Take your car to the garage without a day off: drop it off before work, collect it after
Your car needs to go to the garage, but you do not want to use a day of leave for it. At Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde you drop the car off on your way to work and collect it on your way home. Below we explain how it works, from the evening before to collecting the car.
By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 7 November 2026
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The short answer
At Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, you drop the car off before work and 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. 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 book by phone on +31 10 479 00 00.
What does your day look like while your car is with us?
You drop the car off in the morning, you go to work and you collect the car after work. During the day we call you if there is something to discuss and when the car is ready. The table shows what you do at each moment of the day, and what we do.
| When | What you do | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| The evening before (by appointment) | Park the car outside our garage at your own risk and put the key in an envelope through our letterbox. | We take the envelope out of the letterbox the next morning and take the car in. |
| The morning | You bring the car between 8.00 and 8.30, or on Saturday at 9.00, and hand the key to us. | We go through the work with you and write down your phone number. |
| During the day | You are at work. Keep your phone close by. | We do the work we agreed. If we find anything extra, we call you first. |
| After work | You collect the car until 17.30, or on Saturday between 9.00 and 15.00, and pay by debit card or cash. | We call you when the car is ready and tell you what it costs. |
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8.00 to 17.30, Saturday 9.00 to 15.00, closed on Sunday.
What time can you drop the car off?
From Monday to Friday you bring the car between 8.00 and 8.30, on Saturday at 9.00, as agreed with you. We work by appointment. Call us first on +31 10 479 00 00 and we agree the day and the work together. Mention that you are bringing the car before work. You can explain the problem in English.
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. The registration number is the number on your Dutch number plate (the kenteken). Also add a short note on what needs doing, for example the APK (MOT), a minor service or a noise you have noticed. We open at 8.00.
We do not have a key safe, and we do not offer a pick-up and delivery service. You bring the car yourself, during the drop-off times or by appointment through the letterbox.
What can usually be done in one day?
Many standard jobs are usually ready the same day if there is room in our schedule. That is not a promise: it depends on how busy we are and on what we find on the car. For a repair, we tell you in advance how long it will take.
| Job | Usually ready the same day? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| APK | Usually, if there is room | Monday to Friday. € 50 for petrol, petrol hybrid and electric, € 60 for a diesel with a factory-fitted DPF (diesel particulate filter). For an LPG car or another diesel, we tell you the price in advance. |
| Minor service | Usually, if there is room | Oil, oil filter and a check of items such as brakes, tyres and lights. |
| Changing or replacing tyres | Usually, if there is room | Call us with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it. |
| Air con service | Usually, if there is room | From € 120 (R134a) or from € 180 (R1234yf). |
| Major service or repair | Depends on the work | We tell you in advance how long it takes and what it costs. We only carry out repairs with your approval. |
What can be done in one day depends on our schedule and on the condition of the car.
The APK is the compulsory periodic test that checks whether your car is safe and roadworthy. It is carried out at a garage approved by the RDW, the Netherlands Vehicle Authority. You can read more about the test on our page about the APK test for your car in Rotterdam. What a minor or major service includes is on our page about servicing your car. For new tyres or a switch to winter tyres, see tyre replacement and changing tyres.
How do you know the car is ready, and how late can you collect it?
We call you when the car is ready. You then also hear what it costs. If the mechanic finds something during the work that was not agreed, we call you first. We tell you the price in advance, and we only carry out repairs with your approval. According to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, a garage must ask your permission first if a repair becomes more expensive than agreed.
You can collect the car until 17.30, or on Saturday between 9.00 and 15.00. You cannot collect the car after closing time, because the key is inside and we do not have a key safe. Cannot make it before 17.30? Then you collect the car the next morning from 8.00, or on Saturday between 9.00 and 15.00. Read more about Saturdays on our page about our garage that is open on Saturday. When you collect the car, you pay by debit card or cash.
How do you get to work without your car?
The garage is at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). Tram 3 stops at the Stadion Feijenoord stop and runs towards Rotterdam Centraal. Check a journey planner for the current departure times and route.
For a bigger job you can use one of our loan bikes for free, while one is available. Ask for one when you book. We do not have a replacement car.
How do you plan the APK without taking a day off?
Book the APK well before the expiry date, so you choose a day that suits your work. According to the RDW, you can have your vehicle tested up to 2 months before the APK expiry date, and the expiry date then stays the same. So you lose no time by coming early.
- Look up the expiry date. Enter your registration number in the RDW Kentekencheck (the RDW vehicle check, in Dutch). The APK date is under the tab with expiry dates and history (vervaldata en historie).
- Watch for the reminder. The RDW sends you a reminder 6 weeks before the APK expires, by post or in the MijnOverheid message box. The reminder is in Dutch, and you are still responsible for testing on time if it does not arrive.
- Choose a day. Call us on +31 10 479 00 00 and choose a morning from Monday to Friday when you can drop the car off before work.
- Do not drive with an expired APK. According to the RDW, the police can fine you for this, and if the vehicle is not tested within 2 months of the expiry date, the CJIB (the Dutch fines agency) can fine you between € 180 and € 500.
Do you drive a company car or a lease car?
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 have contracts with lease companies. With financial lease, the car is in your name, so you also choose your own garage.
If a company vehicle is off the road, we put it into our schedule as soon as possible. For vans and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg, read more on our page about servicing company vehicles and fleets.
Which tips help your day go smoothly?
A few small things make the day go more smoothly, for you and for us.