How to Buy a Car in the Netherlands 2026

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First Question: Do You Actually Need a Car?

Before going through the costs and process, it is worth being honest about this. The Netherlands has some of the best public transport coverage in Europe and the world’s most developed cycling infrastructure. In most Dutch cities, a car is an expensive indulgence rather than a necessity.

Use our cost of living calculator to model how much a car adds to your monthly expenses — then compare that against what cycling and public transport actually costs you.

You probably do not need a car if:

• You live in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, or another Randstad city
• Your workplace is within cycling distance or well-connected by train
• You rarely travel to destinations outside the OV network

A car probably makes sense if:

• You live in a smaller city or rural area with infrequent bus services
• You have young children who need transporting to multiple activities
• Your work involves frequent travel to locations not well-served by train
• You regularly carry heavy equipment or goods
• You have mobility needs that make cycling impractical

For cycling in the Netherlands — which covers the majority of expat daily transport needs — see our cycling guide. For public transport, see the OV-chipkaart guide.

Understanding Dutch Car Taxes: The Costs That Surprise Expats

The Netherlands is one of the most expensive countries in Europe for car ownership, and this is almost entirely due to taxes. Before you even think about the purchase price, you need to understand three separate tax structures.

BPM — Belasting van Personenauto’s en Motorrijwielen

BPM is a registration tax, payable when a car is first registered in the Netherlands. For cars bought new in the Netherlands, this is already included in the showroom price — you pay it invisibly. For cars being imported from another country (Germany, Belgium, UK), you pay BPM yourself as a one-time fee when registering the car with the RDW.

BPM is calculated primarily on CO2 emissions:

For used cars being imported, BPM is reduced proportionally based on the car’s age and depreciation — calculated using the official RDW depreciation table. A four-year-old imported petrol car with 110 g/km CO2 might attract €1,500-€2,500 in BPM.

The BPM calculation is worth checking specifically for any imported car before you commit to a purchase. The RDW website has a BPM calculator.

Motorrijtuigenbelasting (MRB) — Road Tax

Motorrijtuigenbelasting (commonly shortened to MRB or just “wegenbelasting”) is the annual road tax payable quarterly. It is based on the weight of the vehicle and your province of registration.

Rough annual figures for 2026:

Diesel cars pay a significant surcharge in the Netherlands — this is one reason petrol or hybrid vehicles are often better value here. Electric vehicles have historically been exempt from MRB entirely, though this exemption is being phased in from 2025-2026.

BTW — VAT on Car Purchase

When buying from a dealer, 21% BTW (VAT) is included in the purchase price. When buying privately (from an individual), no BTW is due. This is one reason private purchases through Marktplaats can be meaningfully cheaper than dealer purchases for equivalent vehicles.

New vs Used: The Decision

Buying New

New cars in the Netherlands come through franchised dealers (Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, etc.) or via direct brands (Tesla, Polestar). Prices are broadly in line with the rest of Western Europe, with BPM already factored in.

Advantages of buying new:

• Full manufacturer warranty (typically 2-3 years, some brands offer more)
• Latest safety and emissions standards
• APK-free for the first 4 years
• Known service history from day one
• Financing options directly through dealers

Disadvantages of buying new:

• Significant depreciation in year one (typically 15-20%)
• Higher insurance premiums (new cars have higher replacement values)
• Waiting times for popular models can be 3-6+ months

For most expats on shorter stays (2-3 years), buying new rarely makes financial sense unless you plan to sell the car in another EU country when you leave.

Buying Used in the Netherlands

The main platforms for used cars in the Netherlands:

Marktplaats is the Dutch equivalent of Craigslist or Gumtree — the largest private sales platform, with hundreds of thousands of car listings. You can buy directly from the previous owner, paying no BTW and often finding below-market prices. The risk is that you are buying with limited consumer protection — inspect carefully and use a mechanic you trust.

AutoTrack aggregates listings from both private sellers and dealers. It is particularly good for comparing prices across makes and models and for finding certified pre-owned cars from franchised dealers.

AutoScout24 is strong for importing cars from Germany and Belgium — useful if you are looking for a specific model not well-stocked in the Dutch market.

Dealer certified pre-owned (CPO): All major brands offer CPO programmes with inspection certificates and short-term warranties. More expensive than private purchases but with more security.

