Frequently asked questions about the APK (MOT), servicing and repairs

The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) is the inspection the law requires for most vehicles in the Netherlands. A qualified APK inspector checks whether your vehicle meets the legal requirements for road safety, the environment and registration. Without a valid APK you are in principle not allowed to drive your vehicle on the public road. There are exceptions for certain situations.

That depends on the age, the type of vehicle and the fuel. For petrol and electric cars the rule is usually: the first APK after four years, then twice every two years and after that every year. For diesel and LPG cars the rule is usually: the first APK after three years and then every year. This also applies to vans up to 3,500 kg.

You can find your APK date in the RDW vehicle register (Kentekencheck). Not sure? Call us with your registration number and we will check it for you.

With us an APK costs € 50 for a petrol car, a petrol hybrid or an electric car. For a diesel or diesel hybrid with a factory-fitted DPF you pay € 60, including the particle counter test. For an LPG car or any other diesel, we give you the price in advance. The APK for a van registered as a commercial vehicle costs € 125, even if it is electric. A motorhome costs € 100 to € 125, depending on the type and the weight. With a major service the APK is free, except for Tesla and Polestar.

All prices include VAT, the inspection report and registering the result with the RDW. You will find more information at the APK for your car, van and motorhome.

Since 1 January 2023 the APK measures how many soot particles come out of the exhaust of diesels with a factory-fitted DPF. If there are too many, the car fails. The DPF is then often damaged or has been removed. With us the particle counter test is included in the APK price of € 60. We do not clean or replace DPFs ourselves.

The inspection itself takes about 45 minutes to an hour. You cannot wait for your car during the APK: you bring your vehicle on the day of the appointment between 8.00 and 8.30 am and leave it with us. What time it is ready depends on the planning that day. We call you as soon as the inspection is done and your vehicle can be collected.

We give you a clear overview of the defects. We then discuss which repairs are needed and what they cost. We only repair after you have agreed. After the repair we inspect your car again according to the APK rules.

Has your car failed at another garage? Then you can have a new APK done with us at the normal rate. Read more at failed APK.

With an expired APK you are not allowed to drive on the public road. If you do, you risk a fine. Book the APK as soon as possible. Read what you can do now at APK expired.

No. On Saturdays we are open from 9.00 to 15.00 for servicing and repairs. We plan the APK on a weekday.

You book your APK online for your car, van or motorhome. You can also call +31 10 479 00 00.

That differs per make, model, engine and use. The interval for a service is often between 15,000 and 30,000 kilometres or once a year. You will find the prescribed interval in the service book or the digital service record. Also read how often you should change the oil.

Not sure? Give us your registration number and we will look it up for you.

We use original parts or parts of equivalent quality, depending on the car and your wishes. We discuss in advance which part we advise and what that means for the price, the quality and any manufacturer’s warranty.

Servicing at an independent garage does not automatically void your manufacturer’s warranty. We work according to the manufacturer’s requirements. Ask us in advance which servicing conditions apply to your car.

No. If more work is needed than agreed, we call you first. We only repair after you have agreed, unless you have arranged otherwise with us in advance.

Yes. For work with a clear scope, such as an APK or a service, you hear the price in advance. For a diagnosis or a custom repair you first get a cost estimate.

We only start after you have agreed. We discuss extra work with you first.

Yes. Repairs come with a warranty according to the conditions on your invoice. The length and the cover can differ per repair and per part.

Do you have a problem again after the repair? Then contact us as soon as possible.

A second opinion costs € 145, including the first hour of investigation. We then assess a quote or diagnosis from a dealer or another garage. We do not deduct this amount from any repair.

That differs per engine. A timing chain often has no fixed replacement interval, but it can wear. A timing belt must be checked and replaced according to the manufacturer’s requirements. Some engines, such as the PureTech, have a wet timing belt (in Dutch) that runs in the oil.

We use your registration number to look up which system and which interval apply to your car. You will find more information at timing belt replacement.

Yes. We replace a clutch, a head gasket, a starter motor or an alternator in our own workshop. You can also have a water pump or radiator replaced by us. You hear the price in advance.

Usually, yes. A heater that blows cold is often caused by too little coolant, air in the cooling system, a thermostat that stays open or a heater fan that is not working properly. We find the cause first and you hear the price in advance.

Read more at heater blowing cold.

Yes. With professional diagnostic equipment we read your car’s fault codes and live data. We then look for the cause, so that no parts are replaced unnecessarily. Read more about this at car diagnostics (in Dutch).

For each light you can read what it means and whether you can still drive on: engine light, oil light, battery light and ABS or ESP light.

No. If the red oil light comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. Driving on can seriously damage the engine. Check the oil level once the engine has cooled down. Read more at oil light on.

It is often the battery, the starter motor or the fuel supply. If you only hear clicking, the battery is often flat. Read what you can check yourself at car will not start. Do you have a diesel that starts badly? Then see diesel hard to start.

Stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. Do not open the coolant reservoir while the engine is hot. Do not drive on with an overheating engine, because that can damage the head gasket. Read more at engine overheating.

That can have many causes, for example the ignition, the fuel supply or a sensor. With a diagnosis we find the cause. Read more at car hesitates or stalls.

Often the wheels are not balanced properly or a tyre is damaged. If the steering wheel vibrates mainly when braking, the brake discs are often the cause. Read more at steering wheel vibrates.

That depends on the noise and when you hear it. Squealing when braking often points to the brakes, humming while driving often to a wheel bearing. Read what each noise can mean at car making a noise.

That depends on the colour and the place. A small puddle of clear water under the front is often condensation from the air con and is nothing to worry about. Oil, coolant or brake fluid is a different matter. Read what each colour means at fluid under the car.

A car’s air con loses refrigerant over time and can get dirty. Regular servicing helps to keep it working well and the air clean. We check the system and advise you on what your car needs.

See our air con service and read how often an air con needs servicing (in Dutch).

An air con service costs from € 120 for cars with R134a and from € 180 for cars with R1234yf. That includes recovering the refrigerant, vacuuming the system, a leak check and filling with the prescribed amount. You can read which refrigerant your car has at R134a or R1234yf (in Dutch).

Repairs, parts and extra diagnosis are not included in this price. You will find a comparison with other garages in Rotterdam in our price overview for air con repairs (in Dutch).

A musty smell is often caused by dirt or mould on or around the evaporator. A dirty cabin filter or moisture in the ventilation system can also play a part. Read more at air con smells musty (in Dutch).

With an air con clean we tackle the cause. Sometimes the cabin filter also needs to be replaced.

The amount of refrigerant in an air con decreases over time. How fast that happens differs per system. That is why there is no fixed interval for air con regassing that applies to every car.

If the system empties again quickly, we first need to find out whether there is a leak.

Lukewarm air can be caused by too little refrigerant, but also by a fault in the compressor, the fan, a pressure sensor, the expansion valve or the controls.

We make a diagnosis first before we add refrigerant. If the system empties again within a short time, a leak is likely. Also read the seven causes of an air con that no longer cools (in Dutch).

The cause depends on when you hear the noise. Squealing can come from a belt or a tensioner pulley, for example. Rattling can point to wear in a bearing or the compressor. A short hissing sound after you switch off the engine can be normal.

Have a strange noise checked in time. Read what each noise can mean at car air con making a noise (in Dutch).

If the air con gets warm again shortly after regassing, a leak is a likely cause. Another fault can also play a part.

We do not regas the system again without a check. We trace a leak with a pressurised nitrogen test. That way you do not pay for a temporary fix.

No. A system that is known to leak may not be topped up with refrigerant as a matter of course. The work must be done according to the current F-gas rules, by people qualified for it. We are F-gas certified.

You can read what the rules mean and what you can do if your air con empties again at regassing with a leak and the F-gas regulation (in Dutch).

No. An electric or hybrid car often has an electrically driven compressor that needs special compressor oil. The right oil and method differ per make and model. The wrong or contaminated oil can cause serious damage.

Extra safety requirements apply to work on the high-voltage system. So check that the mechanic is trained for it. Our mechanics are GMTO-certified for work on hybrid and electric cars. See the air con of hybrid and electric cars.

Probably not, but without a check we cannot be sure. Water in the footwell is often caused by a blocked condensation drain. A leak or a poor seal can also be the cause. Read more at air con leaking water.

We establish the cause first before we replace parts. Replacing an evaporator is a lot of work on many cars. Read when it is and when it is not the evaporator.

Yes. For motorhomes and vans we also do the air con service, regassing and repairs to the air con of the base vehicle. Read more at air con for motorhomes and vans (in Dutch).

Yes. We change and balance your tyres, and we supply all types of tyres: winter, all-season and summer. You do not wait while the tyres are being changed: you bring the car and we call you when it is ready. If your car has tyre pressure sensors (TPMS), we do change the wheels, but we do not program or replace sensors.

Read more at changing to winter tyres and tyre replacement.

With wheel alignment we set the position of all four wheels to the factory data. That can be needed with uneven tyre wear or if your car pulls to one side. A check is also wise after a hard knock against a kerb, a deep pothole or work on the suspension.

Good alignment prevents uneven wear. That makes your tyres last longer. Read more at wheel alignment.

With a flush we replace the transmission fluid as completely as possible using special equipment. Part of the contamination is removed as well. Whether a flush is suitable depends on the type of gearbox, the prescribed fluid and the service history.

With a normal fluid change, part of the old fluid stays behind in some gearboxes, for example in the torque converter. Recognise the signs at recognising automatic gearbox problems (in Dutch) and read more at automatic gearbox flush.

