Last April, Van Nieuwenhuizen already decided that driving licenses that expired in the period from March 16 will remain valid until June 1, 2020. This leniency is extended and extended with this measure from the European Commission. The temporary scheme allows people to continue driving with their expired driving license for a maximum of seven months from the day their driving license expires. They remain insured during that period and are not fined for this if they are stopped. The scheme applies to the Netherlands and all other EU Member States.

In contrast to the earlier Dutch relaxation, this European regulation applies to all driving licenses. So also for driving licenses that, for example, are only valid for three or one year due to a medical condition. The minister calls on people with such a driving license to carefully consider whether it is wise to take the road before their medical examination and the assessment of driving skills has taken place.

The new measure does not apply to driving licenses that have been recovered or suspended, for example due to a serious traffic offense or alcohol consumption in traffic. The expired driving license does not count as a means of identification either, with the exception of situations where care is taken.

Last month, the minister also decided to extend the validity of, among other things, the theory test for the driving license. If their validity has expired in the period from March 16, they will remain valid until June 1, 2020. For theory exams that expire in the period from June 1 to October 1, Van Nieuwenhuizen has decided to extend the validity until April 1, 2021.