UK Type Approvals

As a consequence of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU), British e11 type approvals will cease to be valid. Manufacturers have registered some e11 type approvals for their systems, technical units, components or whole vehicles with a different Type Approval Authority (TAA) in the European Union. The new type approval certificate issued by the TAA from the relevant member state of the EU27 is valid. Furthermore, e11 type approvals of systems, technical units and components within a non-e11 type approval for whole vehicles (Whole Vehicle Type Approval, WVTA) have also ceased to be valid. As such, the entire EU27 WVTA ceases to be valid. These type approvals must also be registered with another TAA in the European Union. For UNECE type approvals (recognisable by the E11 mark), nothing has changed. The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is now coordinating the conversion of e11 the approvals in the UK for the various TAAs. From 1 January 2021, the VCA no longer has the authority to issue type approvals for vehicles and vehicle components for the European Union.

Initial registration of vehicles from the United Kingdom

After 1 January 2021, new and unused vehicles with a Certificate of Compliance (COC) from the UK (e11) can only be registered on that COC if the vehicle was brought on the market before 1 January 2021 and the manufacturer had submitted an application for the conversion of the e11 type approval before 1 January 2021. Participants using the Accelerated Registration have already been contacted about this. If registration of the vehicle cannot be accelerated, the RDW will treat the vehicle as a new vehicle with an expired type approval. The vehicle must be inspected individually at an RDW inspection location.

Importing a used vehicle from the United Kingdom

After 1 January 2021, vehicles that were previously registered in the UK will no longer be registered in the Netherlands on the basis of an EU registration certificate or a registration certificate from the UK. The RDW will treat the vehicle as an import from a country outside the EU or EFTA countries. The vehicle must then be inspected individually at an RDW inspection location.   Please note that the costs may be unexpectedly higher due to the more extensive inspection. The inspection locations will do everything they can to help you. If an extensive technical inspection is necessary, the time planned for the inspection may be insufficient and it may not be possible to perform the (full) inspection. The RDW will then ask you to return at another time to complete the inspection.  

Vehicle Tax and Import Duties

Please note that after 1 January 2021, you may have to expect different rates for vehicle tax and possibly import duties. You can access more information about this from the Tax Authority/Customs. Accelerated Individual Application  After 1 January 2021, an Accelerated Individual Application (VIA) at the inspection location will no longer be possible for vehicles with a registration certificate that was issued in the UK. Instead, you can make an appointment for an inspection of a vehicle from a country outside the EU or EFTA countries.

Data on the registration certificate 

All European type approvals that start with ‘e11’ and have not been converted to a type approval of another member state will also become invalid after 1 January 2021. If you have a vehicle with a registration number from a country that is still an EU member, then we will adopt the data of the foreign registration number.

Adoption of PTI report after import 

After 1 January 2021, the PTI report from the UK will no longer be adopted, because the UK is no longer an EU or EFTA country. For more general information about Brexit, the negotiation process and any interim agreements, go to the website of the Government of the Netherlands about Brexit.