RDW import

RDW (dutch DMV) importing a vehicle into the Netherlands

The official RDW site can be found here. It is in dutch.

For the purpose of this file, vehicle refers to a personal car ("yellow registration") or motorbike. Importing refers to the process of bringing the vehicle into the country for the purpose of personal use or resale within the country as a dutch registered car. Age refers to the elapsed time since the first registration for the vehicle was issued anywhere in the world.

Importing a vehicle into the Netherlands is actually a pretty straightforward job, provided you have all the neccesary paperwork.

The first thing is to make sure that the vehicle you're about to import has a dutch or unified european type approval, or is old enough not to require one. If it doesn't, you're into expensive trouble, as you'll need to foot the bill for gaining such type approval (or decline from importing the vehicle.

If the vehicle is used (meaning older than 6 months and more than 6000 km on the odometer), and is bought from within an EU country, no customs formalities are required upon bringing the vehicle into the country. If the vehicle is less than 6 months old or has less than 6000 kilometres on the odometer, but is bought from an EU country, you'll have to pay BTW (dutch VAT, currenty 17.5%) at the customs office. If the vehicle was bought from outside the EU and is less than 30 years old, you'll have to pay BTW and import duties. If the vehicle is imported from outside the EU and is more than 30 years old, different tarrifs apply. It is best to contact the customs office (Douane) for more detailed and up-to-date information on this.

After this part is finished, you need to have the vehicle inspected by the RDW at one of their regional inspection stations. Here the vehicle is inspected for conformity to its type approval and safety (and emissions if those are relevant to the year of your car). Note that vehicles need only comply with their type approval, or with the requirements for the year they were built. No updated systems need be installed, but have to be in working order if they are installed. In case of vehicles imported from outside the EU, count on replacing certain parts which require EU or dutch approval (such as lenses).

If the vehicle passes inspection, the RDW will take the registration from the country of origin, and after a short while issue a dutch registration.

Depending on the age of the vehicle, BPM (personal motor vehicles tax) may need to be payed. BPM is calculated on the original dutch list/sale price of the vehicle, and reduces linearly from 100% of the BPM amount for new vehicles to 10% for vehicles 100 months and older. No BPM is due for vehicles over 25 years of age.

Also due is a contribution towards vehicle recycling, to the amount of 150 guilders for vehicles under 25 years of age. No money is due for vehicles over 25 years of age.

When this is all completed, your new registration will be issued to you, and after arranging for plates and insurance you're ready to roll. The above may sound like a lot of bother, but is actually a pretty smooth and straightforward process, provided you keep your paperwork straight.

Good luck

Some useful numbers:

• RDW. +31 79 3464444
• Customs (douane) +31 800 0143 (not sure if that number is available from outside the Netherlands)