Preparing your car for the APK (MOT): what you can check yourself

A short check beforehand stops your car failing on a point you could have spotted yourself in a few minutes. The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) is the compulsory periodic inspection in the Netherlands. According to the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid), it checks the road safety of your car, among other things: brakes, wheel suspension, shock absorbers, tyres, steering, lights and bodywork. You can look at part of that without a lift or measuring equipment.

If you spot a broken bulb or a worn wiper blade yourself, you can have it replaced beforehand or mention it when you book. Then you know what is going on before the inspection and you will not face unexpected costs. At our garage you hear in advance what a repair costs, and we only carry out repairs after you approve. A full overview of everything the inspector looks at is in our APK checklist.

You can check these points on your car yourself. Allow about a quarter of an hour and do it in daylight, on a level surface.

Checklist by Autobedrijf Willemsbrug. Requirements according to the ANWB and the Dutch government, see the sources at the bottom.

The lights are easiest to check with two people. On your own, you can use the reflection in a garage door or a shop window. Faulty lights are one of the points the inspector checks. On many cars a bulb is quick to replace. On other cars the bumper or the headlight has to come off.

1. Switch on the ignition and the hazard lights. Walk around the car and check that all four indicators flash, including those in the mirrors or on the side.
2. Switch on the dipped beam and check that both headlights and both rear lights are on. Also look at the number plate light at the back.
3. Switch on the main beam and check both headlights.
4. Switch on the rear fog light. A warning light comes on in the dashboard and a bright red light comes on at the back.
5. Ask someone to press the brake pedal and check that all brake lights work, including the third brake light above or in the rear window.
6. Apply the handbrake, press the clutch or the brake, put the car in reverse and check the reversing light.
7. Look at the glass of the headlights. Cracks or very cloudy glass can scatter the light.

If a headlight is aimed too high or too low, you often do not notice it yourself. The inspector measures that with a headlight alignment tester. We also replace and adjust bulbs and headlights. Read more about lights and headlight alignment at the APK.

You measure the tread depth with a tread depth gauge or with a coin. According to the ANWB, the legal minimum tread depth in the Netherlands is 1.6 millimetres. This applies to both summer and winter tyres.

1. Park the car on a level surface and turn the steering wheel a quarter turn, so you can see the front tyres well.
2. Put the tread depth gauge in the main grooves of the tyre. Measure on the left, in the middle and on the right.
3. If you do not have a gauge, the ANWB suggests a 1 euro coin for summer tyres or a 2 euro coin for winter tyres. If the outer edge of the coin sticks out above the groove, the tyre needs replacing.
4. Also look at the wear indicators. These are small rubber blocks in the grooves. If the tread is level with these blocks, the tyre needs replacing.
5. Repeat this on all four tyres and look for small cracks and bulges in the sidewall at the same time.

If one side of a tyre wears much faster, the wheel alignment may be out. That is a sign to have the car checked. The requirements are explained in our article on tread depth and the APK.

Warning lights of safety systems matter for the APK. According to the ANWB, since May 2018 the inspector checks the operation of the control systems for, among other things, the airbags, the seat belt tensioners, the tyre pressure, the electronic steering and braking systems and the stability and anti-lock braking systems (ESP and ABS).

This is how you check it yourself. Switch on the ignition and see which warning lights come on. Then start the engine. After a few seconds the warning lights should go out. If a light stays on, note which one it is.

Check the fluids with the engine off and the car on a level surface. Check the oil level and the coolant regularly outside the APK too. According to the ANWB, since May 2018 the inspector checks for excessive leaks of fluids, except water.

1. Engine oil: pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, put it back in and pull it out again. The oil level should be between the minimum and the maximum mark. Many newer cars show the oil level in the on-board menu.
2. Coolant: with the engine cold, look in the reservoir. The level should be between MIN and MAX.
3. Screenwash: top up the reservoir and check that the jets spray onto the windscreen.
4. Leaks: after the car has stood overnight, look at the ground under the engine. A few drops of water from the air con are normal. Oil, coolant or brake fluid are not. Read more on our page about fluid under the car.

Without a lift and measuring equipment, you cannot properly assess the brakes, suspension, steering, rust on the underside and emissions. The inspector checks those points with the car on the lift. There the inspector looks at the brake lines, rubber boots, shock absorbers and the exhaust, among other things.

What you can do is watch for signs while you drive. Does the car pull to one side when braking, do the brakes squeal or grind, does the exhaust rattle or do you hear a knock when you steer? Mention it when you book. Then the mechanic knows what to pay extra attention to.

If you want everything checked in one go, combine the APK with a service. With a major service, the APK is free at our garage, except for Tesla and Polestar.

For the APK you only bring the car and the key. According to the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority, you do not need to bring documents such as the registration certificate or the previous inspection report. The inspector registers the result with the RDW.

Since 1 January 2024, the inspector reads out the actual fuel or electricity consumption of cars first admitted (in Dutch: datum eerste toelating) on or after 1 January 2021, if the car has a meter for it. According to the Staatscourant, the official Dutch government gazette, you may refuse this. A fully electric car is not included.

Registering the result with the RDW is included. If the car fails at our garage and we carry out the repair, the retest is included.

We carry out the APK Monday to Friday, by appointment. If you would rather not wait, you can use a free loan bike, while one is available. Everything about the inspection at our garage is on our English APK page. Not sure when your APK is due? Read when your car needs an APK.

Yes. You may replace a bulb yourself. Use the right type of bulb from the owner’s manual. On some cars the bumper or the headlight has to come off, and then it is better to let the garage do it.

No. Washing is not required. Clean lights, windows and number plates do make it easier to see for yourself whether everything is in order.

Yes. According to the ANWB, the legal minimum is 1.6 millimetres. With less tread a tyre does brake worse on a wet road, so think about new tyres in good time.

No. According to the RDW, you do not need to bring any documents, including the registration certificate or the previous inspection report. You only bring the car and the key.

No, not if the car failed at our garage and we carry out the repair. Then the retest is included. You hear in advance what the repair costs.

No, we advise against it. Clearing it only removes the warning, not the cause. Have the fault code read, so you know what is wrong and whether it affects the inspection.

Yes, if the car was first admitted on or after 1 January 2021 and has a consumption meter. According to the Staatscourant, you may refuse the readout. A fully electric car is not included.

• ANWB: Zo meet je de profieldiepte van je banden (in Dutch)
• ANWB: APK-keuringseisen (in Dutch)
• Rijksoverheid: Wat wordt er gekeurd bij de Algemene Periodieke Keuring (APK)? (in Dutch)
• RDW: About the Periodic Technical Inspection (no documents needed)
• Staatscourant: Uitlezen werkelijk brandstof- en energieverbruik bij de APK (Stcrt. 2023, 31557) (in Dutch)