Choosing a reliable garage in Rotterdam: how to check any garage, including us

Are you new to Rotterdam, driving your first car or starting a business with one van, and not sure how Dutch garages work? You want a garage that tells you the cost in advance and only does what is needed. This checklist works for any garage. For each point we show how we do it and where you can check it yourself.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 8 November 2026

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say

The short answer

You recognise a reliable garage by facts you can check, not by promises. Check whether the garage is approved by the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) for the APK (MOT), the compulsory periodic vehicle inspection. You can look this up in the RDW location finder. Check whether you get a quote in advance, whether the garage asks your permission before extra work and whether you can see the old parts. Ask which warranty you get, keep the invoice and read recent reviews on more than one platform. If you doubt a quote, you can ask another garage for a second opinion.

What should you look for when choosing a garage?

Look at eight points you can check yourself: approval, a quote in advance, permission for extra work, old parts, servicing to the manufacturer’s specifications, warranty, qualifications and reviews. For most of these points, the table shows what the ANWB (the Dutch motoring organisation), the RDW or the Dutch government advises. The third column shows how we do it, so you can check us in the same way as any other garage.

What to look for Why How we do it
RDW approval for the APK WhyAccording to the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid), you take your car for its APK to a garage or test station approved by the RDW. You can spot them by a sign that reads “Erkend bedrijf RDW” (RDW-approved company). How we do itWe are an RDW-approved APK station. You can check this in the RDW location finder. Read more about the APK at our garage.
A quote in advance WhyThe ANWB advises you to agree a price or a cost estimate, preferably in writing. How we do itFor the agreed work you get a quote in advance, including VAT.
Permission for extra work WhyIf the repair becomes more expensive, the garage must ask your permission first, according to the ANWB. How we do itWe only carry out repairs with your approval. If more work is needed than agreed, we call you first.
Old parts WhyThe ANWB recommends asking for the old parts, because proving something later is often difficult. How we do itYou can see the replaced parts on request, as long as they are still available.
Servicing to the manufacturer’s specifications WhyAccording to the ANWB, the manufacturer’s warranty stays valid if the garage works to the manufacturer’s specifications. Keep the invoice. How we do itWe service your car to the manufacturer’s specifications. Servicing at our garage does not automatically void your manufacturer’s warranty.
Warranty on the work WhyAsk in advance which warranty you get and which part it covers. How we do itYou get a warranty on our repairs. We tell you which warranty applies when we give you the quote.
Qualifications WhyWork on hybrid and electric cars and on the air conditioning needs specific knowledge and certificates. Ask about them. How we do itOur mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems) for hybrid and electric cars. For air conditioning (R134a and R1234yf) we hold an F-gas certificate. See about us.
Reviews WhyRecent experiences of customers on several platforms tell you more than the text on the garage’s own website. How we do itOur score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews, from Google, Facebook and the ANWB website. Read them yourself on our customer reviews page.

Sources: ANWB (your rights with repairs and servicing, servicing by the garage), RDW (about the APK) and Rijksoverheid. These pages are in Dutch.

You cannot check yourself whether an approval sign on the front of a building is genuine. In the RDW location finder you can. Search there by town or by the name of the garage before you book an APK.

Which red flags are a reason to be careful?

Be careful if a garage will not give a price in advance, puts you under pressure or does not give you an itemised invoice. One point on its own may mean nothing. If you see several, ask for an explanation or take the time to get a second opinion.

  • No price in advance: the garage will only tell you the cost after the work, not even an estimate.
  • Pressure to decide on the spot: you have to say yes to a big repair straight away, without an explanation of what is needed now and what can wait.
  • Work without your approval: you only find out from the bill that more was done than agreed.
  • No itemised invoice: you do not get an invoice that shows which work was done and which parts were replaced.
  • Old parts gone without a reason: you asked for the old parts in advance, but they are not there.
  • A vague explanation: the mechanic cannot tell you in plain language what is wrong and why the work is needed.

If a repair becomes more expensive and the garage did not ask your permission first, the ANWB says you can object to the higher bill. So agree in advance that the garage calls you before it replaces extra parts or does extra work.

How do you read reviews of a garage?

Do not only look at the average score. Look at what customers describe and how recent it is. A score tells you something, the text of the review tells you more. If the reviews are in Dutch, a translation tool in your browser helps you read them.

  1. Recent: read the newest reviews first. They say the most about how the garage works today.
  2. Specific: a review that describes what happened (price agreed in advance, called first, clear explanation) carries more weight than a review that only says “great”.
  3. Critical reviews: read the low scores too. Are they about a one-off problem, or about the same point that keeps coming back?
  4. Several platforms: compare, for example, Google and the garage reviews on the ANWB website. If the picture matches, that is a good sign.
  5. Your situation: look for reviews from people with a similar car or question, such as a first car, a van or a hybrid.

