Import your vehicle from the European Union
You have purchased a vehicle abroad and would like to have it registered with a Dutch license plate. Whether it's from Denmark, Sweden, or Spain, the significant financial benefits that importing your vehicle can bring make it very attractive. However, the administrative process can be time-consuming, and we are here to assist you.
If you are about to buy a car abroad or have already purchased one and want to calculate the BPM (Dutch vehicle tax), please contact us and receive a response with a BPM calculation within one business day.
VDS helped me quickly and friendly, and they had knowledge of the matter. A great service to use.
— Martijn
Step-by-step guide for importing from the EU
If you are about to purchase a car in a European country such as Sweden, Spain, or Denmark, the following steps provide an insight into the import process at VDS Auto Import.
Purchase
Importing starts with the search for your favorite dream car, motorcycle, or camper. In many cases, it is best to consult a search engine. Feel free to contact us for advice before making the purchase.
Taxes
When importing a car from a country within the EU, it is usually subject to BPM (Dutch vehicle tax). When imported within the EU, it is exempt from import duties, but VAT needs to be paid for new vehicles. The amount of these import taxes may influence the decision to import a car or not.
Import duties and VAT
Importing within the EU means you are exempt from import duties. VAT is 21% of the purchase price and applies only to new vehicles.
BPM (Dutch vehicle tax)
The amount to be paid for BPM is determined, among other factors, by the CO2 emissions, age, and market value of the vehicle and can be calculated in various ways. At VDS Auto Import, we always offer the method with the lowest BPM amount.
Transportation
Once you have purchased a car abroad, there are two ways to arrange transportation.
Professional transport through an authorized transporter is often the best option. It not only saves you a lot of time but also eliminates the need to arrange insurance or temporary export license plates. Furthermore, unnecessary driving of the vehicle is avoided, making this form of transportation cost-effective. We can take care of this most commonly chosen form of transportation entirely. This way, you can be assured of a safe transport.
If you have a trailer and can pick up the car yourself, this can be a good option. We look forward to receiving the vehicle.
Inspection
Once the car has been transported to the Netherlands, the inspection at the RDW (Dutch Vehicle Authority) is scheduled. Due to close cooperation with the RDW, our own inspection lane, and a professional workshop, we can handle the process promptly, even in the case of a rejection.
BPM & registration
The Dutch license plates can only be issued by the RDW after the BPM has been paid to the Tax and Customs Administration. When you import your vehicle through VDS Auto Import, we handle the BPM declaration as standard and always offer you the lowest BPM calculation method. This way, you won't experience any delays in the import process. Finally, we mount the luxury license plates, and you can hit the road worry-free.
How much will the bpm cost?
Curious about the costs of importing your vehicle from an EU country? Request a quote using the button below and receive a response with a cost calculation within one business day.
Importing from within the EU
- Dutch registration & recycling contribution
- Handling of bpm declaration
- Secure storage on protected premises
- Updates through the entire process
- Luxury license plates
Do you have any questions or would you like more information?
Arjan is happy to help you!
- Arjan Blommestein - Senior Import Specialist
- import@vdsautomotive.com
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