Bought a used car in the Netherlands: what to arrange and what to have checked
You have recently bought a used car or van in the Netherlands, taken one over from family or inherited one. Now you want to know whether everything is in order. This article explains what to arrange in the first weeks, what you can check online yourself and what a mechanic checks, with the Dutch documents and terms explained along the way.
By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 8 November 2026
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The short answer
After buying a used car in the Netherlands, you transfer the registration to your name and insure the car, with at least third-party liability insurance (in Dutch: WA). Then you use the free RDW Kentekencheck to check the APK (MOT) expiry date, the mileage assessment and any open recalls, and you ask for the service history. If the history is unknown or incomplete, have the car checked and plan a service as a fresh starting point. At Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam you can have the car checked after purchase. We tell you the cost in advance.
Before you buy: what can you check yourself?
We do not carry out pre-purchase inspections. But before you pay, you can check a lot yourself with the registration number of the car. According to the ANWB, these checks are useful:
Buying a used electric car or plug-in hybrid? The Kentekencheck and the APK say nothing about the condition of the high-voltage battery pack. We do not measure that condition. Ask the seller for information about the battery pack, or ask a dealer for that make or a specialist. Also ask whether the charging cable is included, and read the manufacturer’s warranty terms for the battery pack. After you have bought the car, we can service it and test the 12-volt battery. Read more in our guide to servicing an electric car.
What should you arrange in the first week after buying?
In the first week you arrange the paperwork, the insurance and a first check of the car’s details. After that, you plan a check or a service in the workshop if needed. In the Netherlands, the RDW is the national vehicle authority. It keeps the register of every car and its registration holder. This order works well:
- Transfer the registration to your name. In Dutch this is called overschrijven. You can do it at a registration desk (kentekenloket), for example at a PostNL point, or online with the RDW, using DigiD (the Dutch government login) and a suitable smartphone. If you buy from an RDW-approved car dealer, the seller arranges the transfer.
- Insure the car. According to the ANWB (the Dutch motoring organisation), you must insure the car as soon as it is registered in your name. Third-party liability insurance (WA) is the legal minimum. You may drive the car if it is insured and its APK has not expired.
- Keep the transfer code separate. The first part of the transfer code (tenaamstellingscode) is on the transfer report (tenaamstellingsverslag) you get when you transfer the registration. Within a few days you receive the registration card (kentekencard) and the second part of the code by post. Do not keep the code with the registration card. You need it when you sell the car later.
- Do the RDW Kentekencheck. Check the APK expiry date, the mileage assessment and recalls. You can read how below.
- Collect the service history. Ask for the service booklet, the invoices and the name of the previous garage.
- Plan a check or a service. Do this in any case if the history is unknown or a warning light is on.
What can you check yourself with the RDW Kentekencheck?
With the free RDW Kentekencheck you can see within a few minutes whether the basics are right. You enter the registration number and get the public details of the car. You do not see any personal details of owners. According to the ANWB, the check shows these details, among others:
| Detail | What to look for |
|---|---|
| APK expiry date | What to look forHow long the APK is valid. Plan the next test in good time. |
| Insured (WAM) | What to look forWhether the car is insured. After the transfer and insuring the car, this should say Yes (in Dutch: Ja). |
| Mileage assessment | What to look forLogical, illogical or no assessment (logisch, onlogisch, geen oordeel). If it says illogical, the mileage may not be correct according to the RDW. |
| Recalls | What to look forWhether there is an open recall. You find this at the bottom of the Overview tab (Overzicht). |
| Technical data | What to look forFuel, year of manufacture and towing weight. Useful when choosing parts and tyres. |
Source: ANWB (Kentekencheck) and RDW (Terugroepacties opzoeken)
What is a recall? In a recall, the manufacturer fixes a fault that affects a whole model or a series of cars. According to the RDW, the manufacturer contacts you if there is a recall. After buying, check yourself whether a recall is still open. You can also search the RDW recall register (in Dutch) by make, type and period. According to the RDW, the repair is free and you usually book an appointment for it with a dealer of the brand.
The Kentekencheck does not show the service history. You need to ask for that yourself.
How do you get the service history?
You ask the previous owner and the garage that serviced the car for the service history. The history shows which services were done, which parts were replaced and when the next service is due.
Pay particular attention to the timing belt. This is the belt that keeps the camshaft and the crankshaft of the engine turning in time with each other. Some engines have a timing chain instead. The manufacturer sets when it must be replaced, often after a number of kilometres or years, whichever comes first. If the belt breaks, the engine can be badly damaged. If you find no proof that the belt was replaced on time, have it checked. You can read more on our page about timing belt replacement.
