Import your vehicle from France!
Are you about to purchase a vehicle in France?
Then you would like to know what steps you need to take to get it registered with a Dutch license plate. Additionally, you are probably curious about the amount of the BPM (Dutch vehicle tax) to be paid. The significant financial benefits that importing your vehicle from France can bring make importing very attractive. However, the administrative process can be time-consuming, and we are here to assist you!
VDS helped me with the import of a car from France. From start to finish, they were helpful, friendly, and professional. I received a clear quote in advance with a competitive price. They kept me well informed of the progress and were easily accessible for any questions. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and I highly recommend them!
— Arjan
Step-by-step guide for importing from France
Are you about to buy a vehicle in France, or have you already made a purchase? Through the following steps, we 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 French search engine. You might want to check out one of the largest search engines for new and pre-owned cars in France, autoscout24.fr.
Taxes
When importing a car from a country within the EU, it is usually subject to BPM. If 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. The VAT is 21% of the purchase price. VAT is applicable only for 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 to pick up the car yourself, this can be a good option. We look forward to receiving the vehicle.
Registration
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 & license plates
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 without worries.
How long does the import process take?
You want to hit the road in the Netherlands as soon as possible when you have purchased a vehicle in France. We do everything we can to ensure that the administrative procedures are carried out quickly. Additionally, you will have access to your personal online account where you can track the status of the import process. What do we do to expedite the process?
- Accurate BPM calculation in advance
- Full RDW inspection is taken care of in our own inspection lane
- Comprehensive service check in our own workshop
- Delivery and mounting of license plates
- Vehicle registration (title transfer)
Since we work with various external parties and government agencies, we estimate the total import process to take 2 to 3 weeks.
What will be the amount of the BPM?
If you are about to buy a car in France and are wondering about the costs of importing, request a non-binding quote using the button below, and you will receive a response with a BPM calculation within one business day.
Importing from France
- 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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