A hand holds a phone showing the Mijn CBR booking screen, in a busy hall
Photo: via CBR

You book your car theory exam yourself in Mijn CBR, with your DigiD. Below you click step by step through the real screens. You also read what you need, how to find a slot sooner and what to do without DigiD.

What do you need?

Surprisingly little. It comes down to a working DigiD and being sure you're ready.

  • A working DigiD You can only log in to Mijn CBR with DigiD. No DigiD yet? Apply on digid.nl. The activation code arrives by post after a few working days.
  • Enough preparation Only book once practice exams go well. You can't cancel and get your money back, so booking too early costs you a new exam. Tips are in How to learn theory in four weeks.

You don't need a Gezondheidsverklaring (health declaration) for the theory exam. That's for your practical exam. Do sort it out in time, because a medical assessment can take a long time. How that works is in Sorting out your Gezondheidsverklaring.

How to book, step by step

This is what booking really looks like, with the screens you'll see yourself. Click through the eight steps with the buttons.

Step 1 of 8

  1. The page Je theorie-examen auto aanvragen on cbr.nl, with the button Inloggen Mijn CBR met DigiD

    Start on cbr.nl

    On cbr.nl, go to Je theorie-examen auto aanvragen (apply for your car theory exam) and click Inloggen Mijn CBR met DigiD.

  2. The Mijn CBR login page with the button Inloggen met DigiD

    Log in to Mijn CBR

    Click Inloggen met DigiD (log in with DigiD).

  3. The DigiD screen with the choice between the DigiD app, SMS check, driving licence or identity card

    Choose how to log in

    Log in with the DigiD app, with an SMS check or with your driving licence or identity card.

  4. The Mijn CBR home page with the link Examen reserveren of wijzigen under Direct regelen

    Examen reserveren of wijzigen

    On the Mijn CBR home page, under Direct regelen (arrange directly), choose Examen reserveren of wijzigen (book or change an exam).

  5. The Reserveren of wijzigen screen with the vehicles, including Auto

    Choose Auto

    Under Examen, choose the category Auto (car).

  6. The list of car theory exams, with Theorie-examen auto (BTH) at the top

    Choose your exam

    For most people that's Theorie-examen auto (BTH). There are also versions in English, with extra time, individually supervised or with an interpreter. Which one suits you is in Theory exam in another language or with extra time.

  7. The Kies een plaats en datum screen with an exam centre, a date and a list of free times

    Place, date and time

    Choose an exam centre and a date. Use Zoek eerder (search earlier) and Zoek later (search later) to browse the free slots, and pick a time yourself.

  8. The Gekozen reservering screen with the exam, place, date and time, and the button to continue to payment

    Check and pay

    Check your Gekozen reservering (chosen booking) and pay with iDEAL. Your booking is only final once you've paid, and you have 1 hour to do so. You then get a confirmation by e-mail, with the invitation attached.

Images: via CBR

No slot? How to find a date sooner

Everything full at your first choice? That doesn't have to mean weeks of delay.

  • Check regularly Other candidates move their exam, so slots free up regularly. The more often you look, the sooner you see them.
  • Try another exam centre Mijn CBR shows the free slots per location. A centre a little further away sometimes has a slot much sooner.
  • Be flexible with the time Use Zoek eerder and Zoek later to browse all free moments. A different time or day can be free sooner.
  • Book in time Whoever books first gets the first slot. So don't wait until the last moment, especially if your theory result is about to expire.

What does it cost?

You pay for the exam straight away when you book. The CBR adjusts its fees every year. What a regular theory exam costs, and what is added for an exam in English, with extra time, individually supervised or with an interpreter, is in the CBR's current fees.

If you fail, you book and pay for a new exam at the same fee. Passing first time is the biggest saving.

Moving or cancelling

Once you've paid, you can no longer cancel the exam. What you can still do depends on how long it is until your exam.

How long until your exam?

More than 7 days before

You can move your exam through Mijn CBR to an earlier or a later slot. You may do that at most 3 times.

Within 7 days of your exam

You can only move to an earlier slot, if there's space. A later slot is no longer possible.

On the exam day itself

On the exam day nothing can be changed.

Missed it because of illness or a death

Can't make it because of special circumstances, such as illness or a death in your family? Then you can ask for your exam fee back through Mijn CBR within 14 days of the exam date, with proof. The CBR deducts administration costs.

Simply not turning up costs you the full amount.

Without DigiD or through a theory centre

How do you want to book?

Booking without DigiD

First apply for a DigiD on digid.nl. If that doesn't work, fill in the application form for the theory exam and send it to the CBR by post.

You then get a payment request by e-mail, and you have 5 weeks to pay. After payment you get the invitation by e-mail, no later than 3 weeks before the exam date.

Note: once your form has reached the CBR, you can no longer book through Mijn CBR. Changes then go through the CBR's customer service.

Through a theory centre

If you take theory lessons at a theory centre, that centre can book the exam for you. You first authorise the centre in Mijn CBR. A training provider may charge for this, so booking it yourself is the cheapest option.

Want to change something? Contact that centre. Rijschool Aysem doesn't give theory lessons and doesn't book theory exams.

Not working?

Mijn CBR won't let me book

This is often because you authorised a training provider to book your theory exam. Want to do it yourself after all? Withdraw that authorisation. A few minutes later you can book yourself.

My booking has disappeared

You have 1 hour to pay for a booking. If you don't pay in time, your provisional booking lapses and you start again.

I didn't get a confirmation

The confirmation goes to the e-mail address in Mijn CBR, with the invitation attached. Also check your spam folder and your e-mail address in Mijn CBR.

How long does your result stay valid?

  1. Exam dayPassed: your result is valid for 1.5 years

    The period counts from the day of your exam. You need to take your practical exam within that time.

  2. Before your practical examYour driving school needs your valid result

    Since 1 May 2024 your driving school can only book your practical exam with a valid theory result.

  3. 3 months before the endRunning short? Take the theory again

    From 3 months before your result expires, you may take the theory exam again. You can see the exact end date in Mijn CBR under 'Examens en toetsen'.

Sources: CBR: applying for your car theory exam, CBR: moving your theory exam, CBR: how long is your theory result valid?

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).