What to check when buying used:

• NAP (Nationale Auto Pas): The Dutch vehicle history database. Always check the NAP report (available at autotelleradvies.nl or similar services for €5-€20). It shows odometer readings, previous owners, and any damage records
• APK expiry date: Ideally buy a car that has just passed its APK so you are not immediately facing the inspection
• RDW registration: Verify at rdw.nl that the car is correctly registered and not reported stolen
• Outstanding finance: A private seller should be able to show the car is fully paid off — check for outstanding PCP or leasing agreements

A pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic (typically €50-€150) is money well spent on any private purchase over €5,000.

One practical tip: when researching used car listings late at night from a café or co-working space on public wifi, using a VPN protects your personal details when you are logged into accounts and comparing prices. NordVPN is a solid option if you do not already use one — this is not specific to car buying, but worth mentioning for general security when handling financial transactions on unsecured networks.

Importing a Car from Abroad

Some expats arrive with a car from the UK, Germany, Belgium, or further afield and want to register it in the Netherlands. The process is manageable but involves several steps.

Step 1: BPM Calculation and Payment

Before anything else, calculate and pay BPM via the RDW. The BPM due depends on the car’s CO2 emissions and its depreciated value in the Netherlands. You can submit a BPM declaration online at belastingdienst.nl.

Step 2: RDW Technical Inspection (Typegoedkeuring)

Your car must comply with Dutch and EU technical standards. Most cars already approved for sale in the EU pass this without issue. Non-EU market cars (US spec, Japanese domestic market) may need modifications — lights, speedometers, bumpers — which can be expensive.

Step 3: RDW Registration

Once BPM is paid and the technical inspection is passed, you register the car with the RDW. This can be done at an RDW location or via a specialist import bureau (RDW-approved importeurs). You receive Dutch number plates and your Dutch kentekenbewijs (vehicle registration document).

RDW registration fees: Approximately €55-€135 depending on vehicle type.

Import from Within the EU vs Outside the EU

Cars imported from other EU countries (Germany, Belgium, France) face fewer complications — they are already type-approved for EU use and have documented service histories. German Autohaus and Belgian dealer cars are frequently imported by Dutch buyers.

Cars from the UK post-Brexit technically count as imports from outside the EU and may have different type-approval requirements depending on manufacture date. The rules have changed since 2021 — verify with an RDW-approved import specialist before committing.

The APK: What It Is and How It Works

The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) is the Dutch vehicle roadworthiness test. It covers:

• Brakes
• Steering and suspension
• Lights and signalling
• Tyres
• Bodywork and chassis
• Emissions (diesel smoke test, petrol CO and HC)
• Safety systems

APK schedule:

• New cars: first APK required after 4 years
• Cars aged 4-8 years: APK required every 2 years
• Cars over 8 years old: APK required annually

Cost: A basic APK inspection costs €25-€50 at most garages. If you fail (afgekeurd), repairs are needed before a retest.

You can check a car’s current APK status via the RDW kenteken check — just enter the licence plate number. An expired APK means the car is illegal to drive on public roads.

Car Insurance: WA, WA+, and Allrisk

Dutch car insurance law requires minimum third-party liability cover (WA) for any car driven on Dutch roads. The three tiers:

Your premium depends on your no-claims history (schadevrije jaren), your age, your postcode, the car’s value, and the insurer. New arrivals from outside the Netherlands may find their foreign no-claims discount is not automatically recognised — some insurers accept a letter from your previous insurer, others do not.

Major Dutch car insurers: Centraal Beheer, FBTO, Interpolis, Allianz, and online comparators like Independer aggregate quotes from multiple providers. Comparison shopping here typically saves €100-€300 per year.

RDW: Registration and the Kentekenbewijs

The RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer) is the Dutch vehicle authority — responsible for registration, type approval, and the APK system.

When you buy a car in the Netherlands:

1. The seller and buyer jointly submit a change of ownership to the RDW (online or at a PostNL service point with a DigiD)
2. The new owner receives a new kentekenbewijs (vehicle registration document) within a few days
3. The number plates stay with the car (unlike the UK, where plates follow the owner)

You need your BSN number and DigiD to complete the registration transfer. If you do not yet have DigiD, see our DigiD guide for expats — it is required for most Dutch government digital services.

Total Cost of Ownership: A Realistic Calculation

Let me work through a realistic example so you can see what owning a car actually costs in the Netherlands.

