Vehicle registration in the Netherlands

All vehicles in the Netherlands need to be registered with the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) in order to receive a Dutch licence plate and comply with taxation regulations. Here’s what you need to know about vehicle registration in the Netherlands.

Car registration in the Netherlands

Whether you are moving to the Netherlands and want to import a car from abroad, or are buying a new or used car in the Netherlands, you need to register the car. Having a car registered in your name recognises you as the official owner and enables you to get Dutch number plates (if you need them).

Requirements for car registration

To be able to complete a car registration in the Netherlands, you need to fulfil some conditions:

You are at least 18 years old (16 if you are registering a moped).
You are registered in the Personal Records Database.
You register the car yourself (you cannot ask someone to register the vehicle on your behalf).

How to register a car in the Netherlands and get a Dutch vehicle registration number

The process for registering a car in the Netherlands differs depending on whether the car is new or used, and whether you bought it in the Netherlands.

Registering a new car that you have bought in the Netherlands

If you buy a car from a car dealership, it may be possible to register it in your name on the spot, but only if the dealer has RDW approval to allocate car registration numbers. Usually if you buy a brand new car, it will be automatically registered in your name. You just need to provide proof of identity.

Transfer car ownership

If you have bought a used car in the Netherlands, you will need to transfer ownership of the car from the previous owner to you. You can do this:

At a vehicle registration office
At an RDW testing centre
At a vehicle registration service desk
Online

Transferring vehicle ownership in person

To transfer vehicle ownership in person at a registration or testing office, you will need the vehicle registration card from the seller, or the original vehicle registration certificate and transfer certificate (see below). You need to bring these documents to your appointment, along with your ID.

At your appointment, you will receive a vehicle log book containing the first four digits of the registration code (see below) and a certificate of indemnification, which you should give to the seller. You will receive your new registration card within a couple of days.

Transferring vehicle ownership online

It may also be possible to transfer ownership of a vehicle online. To do this, you’ll need the vehicle’s registration card and ascription code (you cannot transfer ownership online if the vehicle only has a paper registration certificate). You’ll also need a Dutch passport, a Dutch driving licence or a Dutch identity card with a chip, as well as a smartphone with an NFC chip reader.

You’ll need to confirm your identity via the DigiD app on your phone and then follow the instructions on the RDW website.

Registering a vehicle from abroad

If you have brought a vehicle with you to the Netherlands from abroad, you will need to schedule an RDW inspection to confirm that your vehicle complies with Dutch requirements regarding road safety, sound, lighting, environment and windows.

If your car does not have a valid foreign registration, you may also need to apply for a free temporary registration number (also known as a “one-day registration number”) to allow you to drive the vehicle from your home to the inspection location.

You will need to bring the following to the appointment:

The car’s original foreign registration certificate (note that you will not get this back, so you should make a copy)
A valid form of ID
An import document testifying that your car is “removal goods” and therefore not subject to import duties

If your car passes the inspection, you will receive a new registration card within five working days.

If your car has a valid foreign technical inspection certificate, it may be possible to have the expiry of this test honoured in the Netherlands (meaning you do not need a Dutch vehicle inspection test until your current, foreign test expires). To do this, you need to bring proof of inspection with you to the appointment. This process is only possible if the vehicle inspection test was done in an EU or EFTA country.

Useful links for drivers in the Netherlands

How much does it cost to register a car in the Netherlands?

If you are simply transferring ownership of a vehicle in the Netherlands, then a nominal fee of 12,50 euros is payable. If the process is more complicated (for instance you are registering a foreign car in the Netherlands or registering a car for the first time), you may also need to pay for identification, assessments, your registration certificate, and other costs. These usually add up to somewhere between 100 and 200 euros.

Getting your vehicle registration card

Once you have registered your vehicle, you will receive a vehicle registration card for that vehicle (previously known as a vehicle registration certificate). You need to always have your vehicle registration card on you when driving.

The vehicle registration certificate

Previously, the vehicle registration certificate was issued on paper in three parts:

Part IA: The vehicle registration (voertuigbewijs) with information about the vehicle
Part IB: The owner registration (tenaamstellingsbewijs) with information about the owner of the vehicle
Part II: The transfer certificate (overschijvingsbewijs) which you need to transfer the registration certificate.

As of 2014, the RDW has issued all vehicles with a vehicle registration card containing a chip that provides the details of the vehicle and the licence plate holder. Since 2018, the RDW has been converting all registration certificates into registration cards.

Vehicle registration code (vehicle registration number)

With your vehicle registration card, you will also get a vehicle registration code (also called a vehicle registration number or owner registration code). You will get the first four digits when you first register the vehicle in your name, and the final five digits when you get your registration card. If you register a vehicle for the first time (i.e. a brand new vehicle), you will receive the complete registration code in one go.

You need your vehicle registration code to:

Change the vehicle ownership
Suspend your vehicle registration
Scrap your vehicle
Export your vehicle

Lost registration card

If you lose your vehicle registration card, or if it is stolen or damaged, you can apply for a new one. You also need to apply for a new registration card if you lose all or part of your paper registration certificate.

You will need your reporting code, which is the last four digits of your vehicle identification number (VIN). You can then request a new registration card from the RDW website.

Lost registration code

If you lose your registration code, you can request a new one online from the RDW website, so long as the vehicle is registered in your name and you have a DigiD. The new code will be emailed to you within a few minutes. There is a small fee for this service.

Getting Dutch licence plates

When you have your registration card, you can take it to an approved licence plate manufacturer to get your Dutch licence plates made. You only need to do this if you are registering a foreign car.

Fulfilling your obligations as a vehicle owner in the Netherlands

Now that you’re officially registered as the owner of a vehicle in the Netherlands, you need to comply with various obligations, including:

Taking out car insurance
Getting your car tested for safety
Paying motor vehicle taxes