With jerky or delayed gear changes, the gearbox may need investigating. Preventive maintenance according to your car make’s requirements can also be a reason. We only flush after a test drive and diagnosis, when the type of gearbox and the complaint fit.

Good maintenance can help to keep the gear changes smooth, but a flush does not repair worn parts. Also read when to flush the automatic gearbox (in Dutch) and about DSG oil change.

Yes. Our mechanics are GMTO-certified for work on hybrid and electric cars. You can check that in the public GMTO register. We do servicing and diagnosis within the work our mechanics are trained for.

Whether you drive a fully electric car, a plug-in hybrid or a mild hybrid: see our servicing of hybrid and electric cars. The APK for an electric car costs € 50.

A mechanic with the GMTO training (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems) is trained to work safely on electric and hybrid vehicles. Which work they may do depends on the training, the job and the safety procedures in the workshop.

Strict safety requirements apply to work on high-voltage systems. Our mechanics are GMTO-certified for work on hybrid and electric cars. You can check that yourself in the public GMTO register.

Yes. With suitable diagnostic equipment we read the data of the high-voltage battery, such as fault codes, the state of charge and the estimated condition. Which data is available depends on the make and model.

We do not do a full pre-purchase inspection of a car.

Yes. Our workshop has five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg. A Crafter, Sprinter or box van fits too. If your motorhome is very long or high, call us beforehand.

On motorhomes we work on the base vehicle, not on the living area such as gas, water and 230 V. Read more at motorhome repair, van repair and commercial vehicle servicing.

The APK for a van registered as a commercial vehicle (grey number plate) costs € 125, for diesel, petrol and electric, including the particle counter test for diesels. If your van runs on LPG, we give you the price in advance. If your van is registered as a passenger car, like many Caddys with a rear seat, the price for a passenger car applies.

You book the APK online at van APK appointment. Read more at van APK.

Yes, for motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. The motorhome APK costs € 100 to € 125, depending on the type and the weight.

You book the inspection online at motorhome APK appointment. Read more at motorhome APK. You can also call +31 10 479 00 00.

With a timing belt both the age and the mileage count. With motorhomes the age is extra important, because a motorhome often covers few kilometres but still ages through time, temperature and standing still.

For a Fiat Ducato 2.3 Multijet an interval of five years can apply, but the right interval differs per model year, engine code and manufacturer’s requirements. We check this using your registration number and service records.

You can read everything about belt or chain per engine at the timing belt of the Ducato, Boxer and Jumper.

If we have been working together for a while, you can pay on invoice by arrangement as a regular business customer in the Netherlands. Otherwise you pay by debit card or cash. Read more at commercial vehicle servicing.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11, 3077 AW Rotterdam (Rotterdam-IJsselmonde), close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. Tram stop Stadion Feijenoord (line 3) is nearby. You can park free of charge outside the door when there is space.

You will find directions on our contact page.

We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.30 and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 15.00, with no weekend surcharge. We are closed on Sundays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

If you bring your vehicle for the APK or another appointment, come between 8.00 and 8.30 am, unless we have agreed otherwise.

Yes, for the APK. You book the inspection online for your car, van or motorhome.

For servicing, repairs, tyres or air con, call us on +31 10 479 00 00. We then agree a time straight away.

We work by appointment. For a quick question or check, you can walk in without an appointment. That way we keep waiting times short and can work calmly and carefully.

If you drop in for a small job, you hear straight away whether it fits in at that moment. For the APK you book an appointment online. For other work you call us.

For a short job you can wait in our reception area, with a cup of coffee. For the APK and tyre changes you bring the car and we call you when it is ready.

For bigger jobs you can use a free loan bike, as long as one is available. We do not have a courtesy car. Tram stop Stadion Feijenoord (line 3) is nearby.

You pay by debit card or cash. We do not accept credit cards. If we have been working together for a while, you can pay on invoice by arrangement as a regular business customer in the Netherlands.

First make sure you are in a safe place and call your breakdown service or the ANWB roadside assistance (Wegenwacht). Have the car brought to us. We do not have our own tow truck. Breakdown cars get priority with us.

Outside opening hours the car may be left outside the door at your own risk, with the key in an envelope in our letterbox. That also applies to a van or motorhome, as long as it does not block the street. Read all about breaking down on the road.

Yes, we also service and repair cars with a foreign number plate. An APK is only possible for a car with a Dutch number plate.

We do not program or replace tyre pressure sensors (TPMS) and we do not repair window motors, door lock motors, sliding doors or parking sensors. We also do not do ADAS calibration, pre-purchase inspections, DPF cleaning or replacement, AdBlue systems, parking heaters or airbags.

Yes. Our team speaks English and you are on the English version of our site. We also have English pages about car repair, the APK and van repair. You will find the address and directions on our English contact page.