Driving in the Netherlands from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to the Netherlands? You need:
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C) and insurance certificate Provisional licences aren't allowed. Still have an old paper licence? You need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Not your car? Carry written permission from the owner. Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for the Netherlands below
- A warning triangle
- Headlights set for driving on the right, so they don't dazzle oncoming drivers Many newer cars do this from a setting in the car's menu (check your handbook). Others need beam deflector stickers
- To keep to 100 km/h on motorways in the daytime
- A newer car, or petrol, to drive into some city centres Older diesel cars can't enter the low-emission zones. See below
🛂 Your border check happens before the Netherlands
You enter the Schengen area when you cross the Channel, so your passport is checked, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, at Dover, Folkestone or your arrival port. On the ferry from Harwich, Hull or Newcastle, it happens when you arrive in the Netherlands. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave.
Check your passport for the Netherlands →Low-emission zones and tolls
Dutch low-emission zones (milieuzones) only affect diesel cars. Petrol, LPG and electric cars can go anywhere. Cameras check every number plate, and UK cars don't need to register.
Pay the A24 toll (e-tol.nl) →
Motorways are free. The Kiltunnel near Dordrecht charges €2 for a car (cash or card), and the Westerschelde tunnel in Zeeland is free for cars under 3 m high. Major repairs on the Westerschelde tunnel start on 11 January 2027 and last about 4 months.
Speed limits in the Netherlands
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways, 6am to 7pm | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Motorways, 7pm to 6am (where signed) | 130 km/h≈ 81 mph, or 120 |
| Roads outside towns | 80 km/h≈ 50 mph |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
Overhead electronic signs show the limit in force, and a red X over a lane means it's closed: driving in it is a €290 fine. Speed cameras and unmarked police cars are common.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🚲 Cyclists and trams
Cyclists and moped riders often have right of way, so check cycle lanes before you turn. Trams have priority, and you must stop when a tram or bus stops in the road to let passengers on or off.
📵 Very high phone fine
Holding a phone while driving is a €440 fine.
📡 No radar detectors
Carrying a radar detector is a €430 fine. Speed camera warning apps are allowed.
🍷 Drink-drive limit
0.5 per mille, or 0.2 in your first 5 years as a driver. Fines start at €300.
🚶 Zebra crossings
Not stopping for a pedestrian on a zebra crossing is a €470 fine.
👶 Child seats
Children shorter than 1.35 m must use an approved child seat. Without one it's a €280 fine.
Winter driving
Winter tyres aren't compulsory in the Netherlands. If you're driving on to Germany, you need winter tyres there whenever it's wintry: see driving in Germany.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire.
- Put on a hi-vis vest before you get out, and wait behind the crash barrier if you can.
- Place the warning triangle behind the car where traffic will see it in time, if it's safe to.
Hiring a car in the Netherlands instead
- Hire companies usually want you to be 21 or over, and may ask for an international driving permit.
- Ask how the A24 toll and any fines will be charged to you.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
FAQs
What is the motorway speed limit in the Netherlands?
From 6am to 7pm it's 100 km/h (about 62 mph) on almost all motorways. In the evening and at night, 120 or 130 km/h is allowed where signs say so. Overhead electronic signs show the current limit.
Can I drive a UK car into Dutch low-emission zones?
Petrol cars can go anywhere. Older diesel cars can't enter the zones in Amsterdam, Arnhem and Utrecht (diesel Euro 5 or newer only) or The Hague (Euro 4 or newer). Cameras check, and the fine is €130. Foreign cars don't need to register.
Are there tolls in the Netherlands?
Motorways are free. The A24 Blankenburg tunnel near Rotterdam costs €1.57 per trip by number plate camera: pay online at e-tol.nl up to 7 days before or within 3 days after. The Kiltunnel near Dordrecht charges €2 for a car, and the Westerschelde tunnel is free for cars.
How much is the fine for using a phone while driving in the Netherlands?
€440 for holding a phone while driving, plus a €9 admin fee.
What is the drink-drive limit in the Netherlands?
0.5 per mille, or 0.2 per mille for drivers in their first 5 years.
Do I need winter tyres in the Netherlands?
No, they aren't compulsory.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
- GOV.UK: Netherlands travel advice, road travel · International driving permits · UK stickers · Insurance abroad
- Netherlands: Motorway speed limits (Rijksoverheid) · Alcohol · Low-emission zones · Zone fines · A24 Blankenburg toll · Westerschelde tunnel · Kiltunnel · Official fines (OM)
- EU: Your Europe: road rules in the Netherlands