Importing a car to the Netherlands: RDW, plates and insurance

The Dutch rules are stricter than many newcomers expect. If you are registered in the BRP — or should have registered — you generally may not drive a car with foreign plates in the Netherlands. The car must be imported and given a Dutch registration. That means an RDW inspection, a Dutch registration certificate, plates, motor vehicle tax and often a BPM declaration.

The exceptions are narrow. NederlandWereldwijd mentions a maximum of two weeks for short use with an exemption, and up to six months per year for certain non-residents. Students and posted workers have separate rules. Do not rely on a friend's story; check your own situation with the RDW and NederlandWereldwijd.

When do you have to import?

The key question is where you are registered. If you are in the BRP, the import obligation generally applies. You must register if you live in the Netherlands for more than four months. Once that registration is in place, the foreign-plate option normally ends.

Step by step

1. Check your documents. You need the original foreign registration certificate, valid ID and proof that the car is part of your move. If you are moving from outside the EU, you also need a customs declaration.
2. Book an RDW inspection. You must attend in person; someone else cannot do the application for you. Bring the foreign registration certificate and your ID.
3. Have the car inspected. The RDW checks whether the vehicle meets the requirements and whether the documents are in order. The assessment of 10–14 aspects costs € 110.00 (RDW, 22 October 2026).
4. Arrange insurance. The WA policy must start when the car is registered in your name. Ask for proof of cover and have the meldcode ready.
5. Receive the registration certificate. After approval from the RDW and the Belastingdienst, the new registration certificate normally arrives within about five working days. Two days later you receive the letter with the full registration code.
6. Have plates made. Go to a recognised plate maker and bring the registration certificate. Fit the plates according to the rules.
7. Deal with taxes. The Belastingdienst sends a motor vehicle tax bill. You may need to file a BPM declaration; a moving exemption may apply.

What does it cost?

Source: RDW — Moving to the Netherlands with your vehicle, checked 22 October 2026. This is a selection; other costs may apply, such as plates, BPM or adapting the car.

Insurance during and after the import

The WA obligation starts when the vehicle is registered in your name. That does not mean you should wait until then to arrange cover. Set up the policy before registration so there is no gap. A car still on foreign plates is usually covered by its foreign policy; once it is Dutch, Dutch WAM rules apply.

For the trip to the inspection or a garage, a one-day registration may be needed. Ask your insurer whether you are covered. Do not drive uninsured, even for a short distance. The fine for a passenger car without WA is € 500 (RDW, 22 October 2026), apart from any damage you may cause.

From the EU or outside the EU?

If you come from an EU or EEA country, customs formalities are usually limited. If you come from outside the EU, you must declare the car to Dutch customs before the inspection. The RDW then inspects it against the permanent requirements. Without the correct customs documents, the process cannot continue.

Always bring the original foreign registration certificate. The RDW takes it in and makes a copy for your BPM declaration. Also bring proof of your move and, if you want to keep a valid foreign APK, the original inspection report or the sticker on the plate.

Common mistakes

• Continuing to drive on foreign plates after registering in the BRP.
• Arranging insurance only after the car is registered.
• Forgetting the original registration certificate.
• Missing the BPM declaration or the moving exemption.
• Assuming a one-day registration includes insurance.
• Arriving from outside the EU without a customs declaration.