Knowledge base · RDW
Suspending your Dutch registration: how schorsing works
A car standing still for months keeps costing money: road tax, insurance and eventually an APK that quietly expires. For exactly that situation the Dutch system offers schorsing — a temporary pause button at the RDW. Useful, but with one condition people trip over most often.
What a schorsing does
With a schorsing you notify the RDW that the vehicle is temporarily not taking part in traffic. While it is active:
- you pay no road tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting);
- there is no APK obligation — an APK expiring during the suspension does not trigger a register fine;
- there is no compulsory third-party insurance.
A schorsing runs for one year and can be renewed afterwards. You apply for it yourself at the RDW; a fee set by the RDW applies.
The condition that catches people out
A suspended vehicle may not stand or drive on public roads in any way. Not driving is obvious, but many people miss the second half: parking it on the street is not allowed either. The car belongs on private property — a driveway, garage or closed car park. If a suspended car is found at the kerb you risk a fine, and the saving evaporates.
When does suspending make sense?
- Away for a long period. You work abroad for six months and the car stays on the driveway.
- Winter break. A second car, convertible or classic that only runs in summer.
- Waiting for repair or sale. A car that is not going on the road for now and sits safely on private ground.
What does not make sense is using a schorsing as a workaround for an expired APK while you still need the car — it solves nothing, because you still may not drive.
Ending a schorsing
You can lift the suspension yourself at the RDW as soon as you want to drive again. Mind the order: lift the suspension, arrange insurance, and only take to the road once the APK is valid again. If you sell the car, the suspension ends automatically with the transfer of ownership to the buyer.
Practical steps
- Put the car on private property — this is the core of the arrangement.
- Apply for the schorsing at the RDW (online with DigiD or at a counter).
- Tell your insurer; don't keep paying for a policy you don't need.
- Before lifting the suspension, book the APK preparation — a long-parked car often has seized brakes and a flat battery.
After a long standstill: what we check
Standing still is harder on a car than driving. Brake discs seize, tyres develop flat spots, the battery drains, rubbers harden and the oil in the air-con system dries out. If you are putting the car back into use after months, at least have the brakes, tyres, battery and fluids checked before you hit the motorway.
Prefer to sort this out in your own language? In Tilburg we work in English, Dutch and Polish.