Getting a car, motorcycle or moped from outside the EU approved

Declaring to customs

Are you importing a vehicle from outside the EU? Be sure to first declare it to customs.

Importing a series of vehicles

Are you importing multiple vehicles without European type approval? You cannot have these approved as a series. Not even if it involves the same type of vehicle. You will need separate approval from us for each vehicle.

Vehicle with damage history

For a vehicle with water damage or other serious damage, you must make an appointment at an inspection station after testing to have the damage repairs approved (only available in Dutch). Only then can you obtain a Dutch registration number. This will cost you extra money and time.

Importing vehicles from Russia prohibited

It is prohibited to import a vehicle from Russia into the Netherlands. This also applies if the vehicle is for personal use (household goods). Exceptions do apply. Please contact Customs first. We cannot register the vehicle without permission from Customs.

Only in these cases may you go to an inspection station

 You must always have the vehicle tested at the test centre in Lelystad. Unless one of the following situations applies to you:

1. If you have the correct documentation
   In these cases, only vehicle identification and document verification are required at the inspection station:

• If the vehicle previously had a Dutch registration number.  

• If the vehicle has national or European type approval. Please request proof of this from the manufacturer or importer: the Certificate of Conformity (only available in Dutch).
• If the foreign registration number has a valid and complete European Approval Number and we have verified this. Please contact the Technical Knowledge Centre by telephone on 088 008 7477 and choose option 2.

Does your vehicle meet one of these conditions? Go to Importing within the EU.

2.  For relocation or older vehicle

In these cases, a technical inspection is required at the inspection station:

• If the vehicle is part of your relocation from abroad. Go to relocating to the Netherlands and bringing your vehicle with you.
• Passenger car, commercial vehicle or trailer with a date of first registration prior to 1 January 1998. Or a motorcycle or moped with a date of first registration prior to 1 January 2006. Make an appointment at an inspection station (only available in Dutch) and select 'Importing a vehicle from outside the EU/EFTA' with the correct date of first registration. Be sure to first file with Customs and the Tax and Customs Administration.

Horn, mirrors, lights and tyres

These components from outside the EU often lead to rejection. Review all regulations.

• Rear fog lights and side indicators: often missing. New rear fog lights and side indicators must have European type approval.
• Rear-view mirrors: American mirrors are often too flat and therefore do not comply with European directives.
• Lighting: in right-hand drive vehicles, the headlights often do not comply with European directives.
  Tyres: tyres on commercial vehicles and passenger cars must have European type approval. For passenger cars with a date of first registration prior to 1 January 2024, tyres with the DOT mark are also permitted.
• Horns: horns often do not produce enough sound.

Noise from cars, motorcycles or mopeds

The noise caused by a vehicle from outside the EU often leads us to reject the vehicle. Ensure you have the correct exhausts and air filters. Some vehicles require European software to produce the correct noise level.

Speed pedelec or electric scooter?

We usually reject speed pedelecs or electric scooters without European type approval due to insufficient shielding of electromagnetic components, or EMC. This makes the vehicle extremely dangerous. Solving this problem is very costly.

PTI requirements

For vehicles from outside the EU, we issue a PTI report after the inspection. Tip: have your vehicle checked by a garage beforehand. Ensure that your vehicle meets the requirements for the PTI. This will prevent additional costs for a re-inspection by us.

1. Did you file with Customs and the Tax and Customs Administration? Click on 'Make an inspection appointment at the Lelystad test centre' and enter your details.
2. We will call you within two weeks to arrange an appointment. If you require a one-day registration, please indicate this.
3. Please bring your vehicle on the day of the appointment. Ensure that your fuel tank is at least ¼ full or that your battery is charged.
4. We identify the vehicle, assess whether it meets the requirements, and drive the vehicle around the test track a number of times. We also check commercial vehicles for the BPM requirements of the Tax and Customs Administration.
5. Do we approve your vehicle, which is a motorcycle, car or light commercial vehicle weighing up to 3,500 kilograms? You must file a declaration for BPM. See Belastingdienst.nl for details about the filing and the scope of the BPM.
6. Within 5 business days of approval by the Tax and Customs Administration, we will send a new vehicle registration certificate. Is it a moped or speed pedelec? We will send the vehicle registration certificate within 5 days of our approval. Two business days later, we will send you a letter with a complete registration code. Keep the registration code in a safe place. When you will receive the mail depends on the postal service.
7. Is it a car? You will receive a Dutch report of the PTI inspection.
8. You will receive an invoice from us for the inspection(s) in Lelystad.
9. Insure your vehicle for third-party liability (WA).
10. For a car or motorcycle, you will automatically receive a bill for motor vehicle tax from the Tax and Customs Administration.
11. Find an authorised manufacturer for making number plates. Make sure you have the registration certificate with you.

Import costs tend to be high

Please note that the costs of importing a vehicle from outside the EU can be high:

• It starts with your costs for transport to Europe.
• In addition, you will pay import duties and VAT.
• When registering a car or motorcycle, you will pay BPM to the Tax and Customs Administration.
• And you will receive our invoice for the inspection(s) and for the costs of your vehicle registration card.

Please review our Tips for importing a car (only available in Dutch).

Do you have an inspection appointment at our Lelystad test centre, but need to cancel it? Please send an email to [email protected] to cancel the appointment. Include the date and time of the appointment in the email.

Cancellations can be made free of charge up to two business days in advance. Are you cancelling the appointment less than 2 business days in advance? Or do you fail to attend the scheduled appointment? You will be charged and we will send you the bill.

No registration number

We do not issue registration numbers for driving to the Netherlands from abroad. Ask about the possibilities in the relevant foreign country. You can also transport the vehicle on a trailer or car transporter.

We collect foreign vehicle registration certificates

Are you driving the vehicle to us with foreign registration numbers and a valid foreign registration certificate? Please note that we will collect the foreign registration certificate.

One-day registration

After visiting us, you are no longer permitted to drive the vehicle on public roads. Request a free one-day registration from us (only available in Dutch). Once you have received the Dutch registration certificate, you may use the vehicle (again).

Vehicles on public roads must comply with technical requirements. The date of first registration (DET) of the vehicle determines which requirements apply. In order to quickly find out which ones apply, answer the questions and check the requirements for your vehicle.