Owning a car in the Netherlands as an expat can feel like a lot to take in at first. Dutch taxes, inspection rules, and the whole registration process with the Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer (RDW) might seem a bit much if you’re new here.
The good news? Once you know the basics, it’s actually pretty straightforward.
Despite the Netherlands’ love of bikes and great public transport, cars definitely serve a purpose here. If you live outside a big city, need to commute, or have kids, having your own car can make life smoother.
That said, the Dutch car market can be pricey in ways that catch newcomers off guard. Parking in Amsterdam can hit €7.76 per hour, and you’ll pay for road tax, insurance, and inspections—these add up to hundreds of euros a year.
If you’re still deciding, factor in the general cost of living in Amsterdam and consider whether a personal OV card for public transit or renting a bike will cover most of your needs.
This guide will walk you through each step of owning a car in the Netherlands, from licensing and buying to taxes, insurance, and eventually selling.
Who Can Drive And Own A Car
You’ll need a valid residence registration and a recognized driving license to buy and drive a car in the Netherlands. The rules depend on whether your license comes from inside or outside the EU/EEA.
If you have an EU or EEA license, you can use it in the Netherlands for up to 15 years from its issue date (for standard categories like B). Once it expires, you just exchange it for a Dutch license—no exams required.
Just bring your paperwork to the local municipality and they’ll sort it out.
If your license is from outside the EU or EEA, things get a bit stricter. Your foreign license only works for 185 days after you register as a resident. After that, you’ll need a Dutch driving license.
Some countries, like Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland, have agreements that let you skip the exams. If yours isn’t on the list, you’ll have to pass both the Dutch theory and practical exams.
You can find the steps in the Dutch driving license guide.
There’s a handy exception for highly skilled migrants. If you qualify for the 30% tax ruling, you can exchange your license from any country, no matter what agreements exist. That’s a serious time and money saver.
To own a car, you’ll need a BSN (citizen service number) tied to your Dutch address. The Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer handles all vehicle registration, and you must register the car in your name through their system.
Getting your BSN number sorted is one of the first steps on your moving to the Netherlands checklist.
How To Buy And Register A Vehicle
The Dutch car market has loads of trustworthy platforms for buying new and used cars. Registration runs through a standardized system with Dutch plates, a kentekenkaart (registration card), and a tenaamstellingscode (registration transfer code).
Where To Find Cars
You’ve got plenty of choices for car shopping in the Netherlands. For new cars, big dealer groups like Louwman, Pon Dealer Group, Hedin, Van Mossel, Emil Frey NL, and Broekhuis have showrooms all over.
You can use autodealers.nl to find authorized dealers by brand and region.
When it comes to used cars, online platforms take the lead. Marktplaats is basically the Dutch Craigslist and lists thousands of cars from both private sellers and dealers.
AutoScout24.nl and Gaspedaal pull listings from different sources, so comparing prices is easy. Carvendo and Bynco focus on dealer-certified used cars—great if you want extra peace of mind as an expat.
Auto.nl sells both new and used cars with upfront pricing. Ooyyo is handy if you want to look beyond the Netherlands and check out cars across Europe.
The Registration Process
After you find your car, the seller gives you the kentekenbewijs (registration certificate) and the tenaamstellingscode. You’ll need this code to transfer the registration plates into your name.
If you buy from a dealer, they usually handle the transfer at the RDW for you.
For private sales, both you and the seller go to a PostNL location or RDW inspection station to finish the transfer. The seller gets a vrijwaringsbewijs, proving the car’s no longer theirs.
You’ll receive a new tenaamstellingsbewijs confirming you’re the owner now.
According to ExpatINFO Holland’s guide to buying or selling a car, it’s crucial to complete this transfer quickly—the registered owner stays responsible for taxes and fines until the change goes through.
Insurance, Tax, And Inspection Costs
Car ownership in the Netherlands comes with three main recurring costs: mandatory third-party liability insurance, quarterly road tax, and regular vehicle inspections. These can add up to €1,500 or more per year.
Car Insurance
By law, you need at least a WA-verzekering—third-party liability insurance. It covers damage you cause to others, but not your own car.
You can upgrade to WA+ (which adds theft, fire, and storm damage) or go for all-risk coverage if you want more protection.
Popular insurers like Centraal Beheer, FBTO, and InShared offer online quotes. Insurance here is tied to the car, not the driver, so anyone you authorize can drive it.
Expect to pay about €300 to €600 per year for basic coverage, depending on your car’s value and your claims history.
If you have a no-claims bonus from another country, some insurers will accept an English-language certificate as proof. If you’re curious about other types of coverage, check out the private insurances guide.
Road Tax
Motorrijtuigenbelasting (MRB), or Dutch road tax, gets billed quarterly by the Belastingdienst. How much you pay depends on the car’s weight, fuel type, and your province.
Diesel cars cost more than petrol because of an extra surcharge. Electric vehicles used to be fully exempt until 2024, but from 2026 to 2028, you’ll only get a 30% discount on the standard rate.
Plug-in hybrids will pay the full rate starting in 2026, and since they’re often heavier, they might cost even more than a similar petrol car. Understanding the Dutch tax system can help you budget for these costs.
APK Inspection
The APK inspection is the Dutch version of a periodic vehicle test—like the UK’s MOT or a US state inspection. New petrol and electric cars need their first APK four years after registration.
Diesel cars go in after three years. After that, petrol cars get checked every two years until they’re eight, then yearly. Diesel cars require annual inspections from year three onward.
The APK usually costs between €30 and €60, though it depends on the garage. The RDW sends a reminder six weeks before your APK expires.
Driving without a valid APK is illegal and leads to fines, so don’t forget to mark your calendar. RDW inspection stations and approved garages handle the test, and they record the results automatically to your registration.
If you’re looking into zero emission zones in Amsterdam, keep in mind that older cars with high emissions face extra restrictions.
Importing, Selling, And Avoiding Common Mistakes
If you’re bringing a car from another EU country, you can just drive it into the Netherlands without paying import duties. Still, you have to register it with the RDW and pay BPM—the Dutch vehicle purchase tax—unless you qualify for a relocation exemption.
BPM is set at 21% based on CO2 emissions, and the amount really depends on fuel type and how old your car is. To get a BPM exemption, you usually need to have owned and actually used the car for at least six months before your move.
Cars from outside the EU come with extra costs—customs duties and VAT, on top of BPM. You’ll need to get the car inspected by the RDW for roadworthiness, which can take a few weeks, so honestly, it’s best to plan ahead.
Once you’re registered, you’ll get Dutch plates and a kentekenbewijs in your name. That part feels pretty official.
When it’s time to sell, you can use platforms like ikwilvanmijnautoaf.nl or wijkopenautos.nl to get quotes from different buyers. Sometimes you’ll wrap up the sale in just a few days.
Marktplaats is also an option if you prefer private sales. Just don’t forget the official transfer and make sure you get your vrijwaringsbewijs—otherwise, you’re still on the hook for road tax and any fines the new owner racks up.
If you paid BPM when you imported your car and then export it again, you might be able to get a partial BPM refund based on the car’s value. And hey, if you’re selling other stuff, you can check out these tips for selling your stuff in the Netherlands.
Expats often slip up by driving on an expired foreign license or missing the deadline to register their imported car. People also tend to underestimate those quarterly road tax bills.
Honestly, if you take a little time to research before buying, you’ll save yourself money and a lot of stress as you adjust to expat life in the Netherlands.