Scenario: 2019 Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI, 85,000 km, bought privately for €14,000. Petrol, ~115 g/km CO2.

That is a real number. A modest used car in the Netherlands costs roughly €400-€600 per month all-in. Before deciding whether to buy, compare this against what you actually spend on OV and occasional car rental.

For comparison, a monthly NS subscription (train + bus) in most Dutch cities costs €120-€200 per month. Car rental for specific trips via platforms like MyWheels or Sixt costs €40-€80 per day.

Selling the Car When You Leave

If your stay in the Netherlands is time-limited, think ahead about how you will exit the car. Options:

• Sell in the Netherlands via Marktplaats or AutoTrack — the simplest route, though prices vary
• Export to another EU country — requires deregistration (export kentekenbewijs) and reimportation in the destination country
• Return to the UK — post-Brexit this counts as importing a used car into the UK, with associated UK import duty for certain vehicles

If you are in the Netherlands for fewer than 2 years, leasing (private lease) or long-term car rental can be more cost-effective than buying and selling, particularly once you factor in the transaction costs on both ends.

Driving Licenses: A Quick Reminder

Your foreign driving license is valid in the Netherlands for 185 days after you register in the country. After that:

• If your licence is from an RDW designated country (Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Israel, Alberta, Québec and a few others) or you hold the 30% ruling, you can exchange at your gemeente — the US and Australia are not designated
• If not, you must take the Dutch driving exam (theory + practical)

See the full process in our driving license exchange guide and the CBR driving exam guide.

Summary: What to Do in Order

1. Decide whether a car genuinely improves your life (see cost of living calculator)
2. Check your license situation — exchange or exam needed?
3. Set your budget including BPM (if importing), insurance, MRB, APK, and running costs
4. Search Marktplaats and AutoTrack for suitable cars; run NAP and RDW checks on any vehicle you are seriously considering
5. Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic
6. Transfer ownership via RDW online — see our RDW car registration guide for the step-by-step
7. Arrange insurance before driving — you cannot legally drive an uninsured car
8. Register the car at your home address for MRB billing

For the full picture on Dutch traffic rules and driving culture, see our driving in the Netherlands guide. For the broader context on what owning a car costs against alternatives, use our cost of living calculator and our cost of living breakdown guide.

Buying at a Dealer vs Private Seller: The Real Trade-offs

Most expats I talk to default to dealerships because they feel safer. That intuition is right, but the safety comes at a price worth quantifying.

Dealer purchase:

• Price: typically 15–25% higher than equivalent private sale
• Warranty: mandatory minimum 12 months for dealers (6 months in some circumstances)
• Inspection done by the dealer (note: not independent)
• Credit purchase possible — useful if you need time before a large transfer clears
• Paperwork handled by the dealer — RDW transfer is generally done for you

Private seller (particulier) on Marktplaats:

• Price: lower — often the best value, especially for cars 3–7 years old
• No warranty (voetstoots — buyer’s risk)
• ALWAYS get an independent APK check from a garage (costs EUR 25–40, takes an hour)
• Always check the NAP and RDW history before you agree on a price
• You handle the RDW ownership transfer yourself (straightforward but requires DigiD)
• Meet in a neutral location or at the address on the vehicle documents

Run the checks first. It costs nothing and can reveal if the car has been in major accidents (written off and rebuilt) or if the odometer has been tampered with.

Electric Cars: The Expat Case For Going Electric

If you are buying a new or near-new car in the Netherlands, the case for an electric vehicle (EV) is stronger here than in most other European countries.

Tax advantages for EVs in the Netherlands:

• No road tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting / MRB) for fully electric vehicles
• Lower bijtelling (company car benefit-in-kind tax) — 16% for EVs vs 22% for petrol in 2026
• Reduced BPM for electric imports
• Free or subsidised parking in several Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Utrecht, others)

Practical advantages:

• The Netherlands has one of the densest EV charging networks in Europe
• Average commute distances in the Netherlands are short — well within EV range
• Dutch electricity prices, while high, are significantly cheaper per km than petrol

What to watch:

• Used EV battery degradation — check the battery health report on any used EV before buying
• Older EVs (pre-2019) may have limited real-world range
• Charging at home requires a wallbox installation (typically EUR 500–1,000 including installation) and electricity connection compatibility

For expats planning to stay 3+ years and eligible for the 30% ruling or a company car arrangement, the EV tax advantages can be substantial. Run the numbers for your specific situation.