About the Periodic Technical Inspection

We will send you one reminder that your PTI inspection is due, 6 weeks before the PTI expires. You will receive the reminder by post or via your Message Box (only available in Dutch), if configured. What if you did not receive the letter? You remain responsible for ensuring that your vehicle is inspected in time.

Configure a PTI reminder in our app
You can configure a reminder for your PTI date in the RDW Vehicle App. We will be sure to remind you. Download the IOS or Android app.

Example of PTI reminder letter

Road safety, environmental standards and registration

During the PTI, the inspector will inspect your car for a range of requirements concerning road safety, environmental standards and registration:

•  Road safety
  Brakes, wheel suspension, shock absorbers, tyres, steering system, lights and bodywork.
•  Environmental standards
  Exhaust emissions and the presence of parts like a particulate filter and catalytic converter.

• Registration
  Mileage, vehicle identification number and fuel type.

Mandatory particulate filter test for diesel cars

As of 1 January 2023, the particulate filter test is a mandatory part of the PTI. All diesel vehicles that have a particulate filter must pass this test. For diesel vehicles without a particulate filter, built in 1980 or later, the inspector measures the amount of soot they emit.

Exhaust emissions test during the PTI

For vehicles built in 1993 or later, the PTI also includes a four-gas emissions test. This test determines whether the car is emitting more exhaust fumes than is legally permitted. The four-gas test is performed for cars with a petrol engine or an LPG engine with a controlled catalytic converter.

Reading fuel data

For cars (up to 3,500 kg) first registered on or after 1 January 2021, the inspector collects data on fuel and electricity consumption. We send this anonymous data to the European Environment Agency to help the EU get an accurate picture of the true consumption of vehicles. You may deny permission to read your data. Please see the video below for more information.

More information

The PTI regulations are laid down in the Road Traffic Act (Wegenverkeerswet) 1994. In addition, you can find the regulations on our PTI regulations website. This website is intended to provide support for PTI inspectors when performing PTI inspections. The information may therefore be technical. If you have any questions, please contact our customer service.

It is not possible to apply for a postponement of the PTI. Everyone must ensure that their vehicle has its PTI inspection in time. If you are abroad, for instance, or your vehicle is broken down at home in your garage or your vehicle did not pass the inspection and you must first have repairs carried out, postponement is not an option. There are no exceptions. If you drive a vehicle without a PTI, you can be fined by the police.

PTI checks and fines
You may only let your PTI expire by up to two months if the vehicle is not being driven. The vehicle must have a valid PTI certificate after that, which we verify with a register check. If the vehicle has not been inspected after 2 months, you will be fined by the Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB). The fine can be between 180 and 500 euros.

Avoiding a fine: suspension
In order to avoid a fine, it is possible to temporarily discontinue the PTI obligation. This is called suspension. (Suspension also discontinues the obligation to keep the vehicle insured and to pay motor vehicle tax). If you have us suspend your vehicle, it will no longer need to be PTI approved. However, you are also no longer permitted to drive the vehicle or put it on public roads.

Mandatory PTI after suspension ends

When the suspension ends, your vehicle must have a valid PTI. You can also extend the suspension. If you do not extend the suspension, the vehicle must be PTI approved by the end date of the suspension.

Driving to the garage

You may drive a (suspended) vehicle without a valid PTI to a garage or RDW inspection station for the PTI inspection. The vehicle must have third-party liability cover on that day. You may only drive the vehicle around the time of the appointment, from the address where the vehicle is being kept to the address where the PTI inspection is to be performed. Make sure that you carry the confirmation of the PTI appointment with you (stating the time when the PTI is scheduled). The inspector must deregister the vehicle for the PTI on the same day. Even if it has been rejected. Failing this, you may be liable for a fine or an additional motor vehicle tax charge for driving on public roads.

If you have a vehicle inspected before the PTI expiry date and the vehicle fails the inspection, the inspector will report the rejection to the RDW. Your vehicle will still be PTI-compliant, until the day your PTI expires. You will not be fined.

Whether or not to use your vehicle on public roads

It is up to you to determine whether it is wise to drive a vehicle which failed the PTI. Your vehicle no longer meets the technical requirements. These are the risks:

• The police can determine during a check that the vehicle does not meet the technical requirements and fine you.
• Your insurance company can decide not to pay out a claim after a collision or accident.

Would you prefer to have your PTI taken care of in advance? You can have your vehicle inspected up to 2 months before the PTI expiry date. The expiry date will remain the same. The new PTI date will be the same date, plus 1 or 2 years (depending on how often your vehicle must be inspected). In other words, your next PTI expiry date will not be 2 months earlier. If your vehicle is inspected more than 2 months before the PTI expiry date, your vehicle will have a new PTI date.