Self-employed with one car or van: how to arrange servicing and the APK (MOT)

Yes. You do not need a fleet to come to us as a business customer. In the Netherlands, a self-employed person without staff is called a zzp’er (zelfstandige zonder personeel), the Dutch term for a freelancer or sole trader. Many starters drive one van, for example in construction, installation work, as a painter, gardener or courier. Others work with a passenger car, such as in home care, cleaning or as a photographer. For both, we do the APK, servicing and repairs, for all makes.

According to the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority), a van (in Dutch: bestelauto) is a light commercial vehicle designed and built to carry goods. This covers vans up to 3,500 kg. You will find that weight under F.1 on the registration certificate. Our workshop has five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg. A Volkswagen Crafter, Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Renault Trafic is also welcome, as long as its maximum permissible mass is no more than 3,500 kg.

Is your business growing and will you later drive more cars or vans? Then read on at our page about van and fleet maintenance in Rotterdam.

You can drop the van off before work and, once it is ready, collect it after work. From Monday to Friday you bring the car between 8.00 and 8.30, on Saturday at 9.00, as agreed with you.

Would you rather drop the car off earlier, for example the evening before or before 8.00? That is possible by appointment. Park the car outside our garage at your own risk and put the key in an envelope through our letterbox. Write your name, phone number and registration number on the envelope. Take your tools and valuables out of the van first.

We call you when the car is ready. You can collect the car until 17.30, or on Saturday between 9.00 and 15.00. You can read how such a day works in the article about dropping your car off before work and collecting it after work.

The APK is the compulsory periodic inspection of your vehicle in the Netherlands. According to the RDW, a diesel van up to 3,500 kg needs its first APK at 3 years old and then every year. If the van runs on petrol or electricity, the first APK is at 4 years, then twice every 2 years (at 6 and 8 years) and then every year. The same rules apply to a passenger car. The age counts from the date of first registration.

Source: RDW, Wanneer en hoe vaak APK keuren (in Dutch). Vehicles 30 years or older need an APK once every 2 years.

The RDW sends you one reminder, 6 weeks before the APK expires. You remain responsible for having the van inspected on time, even if that letter does not arrive. So put the expiry date in your diary.

Registering the result with the RDW is included.

The APK is free with a major service, except for a Tesla. For servicing and repairs you get a quote in advance, and we only repair after your approval. Has your van failed the APK? If we repair the items that failed, we will also arrange the retest. We will tell you the cost of the repairs and the retest in advance. You can read more about the inspection of your van on the page van APK in Rotterdam.

From your first visit, you get an invoice in your company name as a business owner. It shows the VAT separately, as well as the registration number and mileage of the van. That way your accountant can find the costs per vehicle.

1. Mention it when you book: give your company name and address when you call, or tell us when you bring the car.
2. Paying: you pay when you collect the vehicle, by debit card or cash.
3. Later on account: paying by invoice afterwards is possible for regular business customers, once we have worked together for a while.
4. Keep them: keep the invoices together. They also show what servicing the van has had, which helps if you sell it later.

We do not give tax advice. Whether you drive the van for business or privately, which VAT you can deduct and what that means for the taxable benefit for private use (in Dutch: bijtelling), is something to discuss with your accountant or look up on the Belastingdienst website. The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK), where businesses in the Netherlands are registered, and the government’s Ondernemersplein (business portal) also have information for starters.

Have you recently bought a second-hand van or car for your business? Then you can have it checked by us. We tell you in advance what that costs. We do not do a pre-purchase inspection before you buy. We do the check after the purchase.

1. Look it up yourself in the RDW registration check first. At ovi.rdw.nl (in Dutch) you can check the vehicle type, the APK expiry date, the date of first registration and the emission class for free.
2. Check the emission class. It decides whether your van may still enter Rotterdam’s zero-emission zone. See the section on the zero-emission zone below.
3. Collect the paperwork. Find the service book or the invoices from the previous owner. Bring them to the garage.
4. Have the van checked. The mechanic looks at the state of maintenance, oil and fluids, brakes, tyres, lights and fault messages. He also looks up when, for example, the timing belt is due.
5. You decide. You get a quote in advance for what is needed, and we only repair after your approval.

A full list of what to arrange after the purchase is in the article bought a used car: what to have checked and arranged.

That depends on the emission class and the date of first registration of the van. According to Op weg naar ZES, the website of the Dutch government and municipalities about zero-emission zones, these rules apply to vans, among others:

Source: Op weg naar ZES, Toegangsregels zero-emissiezones (in Dutch). Check your own van in the RDW registration check.

Are you considering a second-hand diesel with emission class 5? From 1 January 2027 you may no longer enter the zone with it. Dispensations, fines and the map are explained in our article on the zero-emission zone in Rotterdam and your van.

Are you choosing an electric or hybrid van? Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems) for hybrid and electric cars. So you can also come to us for the servicing and APK of such a van.

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.

If you have the van on financial lease, you also choose your own garage. With operational lease or private lease, servicing is often included in the contract. If you have work done without the lease company’s approval, the costs may be for your own account. Read more in the article about taking a lease car to your own garage.

No. For the first visits, you pay when you collect the vehicle, by debit card or cash. You do get an invoice in your company name straight away, with VAT shown separately and with the registration number and mileage. Paying by invoice afterwards is possible for regular business customers, once we have worked together for a while.

Yes. We are open on Saturday from 9.00 to 15.00. You bring the van at 9.00, as agreed with you. If it is ready, you can collect it until 15.00. We do the APK from Monday to Friday.

No. We do not do a pre-purchase inspection before you buy. Once you have bought the van, you can have it checked by us. We tell you in advance what that costs, and we only repair after your approval.

Yes. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate for hybrid and electric cars. We do the APK, servicing and repairs of electric and hybrid vans up to 3,500 kg. You get a quote in advance.

Call us on +31 10 479 00 00 and have your breakdown service bring the van to us. If a company vehicle is off the road, we put it into our schedule as soon as possible. We first find the cause, we tell you in advance what the repair costs and we only repair after your approval. We do not have a replacement van.

No. We do not give advice on that. Whether you can deduct costs and VAT depends, among other things, on whether the van is for business or private use. Check with your accountant or the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax and Customs Administration). We make sure you get an invoice in your company name, with VAT shown separately and with the registration number and mileage.

Yes. You get a warranty on our repairs. With the quote, you hear which warranty you get.

• RDW: Wanneer en hoe vaak APK keuren (in Dutch)
• RDW: Over de APK, reminder and early inspection (in Dutch)
• RDW: Voertuigcategorieën (in Dutch)
• Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax and Customs Administration): Bestelauto: eisen aan ombouw en inrichting (in Dutch)
• Op weg naar ZES: Toegangsregels zero-emissiezones (in Dutch)