What does the mechanic check after you buy a car?
In a check after purchase, the mechanic looks at the parts that wear and at signs of overdue maintenance. We tell you the cost of the check in advance. Afterwards, we explain what is needed now and what can wait. We only carry out repairs with your approval, and for repairs you get a quote first.
| Part | What the mechanic looks at | What you notice yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | What the mechanic looks atTread depth, age, small cracks and uneven wear | What you notice yourselfVibration, the car pulling to one side |
| Brakes | What the mechanic looks atThickness of the brake pads and discs, rust, leaks | What you notice yourselfSquealing, grinding, a soft brake pedal |
| Fluids | What the mechanic looks atLevel and colour of the oil, coolant and brake fluid | What you notice yourselfA warning light or a stain under the car |
| Leaks | What the mechanic looks atOil or coolant at the engine, gearbox and pipes | What you notice yourselfStains on the ground, a burning smell |
| Battery | What the mechanic looks atStarting power and the charge from the alternator | What you notice yourselfThe engine turns over slowly when starting |
| Fault codes | What the mechanic looks atThe faults stored in the car’s memory, read out with a diagnostic tool | What you notice yourselfA warning light, or sometimes nothing |
| Lights | What the mechanic looks atWhether the headlights and other lights work and are aimed correctly | What you notice yourselfA light that does not work |
| Service schedule | What the mechanic looks atWhich service is next and when the timing belt is due | What you notice yourselfA service message on the dashboard |
When should you have the first service done?
If the service history is complete, you follow the manufacturer’s service schedule. The next service is then shown in the booklet, on the invoices or as a message on the dashboard. If the history is unknown or has gaps, a service is a good starting point. Afterwards, you know which oil and filters are in the car and what the next step is.
With a minor or major service, we follow the schedule for your make and stamp your service booklet. The APK is free with a major service, except for a Tesla and not for motorhomes. If the car is due for its test soon, combine the service with the APK, the compulsory periodic vehicle inspection. We are an RDW-approved APK station. The APK costs € 50 for petrol, petrol hybrid and electric cars.
Is this your first car? On our page about maintaining your first car you can read how often the car needs to go to the garage and what costs to expect.
Inherited, taken over from family or left standing for a long time: what should you look out for?
With an inherited car or a car you take over, you sort out the paperwork first and then the technical side. If the car is still registered in the name of someone who has died, arrange the transfer of the registration first. Who may do this and which documents you need is explained by the RDW and the Rijksoverheid (the Dutch central government). If you take the car over from your parents, you transfer it in the same way as with any other purchase.
The advantage of a car from the family is that the history is often known. Ask for the service booklet, the invoices and the name of the regular garage. If the car has covered few kilometres, also look at the date of the last service. Oil, brake fluid and the timing belt also age when the car is driven little.
Has the car stood still for weeks or months? Then check the battery, the tyres and the brakes first. A battery slowly runs flat, because some systems use power even when the car is switched off. Tyres slowly lose air. Rust forms on the brake discs and brake pads can stick. For the first drive, follow the step-by-step plan in our article about a car that has stood still for a long time. If the car pulls to one side when braking, a warning light is on or it starts badly, have it checked before you drive any further.
Bought a used van for your new business?
For a used van you do the same checks as for a car, with a few extra points. A van often carries heavy loads. So pay extra attention to the brakes, the tyres, the shock absorbers and the clutch. We service and test vans up to 3,500 kg. An APK for a van registered as a commercial vehicle (often called a grey plate) costs € 125 with us.
As a business owner, you get an invoice in your company name from us, also on your first visit. The invoice shows the registration number and the mileage, with VAT shown separately. Whether the van is for business or private use, and what you can deduct, is something to decide with your accountant or the Belastingdienst. We do not give advice on this. On our page for the self-employed and starters with one van you can read how to arrange servicing and the APK with us.
Something wrong after buying: who sorts it out?
If you bought the car from a car dealer and something turns out to be wrong shortly after buying, contact the seller first. According to the Rijksoverheid, the seller must provide a solution, not the manufacturer. What you may expect from a product depends on factors such as the price and whether it is new or used. If something is wrong with the car within 12 months of purchase, the Rijksoverheid says the seller must prove that it is your fault.
We do not give legal advice about warranties or consumer rights. Read the rules on the Rijksoverheid page about warranties on products (in Dutch). For a question about your own situation, the Rijksoverheid refers you to the Juridisch Loket, the Dutch legal advice desk. If we find a defect during a check, we explain to you what we see. You can use that explanation in your own conversation with the seller.