Driving licence confiscated: how do you request its return?
What would you like help with?
Do not drive while your driving licence has been confiscated. Submit important documents promptly and, if you depend on your driving licence, have it assessed whether immediate action is worthwhile.
Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
After confiscation, the Public Prosecution Service must quickly decide on retention. Your work, care duties, driving history and circumstances may be relevant to a request for return.
General information about Dutch law · Reviewed on · How we work
Your personal starting plan
Start with these three steps. Open the explanation that fits your situation and then complete your checklist.
Go to your checklist and preparation
This starting plan helps you prepare and saves nothing automatically. It is not an individual legal assessment and does not monitor deadlines.
On this page
The first 10 days
The public prosecutor normally decides within 10 days after confiscation whether the driving licence will be returned or retained for longer. During that period, you can submit a reasoned request for its return.
Substantiate your personal interest
Explain specifically why you need the driving licence, for example for work, informal care or medical reasons. Include evidence, such as an employer's statement, employment contract, schedule and information about alternatives.
Complaint to the court
If the Public Prosecution Service does not return the driving licence, you can file a complaint with the court. The judge weighs your interest against road safety, the seriousness of the offence, driving history and expected penalty.
Further points to check
You need not await refusal by the prosecution: a complaint may be filed from seizure or surrender. A directly interested employer or dependent relative may also complain. Without a prosecution decision, the court may first forward your letter there. Include name/address, seizure or retention decision, reasoned objections, specific need with evidence, date and signature. If summoned to criminal court or a prosecution hearing, use that district's court; otherwise use the offence location's court. Address Criminal Division and use post or the official secure-email link. Midden-Nederland has its own form. There is no court fee or mandatory lawyer; if hiring one, ask about fees and legal aid. Attendance at the public hearing is optional but lets you explain; an authorised lawyer may speak. There is no right to the last word here. The decision is often immediate with writing later, but provisional: the criminal case may end differently. If returned, the prosecution mails the licence; do not drive until received, and check any separate CBR restriction. CBR invalidation and CJIB seizure for unpaid fines have separate routes. Check remedies against the later final criminal decision; this complaint does not replace them.
Your checklist
Prepare your next stepFill in and save · Word
Tick what you have checked or collected. Note what is missing and take your overview to a meeting.
Unless saved in My overview: Your entries stay only on this screen. Download before leaving; closing or reloading clears them. Do not enter identity numbers, passwords or unnecessary personal details.
What do you still need for your next step?
Item 1 / 5 · Where do you stand with this item?
Official report or proof of confiscation
This overview follows your own answers. It does not assess your rights or guarantee that your file is complete.
Your choices stay here. Use the buttons below if you want to save or download.
View all details, notes and timeline
Your timeline and evidence
List events and contacts. Note where you keep the evidence; no upload is needed.
What goes in my timeline?
Record what happened, when, the response and where to find the letter, message or photo. Mark uncertain dates.
Is my evidence sent?
No. You only note where it is kept. No files are uploaded or sent automatically.
How do I save my timeline?
Your entries are not saved automatically. Choose Save and continue later to store this preparation, including your timeline, in My overview. Wait for confirmation and save new changes again. You can also download a Word file without an account.
Up to 20 events. Choose a different position for an event to change the order.
0 / 5 · Checked or collected
For each event, note the date, what happened and where the evidence is kept. Example: 3 October — letter received — correspondence folder.
Describe the solution you would like, such as an explanation of a deduction and repayment of the outstanding amount.
For example: which document is missing, who can provide it and what should I do first?
Record the date and its source. If unknown, note this and check promptly. This tool does not calculate or monitor deadlines.
After your conversation
These are your own notes. Confirm agreements with the other person; these notes do not prove their agreement.
This is your preparation, not a submitted request, objection or legally reviewed document. A tick records only your own progress. Check the procedure and deadline in the original letter.
Save and continue later
Clear entries
Download anything you want to keep first. Clearing cannot be undone.
- Official report or proof of confiscation
- Date and reason for confiscation
- Employer's statement and work schedule
- Evidence of care-related or medical necessity
- Driving history and any previous cases
Draft driving-licence petition
Check the facts and competent court; submit yourself through the official route.
Edit your draftWord
Your edits stay on this page and are not automatically saved or sent. Complete every placeholder.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get my driving licence back if the Public Prosecution Service decides too late?
The 10-day period is important. If it is exceeded, have the consequences in your situation checked immediately and request the return of your licence.
Can I file a complaint myself?
In principle, yes, but a specialist lawyer can present the legal and personal arguments in a targeted way and assess the prospects.