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Each review on our customer reviews page shows the platform where the customer posted it, so you can check it yourself.

Not sure about a quote? How a second opinion works

If you doubt a high quote or a diagnosis, you can have another garage look at the car before you say yes. Radar (a Dutch consumer programme) and the ANWB also mention a second opinion from another company as an option when you are in doubt. At our garage a second opinion costs € 145, including up to one hour of investigation.

  1. Call us with your registration number and keep the quote you received to hand. We tell you whether an appointment seems useful.
  2. We make our own diagnosis with our own testing and diagnostic equipment.
  3. You get an explanation in plain language. The outcome can also be that the other garage is right.
  4. If one hour is not enough, we call you first. We only investigate further with your approval.
  5. You decide where to have the repair done. We do not deduct the € 145 from any repair.

Read more about how it works and what to bring on our page about a second opinion on a quote or diagnosis.

Your first car in the Netherlands: which questions should you ask the garage?

If you know little about cars or about how things work here, ask five standard questions. A reliable garage answers them without difficulty, also on your first visit.

  1. What will it cost, and do I get that quote in advance?
  2. What needs doing now, and what can wait?
  3. Will you call me before you do more than we agreed?
  4. Can I see the old parts?
  5. Which warranty do I get on this work?

Do you want to know how often your car needs a service, when the APK is due and which warning lights matter? Read our guide to servicing your first car. We do not do pre-purchase inspections. If you have recently bought a used car, you can have it checked at our garage and we tell you the cost in advance.

New business owner: what should you pay extra attention to?

As a business owner you need a proper invoice as well as the points from the checklist. Ask whether you get an invoice in your company name, with VAT shown separately and with the registration number and mileage. You get that at our garage on your first visit too, if you pay by debit card or cash. Paying by invoice afterwards is only possible for regular business customers, after working together for some time.

Do you drive a lease car? Ask your lease company first whether you may choose your own garage. If you may, you are welcome. If the car belongs to you or your company, you choose your own garage.

We do not answer tax questions, such as business or private use, the taxable benefit for a company car (bijtelling) or reclaiming VAT. For those, contact the Belastingdienst (the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration), the KVK (the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce) or your accountant.

Main dealer or independent garage: what is the difference?

You may have your car serviced at an independent garage, also while it is still under the manufacturer’s warranty. According to the ANWB, the manufacturer’s warranty stays valid if the garage services the car to the manufacturer’s specifications. Keep the invoice and ask the garage to write down clearly what was done.

A dealer knows your make well and often sees straight away whether updates or campaigns are waiting, the ANWB writes. Some makes only give an extended manufacturer’s warranty if the servicing is done by an authorised dealer. So read your manufacturer’s terms before you choose. The difference is not about good or bad, but about what suits your car and your warranty.

Do you want to know what a service at our garage includes? Our page on car servicing explains what a minor and a major service cover.

What do we not do?

A garage that tells you what it does not do is easier to check. That is why we list it here.

  • We do not do pre-purchase inspections.
  • We leave some jobs to specialists, such as ADAS calibration, diesel particulate filters and airbags.
  • We do not work on the living area of a motorhome, such as gas, water and 230 V.
  • We do not accept credit cards.
  • We do not carry out the APK on Saturdays.

Who we are, how long we have been around and which certificates we hold is on our page about Autobedrijf Willemsbrug.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell whether a garage is approved by the RDW?

Look the garage up in the RDW location finder, which lists approved APK companies. On the building you can spot an approved company by the sign that reads “Erkend bedrijf RDW”. The RDW is the Dutch authority for vehicles and registration.

May a garage do extra work without my approval?

No. According to the ANWB, the garage must ask your permission first if the repair becomes more expensive. If the garage does not, you can object to the higher bill. Read more about quotes, extra work, warranty and complaints in our guide to your rights at a Dutch garage.

Can I ask to see my old parts?

Yes. The ANWB even recommends it, because the parts can serve as proof later. It is best to ask before the work starts. At our garage you can see the replaced parts on request, as long as they are still available.

Is a cheaper garage less reliable?

No, not by definition. The price says little about reliability. Look at the points from the checklist: a quote in advance, permission for extra work, an itemised invoice and recent reviews.

Does my manufacturer’s warranty stay valid at an independent garage?

Yes, if the garage services the car to the manufacturer’s specifications, the ANWB writes. Keep the invoice. Some makes only give an extended warranty with servicing by the dealer, so read your manufacturer’s terms.

How much does a second opinion at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug cost?

A second opinion costs € 145, including up to one hour of investigation. If more investigation is needed, we call you first. We do not deduct the amount from any repair.

Can I drop by without an appointment to get to know you?

Yes. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment. We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.30 and on Saturday from 9.00 to 15.00. For servicing and repairs we work by appointment.

Want to get to know us or ask about your car?

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. Our team speaks English. We tell you the cost in advance, and we only carry out repairs with your approval.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.

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