Driving test in Leiden: how it works (and how to prepare)
The practical exam is the most nerve-racking moment of your training — but once you know what to expect, half the tension falls away. The exam is administered by the CBR, and in our region you usually start your exam from a fixed test centre in the Leiden area. Please note: that centre is moving temporarily — the last practical exam at the Smaragdlaan takes place on Friday 23 October 2026, and from Tuesday 27 October 2026 you take your exam temporarily at Van der Valk Sassenheim (Warmonderweg 8). Below we walk through, step by step, how it works and how to prepare well.
Booking: this is what we arrange for you
You don't register for the practical exam directly yourself; the driving school does it on your behalf. For that you give us a digital authorisation via your DigiD, so we can book the exam with the CBR. As soon as your instructor feels you're at exam level, we plan a date together. You'll find the current exam fees on cbr.nl.
Haven't authorised us yet? Arrange it in a few minutes with your DigiD.
What do you bring to the exam?
- A valid ID (passport, ID card or previous driving licence).
- Your booking details, so everything matches at check-in.
- Glasses or lenses if you need them to drive — don't forget them.
- Above all: a well-rested, relaxed version of yourself. Sleep well and eat something before you go.
The exam route in and around Leiden
The CBR only decides the exact route on the day itself, so you can't memorise it in advance — and you don't need to. What does help: we drive the roads in and around Leiden every single day. Roundabouts, merging onto busier roads, narrow streets in the town centre and cyclists everywhere: exactly the situations the exam tests are the ones you practise with us in the real environment. That way the exam day doesn't feel like unknown territory, but like a route you recognise. Good to know: from Tuesday 27 October 2026 the exam in our region is temporarily taken at Van der Valk Sassenheim (Warmonderweg 8) instead of at the Smaragdlaan — one more reason we practise across our whole region, including around Sassenheim.
Tips for the day itself
- Arrive in good time, so you don't start in a rush.
- Breathe calmly and drive the way you practised — don't suddenly become ‘extra careful’.
- Mistakes are allowed: one slip doesn't automatically mean a fail. Just keep driving.
- Look clearly and in good time (mirrors, blind spot), so the examiner sees you acting properly.
- See the examiner as a passenger along for the ride, not as an opponent.
Tip
Nerves are part of it — even experienced drivers feel them. The difference isn't feeling no tension, but learning to drive with it. Taking a few calm breaths just before the start does more than you'd think.
Frequently asked questions about the driving test
Frequently asked questions
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