange the begeleiderspas, who may be your coach and which rules apply on the road.

What is supervised driving?

Your theory exam is allowed from 16, driving lessons from 16 and a half and your practical exam from 17. Pass before your 18th birthday and you get an ordinary car licence, but until that birthday you only drive with a coach beside you.

Your coach is not an instructor and doesn't have to demonstrate anything. Someone with experience simply sits next to you while you build up kilometres at your own pace: to school, to work, to family. That year of practice is exactly what makes the difference.

Arranging the begeleiderspas

The begeleiderspas carries the names of your coaches. It needs at least 1 and takes at most 5. You pay one fixed price, however many coaches you register; the amount is on the RDW page about supervised driving.

Step 1 of 4

  1. Coaches register

    Give your coaches your burgerservicenummer. They register on the RDW website with their own DigiD.

  2. The RDW checks

    Within five working days the RDW checks whether your coaches meet the requirements.

  3. Apply for the pass

    Then you apply for the pass yourself with your DigiD and pay by iDEAL or Wero.

  4. Pass in the post

    Within four to five working days the pass arrives by post. Only then do you apply for your licence at the gemeente.

Who may be your coach?

You choose your coaches yourself: a parent, an uncle, the neighbour. The RDW checks whether they meet the requirements. Go through the requirements for each person in the list 'Can this person be your coach?'.

The rules on the road

You always carry three things: your coach, your licence and your begeleiderspas. Your coach sits beside you and carries a valid licence. On your 18th birthday nothing about your licence changes: it simply stays valid.

Is this allowed before you turn 18?

Driving to school with your coach beside you

Allowed. Exactly what supervised driving is for: building up kilometres with someone experienced beside you.

A quick trip to the supermarket on your own, with the pass in your pocket

Not allowed. Without a coach beside you, you don't drive, not even a short stretch.

Going on holiday to Belgium with your coach

Not allowed. Before you turn 18 this licence is for the Netherlands only.

Driving while your coach is under the influence of alcohol

Not allowed. Your coach may not be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.

Driving on your own on your 18th birthday

Allowed. From then on the coach no longer has to come along and you no longer need the begeleiderspas.

Sources: RDW: begeleiderspas and registering a coach, Rijksoverheid: coaching a 17-year-old driver

Driving licence help offers general explanations. For your own situation, the CBR, the RDW and other authorities are decisive. Also read the disclaimer (in Dutch).