A fine letter from the CJIB: what to do now
Published: July 13, 2026 · 2 min read · The Letrin team
Dutch words in this post
Hover over an underlined word in the text (tap it on a phone) and see what it means straight away.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| beschikkingsnummer | decision number · You need this number to view the photo of the fine online |
| officier van justitie | public prosecutor · For traffic fines, the appeal goes to this office |
| in beroep gaan | to appeal |
| zekerheidstelling | security deposit · Some appeals require you to pay first; the letter says so |
| betalingsregeling | instalment plan |
| schuldhulpverlening | free debt help · Support the municipality offers at no cost |
| APK | vehicle inspection · The Dutch equivalent of a roadworthiness test |
| vrijwaring | transfer certificate · Proof that a car you sold is no longer registered to you |
CJIB is the body that collects fines in the Netherlands, traffic fines above all. Its letters differ from all the others in one important way: the longer you wait, the higher the amount grows, and that happens automatically.
How does the fine grow?
An ordinary traffic fine goes through these stages:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| First letter | To be paid within 8 weeks |
| 1st reminder | The amount rises by 50 % |
| 2nd reminder | The amount rises again; now three times the original fine |
| After that | Collection: bailiff, seizure of the car, or a direct debit from your account |
There is nothing to negotiate at these stages. "I did not understand the letter" does not stop the process. That is why the CJIB envelope is not one to leave waiting in a drawer.
Check before you pay
Not every fine is correct. For camera fines you can view the photo online; you look it up with the beschikkingsnummerdecision number · You need this number to view the photo of the fine online from the letter. Check the plate, the date and the place. If you had sold the car, or the plate is wrong, your position is strong.
Appeal: 6 weeks, in writing
You can appeal within 6 weeks of the date of the letter (in beroep gaanto appeal). What you need to know:
- For traffic fines the appeal goes to the officier van justitiepublic prosecutor · For traffic fines, the appeal goes to this office; the letter explains step by step how to do it.
- Appealing does not always stop the payment; if the letter has a section called zekerheidstellingsecurity deposit · Some appeals require you to pay first; the letter says so, read it carefully.
- Write short and concrete: what happened, why the fine is wrong, what evidence you have.
If you cannot pay
CJIB is fairly flexible about instalments now: for fines of 75 euro and above you can arrange a betalingsregelinginstalment plan online. An instalment plan stops the escalation; silence does not. If the debt is not just this one fine, the municipality's free debt help (schuldhulpverleningfree debt help · Support the municipality offers at no cost) can negotiate with several bodies at once.
Invisible fines: a car without insurance or inspection
Some of the heaviest repeating fines come not from a mistake in traffic but from a register check. If a car registered in your name has no insurance or no APKvehicle inspection · The Dutch equivalent of a roadworthiness test inspection, the fine is issued automatically and repeats until the register is correct. If you have sold or scrapped the car, make sure you complete the vrijwaringtransfer certificate · Proof that a car you sold is no longer registered to you; that single piece of paper prevents a whole series of fines.
If you cannot read the letter
CJIB letters are dense: decision number, amount, date, appeal section. Take a photo with Letrin and see in English what the fine is for, the current amount, when the next increase lands, and your options (pay, appeal or request instalments). It also sets a reminder before the deadline.
The explanation helps, it does not decide: verify amounts and dates against the letter. If you need legal support, Juridisch Loket is free.