Knowledge base · APK
APK expired: can you still drive and what do you do now?
It happens to the best of us: the reminder letter got lost, a busy month flew by, and suddenly the APK expiry date has passed. From that moment, different rules apply than for a failed car whose old APK is still valid. Here is what you need to know — and how to put it right as quickly as possible.
No — you may not drive any more
With an expired APK, the car does not belong on public roads. There is one practical exception: you may drive it — by the shortest route — to a booked appointment for an inspection or re-inspection. For everything else: leave it parked.
The fine arrives by itself — no traffic stop needed
Many people think they only run a risk if the police pull them over. Not true: the RDW runs an automatic register check. The system compares every registration against the APK database, and a vehicle without a valid APK can simply receive a fine in the post — even while the car was parked outside your door the whole time. The longer you wait, the higher the chance.
What about insurance?
Your third-party insurance formally remains valid, but in the event of damage an expired APK can lead to unpleasant discussions — especially if the accident is related to a technical defect that an inspection would have caught. With comprehensive claims, the insurer may push back on the payout. In short: not something to let drag on.
How to handle it
- Check the facts first. Look up the exact expiry date with the free APK check on our homepage — it pulls the date directly from the RDW.
- Book straight away — with us for the preparation and repairs, and immediately after that at an RDW-approved test centre for the inspection itself. With a booked inspection appointment the car may legally be driven there.
- Unsure about the car's condition? Don't drive it. Talk to us — we will help you work out the smartest route, including the timing of repairs and inspection.
- Has the car been standing for months anyway? Consider suspending the registration (schorsing) with the RDW: the APK, insurance and road tax obligations are then paused. Note: a suspended vehicle may not be parked or driven on public roads at all.
Preventing it next time
The RDW sends a reminder letter, but letters get lost. Put the expiry date in your phone with a reminder six weeks ahead. That is exactly enough time to plan an APK preparation and carry out any repairs calmly — without time pressure and without the risk of a register fine. Useful to know: you may have the car inspected up to two months early without losing those months.
Frequently asked questions
May I drive to the garage with an expired APK?
Only to a booked appointment for an inspection or re-inspection. So call us first — then the appointment is fixed and we line up the repairs and the inspection in one go.
Is an expired APK the same as a failed inspection?
No. After a failure with the old APK still valid, you may in principle keep driving until the expiry date; with an expired APK you may not. What to do after a failure is in the step-by-step plan.
How quickly can it be sorted?
Often within days: intake and repairs with us, inspection at the RDW-approved centre. Call or message us and mention the APK has already expired — we will prioritise it.
Want this fixed before the test? That is our APK preparation in Tilburg.