Knowledge base · APK
Failed the APK? How to read the inspection report line by line
You are standing at the test centre and hear the word every driver dreads: afgekeurd — rejected. The report in your hand is full of Dutch phrases like „voldoet niet aan de eisen", codes and references to regulations. Don't panic: the report tells you exactly what is wrong and, more importantly, what needs fixing now and what can wait. Here is how to read it.
First things first: a rejection is not the end
A rejection means the vehicle fails the legal requirements on one or more points. It does not mean the car must come off the road immediately. As long as the old APK expiry date has not yet passed, you may in principle keep driving — though with a known safety defect that is at your own risk, including towards your insurer. If the expiry date has already passed, the situation is different: see our step-by-step plan after a failed APK.
How the report is structured
At the top are the administrative details: registration number, make and model, date and time of the inspection, the test centre and the odometer reading. That mileage is registered with the RDW and becomes part of the car's official mileage history — so check that it is correct.
Below that comes the result: approved or rejected. If the car failed, the report lists the defects found, each with a description and a reference to the article of the inspection requirements it is based on. Those references look very legal, but the description next to them usually says enough: "brake disc severely corroded", "tyre below minimum tread depth", "light not working".
Rejection points: these must be repaired
Everything listed as a rejection point (afkeurpunt) must be repaired before the car can be presented again. Typical examples we see on reports every week: braking force below the minimum, serious corrosion on load-bearing parts, broken lights, tyres under 1.6 mm of tread, excessive play in steering or suspension components, and an illuminated engine warning light.
Worth knowing: the report says what failed, but not always why. "Excessive play in the steering knuckle" can be a worn ball joint, but also a wheel bearing. Diagnosing the cause — with a clear quote before anything is replaced — is exactly what we do as part of the APK preparation and repair service.
Repair advisories: these can wait — a little
Besides rejection points, the report can list repair advisories (reparatieadviespunten). These are items that still just meet the requirements but are heading towards the limit: a tyre at 2 mm, the first play on a track rod end, brake pads getting thin. The car is not rejected for these — but don't sit on them too long. This year's advisory is often next year's rejection point, and it is frequently cheaper to deal with it while the car is already on the lift.
The RDW spot check
Some reports state that the car has been selected for the RDW steekproef — a random spot check. This is an audit of the inspector, not of your car: the RDW verifies that the inspection was carried out correctly. The car must remain available at the test centre for up to ninety minutes. For you it only means waiting time — it says nothing about the condition of your vehicle.
From report to repair: the practical route
- Keep the report — it is the garage's work list.
- Send us a photo of the report via WhatsApp. We can see immediately which points are involved and give you a clear quote before anything is replaced.
- We repair the rejection points and go through the advisories with you: what needs doing now, what can wait.
- The car then goes for its re-inspection at an RDW-approved test centre. To be clear: we do not carry out the inspection itself — we take care of the repairs and the preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still drive a car that failed the APK?
As long as the old APK expiry date is still valid: in principle yes, at your own risk. If the APK has expired, you may no longer drive on public roads — you risk a fine and problems with your insurance.
How soon does the re-inspection have to happen?
There is no legal deadline for the re-inspection itself; the real deadline is your old expiry date. Many test centres do offer a reduced rate if the re-inspection takes place within a short period — ask your centre, and don't plan the repairs too far ahead.
I don't understand the terms on the report.
We made a translation and explanation guide for the report terms — including Polish, for our Polish-speaking customers. You can also simply bring the report in or send it over; we will go through it with you line by line.
Want this fixed before the test? That is our APK preparation in Tilburg.