A buying a car can deliver significant value to your independence. Professionals transiting between cities can dodge the pressure of public transport. Is a foreigner living in the Netherlands qualified to buy a car?
The no-frills answer is yes, although the procedure can appear a little daunting. You’ll require to evaluate the road tax, cost of fuel, and maintenance jobs, with parking and other regulations in the Netherlands.
There are many functional aspects to consider, and it can be oppugning to know what venues and dealerships to trust. However, the Netherlands is satisfactory for getting around on two wheels; the comfort of possessing a car sometimes does feel like an attractive prospect.
First Decide: Buy New or Used?
A new car is, as you may have assumed, more costly. In the Netherlands, the first proprietor of a new automobile must also expend a one-off ‘private vehicle and motorcycle tax’ understood as BPM (belastingen op personenauto’s en motorrijwielen) to register it. The amount relies on the car’s CO2 emissions, so if you own the means to go electric and want to go further and beyond recycling in the Netherlands, this could be the juncture to do it. Although costly, you’ll at least know what you’re getting with a new car. The only issue is that a new car will lose a significant amount of value the second you drive it off the forecourt. A challenging pill to ingest, but that’s how it is!
When you think of buying second hand cars in the Netherlands, much more affordable prices can be found, but it is likely to be left in the dark on crucial matters. For example, how do you comprehend whether it was appropriately maintained? Is the mileage on the odometer speaking the truth? Is it worth what you’re paying? These are all things to consider if you’re looking to buy used cars in the Netherlands.
What Documents to Look for while Buying a Car
The following overview of buying a car in the Netherlands and steps to follow, including the transfer paperwork needed to change the owner officially, will help you better understand the scenario.
The RDW, Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, stands out as the Netherlands’ national authority for road traffic, transport, and vehicle administration. Therefore, all motor vehicles in the Netherlands must be registered with the RDW. Successful registration demands the owner to have the least necessary 3rd-party liability insurance on the car, proof that the automobile is roadworthy (Dutch APK), settle any road tax that is due and have valid registration plates.
Registration is carried at an RDW accredited dealership (from where the vehicle is bought). The latest owner must be above 18 years old and resident in the Netherlands to register a car or motorbike.
New Dutch Registration Card
Kentekencard, a new EU-standard credit card-type plastic registration document, was phased in the Netherlands from 2014-2018 (Directive 1999/37/EC). The registration card delivers significantly more security features than the earlier paper documents. For example, an embedded microchip contains contact information in addition to the vehicle and vehicle owner details printed on the card.
Vehicle Certificate (Kentekenbewijs deel I) must be carried in the vehicle when using public roads.
Tenaamstellingscode, the Kentekencard comes with a unique 9-digit attribution code for making any changes to the vehicle’s registration (for instance, trade-in, scrap, suspend, or sell the car).
Registration Certificate (Kentekenbewijs deel II) – The registration card (Kentekencard) and the paper registration certificate part 2 are required to ship a vehicle out of the Netherlands.
Any vehicle, motorcar, motorbike, or trailer over 750 Kg must be documented with the RDW. The vehicle owner must satisfy the registration (it can be done on someone else’s behalf in specific circumstances). The buyer of a second-hand car from a private individual is accountable for registering a transfer of ownership with the RDW.
Documents Required for Registration
- Proof of Identity (one of the following three options)
- A valid Dutch driving license. It must not be older than ten years.
- A valid ID card or EU passport plus residence certificate and copy of personal data from the municipal register is required. It must not be older by three months.
- A valid foreign passport, residence certificate, and an original extract from the local register are required. It must not be older by three months.
- Vehicle Registration Card (‘kentekencard’)
- Attribution Code (‘tenaamstellingscode’)
Dutch Road Tax
Road tax, known as motorrijtuigenbelasting, must be settled on all vehicles. Once the registration papers are transferred, the latest owner’s name is linked to the road tax accountability. It is either paid quarterly or annually; either way, a reminder and an invoice will be sent out whenever the payment is due. Diverse payment methods and terms are permitted. Pricing alters depending on the vehicle, fuel, and registration district.
Final Thoughts
Everything from safety elements to technology and maintenance inspections will be up-to-date, and fingers crossed car will benefit you well for times to come. Therefore, once all of the buying aspects are broken down, and you’re clued up on everything you need to know, you’ll find that buying a car is not as complex as it seems.