Car Shipping - Registering Vehicle in the Netherlands

If the exemption granted to you includes a car or motorcycle, a special procedure applies. After you have filed a declaration for the car or motorcycle with Customs, you need to have the vehicle inspected by the Road Transport Agency ('Dienst voor het Wegverkeer', RDW). Following the inspection by the RDW, you will have to enter the vehicle in the Dutch vehicle registration system. After the inspection, you will be given a declaration form for private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax ('belasting van personenauto’s en motorrijwielen', BPM). With this form, you file a declaration for BPM purposes at Customs-run BPM declaration point. These declaration points are established at the same locations as the RDW inspection centers. Together with the declaration, you should submit the license and the corresponding inventory as evidence that no BPM should be paid.

After Customs has processed the declaration form and the vehicle has been entered in the Dutch vehicle registration system, the registration certificate will be posted out to you. You can then arrange for registration plates to be made.

When your car or motorcycle is registered, your details are also passed on to the Tax Administration/Central Office (B/CA). Following registration, the B/CA will send you a giro collection slip for payment of the motor vehicle tax owed.

Before you take your car or motorcycle to the road in the Netherlands, you are obliged to insure the vehicle. You will need at least third-party insurance.

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