Knowledge base · RDW
Putting a foreign car on Dutch plates
Living in the Netherlands but still driving on foreign plates? Then the question is not whether the car has to be re-registered, but when. The administrative side is handled by the RDW; the technical side decides whether it works first time.
The administrative side
A car with foreign plates is registered in the Netherlands through the RDW. That includes an inspection at an RDW test centre, where the vehicle is identified and assessed. You will need the foreign registration documents and proof of ownership, among other things. Depending on the vehicle and your situation, import tax (BPM) may also apply — for that the tax authority is the right desk, not the garage.
Once approved, the car receives a Dutch registration. From then on it follows the Dutch APK schedule and Dutch insurance obligations apply.
The technical side — where it goes right or wrong
Identification is rarely the problem; the mechanics are. Points imported cars fail on:
- Lighting. Headlights aimed for driving on the other side, wrong colours or non-permitted LED retrofits. More in lights and the APK.
- Rust on load-bearing parts. Scrutinised closely in the Netherlands — see rust and the APK.
- Brakes and suspension. Play and corrosion on lines, classic rejection points.
- Emissions and the engine warning light. An illuminated light is a problem in itself.
The smart order
- Have it checked technically first. An inspection on the lift before the official test shows what needs repairing.
- Repair what is needed — with a quote up front, so you know what you are getting into.
- Only then the inspection and registration. A technically sound car passes first time.
- Then insure it and note the new APK expiry date.
What else changes once your car falls under the Dutch system is covered in the APK vs. inspections abroad.
What we do in this process
We are not an RDW test centre, so we do not carry out the registration inspection itself. What we do is assess and prepare the car beforehand: lighting, brakes, suspension, rust, emissions and fault codes. That way you know where you stand before the inspection — saving a second trip and a second appointment.
Language a concern? See how our garage in Tilburg handles this in English, Dutch or Polish.