Motorhome APK (MOT) in the Netherlands: intervals, weight and what is checked
Like a car, a motorhome needs its APK on time. How often depends on the fuel, the age and the weight of your motorhome. In this guide we explain the RDW rules, what the inspector looks at on a motorhome and what to arrange when it stands still over winter or is abroad.
By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 4 November 2026
Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say
The short answer
According to the RDW, a motorhome up to and including 3,500 kg follows the same APK intervals as a passenger car. A motorhome on diesel or gas needs its first APK at 3 years and then every year. A motorhome on petrol or electricity needs it at 4, 6 and 8 years and then every year. From 30 years it is once every 2 years, and from 50 years the APK is no longer required. Other intervals apply to vehicles heavier than 3,500 kg, and you can find them on the RDW website.
How often does a motorhome need an APK?
How often your motorhome needs an APK depends on the fuel, the age and the maximum permitted mass. The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) is the compulsory Dutch inspection of the safety and emissions of your vehicle. The RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer), the Netherlands Vehicle Authority, calls it the Periodic Technical Inspection in English. In Dutch, a motorhome is called a camper. The RDW places motorhomes up to and including 3,500 kg in the same group as cars. Other intervals apply to vehicles heavier than 3,500 kg. You can find them on the RDW page on how often a vehicle must be inspected.
| Motorhome up to and including 3,500 kg | When the APK is due |
|---|---|
| Petrol, alcohol and/or electric, under 30 years old | First at 4 years, then at 6 and 8 years, and every year after that |
| Diesel, gas or another fuel, under 30 years old | First at 3 years, then every year |
| 30 years or older | Once every 2 years |
| 50 years or older | APK no longer required |
Source: RDW, When and how often should a PTI inspection be performed (checked on 5 November 2026). The age counts from the date of first registration.
The age counts from the date of first registration, the day the vehicle was first registered with a number plate. You can find a worked example in our article on APK intervals by fuel and age.
How do you know if your motorhome is heavier than 3,500 kg?
You can see whether your motorhome is under the 3,500 kg limit from the maximum permitted mass in the vehicle register. That is the weight the motorhome may have when fully loaded, so including water, luggage and passengers. It is not the empty weight. You will find the value on the vehicle registration certificate and in the RDW vehicle check at ovi.rdw.nl, where you enter the registration number.
We inspect motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. We do not inspect a heavier motorhome. For such a motorhome, look for an inspection station that inspects heavier vehicles.
What does the inspector check on a motorhome?
On a motorhome, the inspector checks the vehicle itself: the chassis, the engine and everything related to safety and emissions. These are the same parts as on a car. You will find a full overview in our APK checklist. Because a motorhome is larger and heavier, the inspection needs a lift that can carry that weight.
The APK manual (in Dutch) has one more rule for seats in passenger cars. A passenger car first put into use after 31 December 2014 may not have sideways-facing seats. This does not apply to seats intended only for use while the vehicle is stationary. If your motorhome is registered as a passenger car, this rule also applies to your motorhome. If in doubt, we can look it up with you using the registration number.
How do you prepare your motorhome for the APK?
You prepare your motorhome by checking a few points yourself before you book. A motorhome often stands still for long periods. The tyres, brakes and battery suffer from that, even when the mileage is low.
- Check all the lights, including the lights at the back of the living area and the third brake light. Ask someone to watch while you brake.
- Look at the tyres. Measure the tread and look for small cracks in the sidewall. You can read the age of a tyre from the DOT code on the side. The last four digits give the week and year of production.
- Inflate the tyres to the pressure the manufacturer specifies. The tyres on one axle must have the same pressure.
- Drive a short distance and brake a few times. After a long period standing still, the brakes can stick or there can be rust on the brake discs.
- Look under the motorhome to see if there is oil or coolant on the ground.
- Check the wipers and top up the screenwash.
Has the motorhome stood still all winter? Then also read what to check when a vehicle has been left standing for a long time.
Does a motorhome stored over winter still need its APK?
Yes. A motorhome that stands still also has to be inspected on time, unless you have the registration suspended by the RDW. If you do not drive the vehicle, the RDW allows the APK to lapse for a maximum of 2 months. Postponing the APK is not possible. If you drive without a valid APK, the police can fine you. If the vehicle has still not been inspected 2 months after the expiry date, you receive a fine from the CJIB, the Dutch government agency that collects fines, according to the RDW.
A suspended motorhome may not be parked or driven on a public road. You can suspend it for 1, 2 or 3 years, as the RDW explains on its English page about requesting a suspension. During the suspension you do not need third-party liability insurance or a valid APK, according to the RDW, and you pay no motor vehicle tax. If you want to drive again afterwards, you may drive the suspended motorhome to the APK appointment. The RDW sets conditions for this:
If you want the motorhome inspected in spring, book well in advance. According to the RDW, you can have the APK done up to 2 months before the expiry date without the date moving.
What if the APK expires while you are abroad with your motorhome?
If the APK expires during your trip, the RDW says you must have the motorhome inspected before you leave. Without a valid APK you may not drive, not even abroad. Postponement is not possible.
Outside the Netherlands, according to the RDW, you can only have an APK done in Spain and Belgium, at a limited number of inspection stations. In Spain the station inspects according to Spanish rules. Make sure that you receive a Dutch-language inspection report along with the Spanish report, because the APK is not valid without it. Take the original vehicle registration certificate with you. If you are going away for a long time, have the APK done in the 2 months before you leave. The details are on the RDW page Car abroad and PTI.
What does a motorhome APK cost at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug?
The APK for a motorhome up to 3,500 kg costs € 100 to € 125 at our garage. We are an RDW-approved APK station in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde and have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg. Registering the result with the RDW is included. 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. We carry out the APK Monday to Friday, by appointment.
If we find a failure point during the inspection, you hear the cost of the repair beforehand. We only carry out repairs with your approval. How the inspection works at our garage is explained on our page about the motorhome APK. You can also book your motorhome APK online. For other vehicles, read more about the APK inspection for all makes and what an APK costs for cars and vans.