Recidiveregeling alcohol: what it means for your driving licence

The recidiveregeling alcohol is a measure from the CBR that applies after repeated drink-driving or a very high blood-alcohol level. After a second alcohol offence within five years, your driving licence may be declared invalid. You might then have to show a recidiefvrije periode of one year before you can reapply for a licence.

This page explains the rules as the CBR applies them. It's information, not legal or medical advice.

What is the recidiveregeling alcohol?

The recidiveregeling alcohol is a legal measure the CBR uses for repeated or heavy alcohol use in traffic. The measure can lead to your driving licence being declared invalid. The idea is that you may drive again only once you can show you've been alcohol-free in traffic for a longer period.

This measure is separate from any criminal fine or penalty. So you might face both the courts and the CBR after the same offence.

The CBR looks at the pattern, not a single moment.

When does the recidiveregeling apply?

The recidiveregeling can apply after a second alcohol offence within five years, or after a first offence with a very high blood-alcohol level. For a novice driver, that limit is lower, around 1.3 per mille. For an experienced driver, it sits around 1.8 per mille. The CBR assesses how it applies in each case.

A novice driver faces stricter limits during the first five years after getting a licence. As a result, the measure can come into play sooner.

At the highest levels, the CBR can act straight away, even without an earlier offence.

Situation and consequence

What happens to your driving licence?

Under the recidiveregeling, the CBR can declare your licence invalid. That means you may not drive from that moment on. The invalidation is an administrative measure and is separate from a criminal case. How long the effects last depends on your situation and on what you can later show.

An invalidation is serious, but it isn't a permanent ban.

After an invalidation, a process usually starts in which you can work step by step toward getting your licence back. Many people like to know how that process runs beforehand. You'll find a clear overview in our article about the CBR alcohol and drug assessment.

What does a recidiefvrije periode mean?

A recidiefvrije periode is a continuous period, often one year, in which you show you don't have problematic alcohol use. The CBR can set this period as a condition before you may reapply for a licence. During this period, the blood values CDT and EtG matter most.

CDT is a value in the blood that can rise with long-term, heavy alcohol use. EtG is a substance that can point to more recent alcohol use.

According to information from Thuisarts.nl, alcohol can be measurable in the body in different ways, depending on the substance and the time that's passed.

You can calmly map your own status during this period. Read how that works in self-checking your CDT and EtG during the recidiefvrije periode.

How do you get your driving licence back?

You don't get your licence back automatically. After the recidiefvrije periode, you can start a new application through the CBR. This usually involves an assessment in which the CBR reviews your situation. Only once the CBR judges positively can you take steps toward a valid licence.

The CBR sets the content and pace of that assessment itself.

A health declaration is often part of this process. You'll find what that involves in our article about the health declaration for your driving licence.

The lead time differs per person. For an explanation of waiting times, see how long a CBR assessment result takes.

Checking your own status alongside the CBR process

During the recidiefvrije periode, you sometimes just want to know where you stand. For that you can have your CDT measured yourself, discreetly and on your own schedule. It gives you calm and insight, but it's a personal check, not a replacement for the official CBR assessment.

A self-test guarantees no outcome with the CBR and says nothing about their judgement.

If you'd like to do your own measurement, you can use our alcohol CDT test for home to have your own CDT value checked.

That way you keep sight of your own situation, without affecting the official procedure.

Sources

• CBR: information about the recidiveregeling alcohol and invalidation of the driving licence.
• RIVM: information about alcohol and health.
• Thuisarts.nl: information about alcohol and the body.
• Richtlijnendatabase: guidelines on fitness to drive and alcohol.

Every test result at Zuivertest includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.