Are you moving to the Netherlands? Then it is useful to know that it is often worthwhile taking your car, motorbike or camper van with you. As an expat, you are in fact exempt from the Dutch registration tax and import duties in many cases. What is more, less stringent administrative requirements apply to the admittance of a vehicle that constitutes removal goods. Request an import quotation
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Car import to the Netherlands
How does it work?
This page provides a quick overview of how to import a vehicle as a removal good.
Shipping
The first thing you think of when you plan to move is: 'how do I get my belongings to the Netherlands?' In some cases, you can arrange to have your vehicle(s) shipped via your employer or removal firm as part of your removal goods. If this is not the case, we can handle the shipping for you.
Exemption for removal goods
Please notice! The party that arranges the shipping is also the party that must submit the removal goods exemption to the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.
Inward clearance & transport within the Netherlands
Once the vehicle has arrived in the Netherlands, it will be subject to inward clearance by Customs. They will check whether you fulfil the conditions of the removal goods tax exemption. Once approved, you will receive a certificate of clearance and the vehicle may be collected. Please note that transport by road is not yet permitted as the vehicle does not yet have a valid number plate. Your vehicle must not be kept on a public road either. We therefore always recommend to outsource this transport.
Technical modifications in accordance with European requirements
Less stringent administrative requirements apply to the admittance of a vehicle that constitutes removal goods. However, there are technical requirements that must be fulfilled, such as the correct lighting. We can adapt your vehicle according to the technical requirements in our professional workshop.
Approval & registration in the Netherlands
Once the vehicle has been successfully transported to the Netherlands and has been adapted according to the technical requirements, the next item on the list is to have it tested by RDW (National Vehicle and Driving Licence Registration Authority). You can arrange this yourself, but you should bear in mind that you will run into some practical issues. For example, you will need a temporary number plate and a special insurance in order to be permitted to drive to the testing station. Furthermore, your vehicle may not be kept on a public road until it has a permanent Dutch registration, because it is not possible to take out any insurance until that time. Finally, you still have to buy and fit the Dutch number plates yourself.
Arranging your own imports is therefore not especially practical for most people. If you prefer to save yourself the time and hassle of importing yourself, you may choose to outsource the testing process.
Hit the road!
Once the import process is complete, the RDW will enter your vehicle in the vehicle registration system. The vehicle registration ("kentekencard") is then sent to your home address and once you have arranged insurance, you can hit the road!
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