Your rights at a Dutch garage: quotes, extra work, warranty and complaints

A repair that costs more than agreed, or a fault that comes back after the repair: what may a Dutch garage do, and what can you do yourself? This guide explains what Dutch law and the ANWB (the Dutch motoring organisation) say, what to check on a quote and how we work at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde. It is an explanation, not legal advice.

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

A Dutch garage may not charge more than agreed as a matter of course. Under article 7:752 of the Dutch Civil Code, an estimate may not be exceeded by more than 10%, unless the garage warns you as early as possible, so that you can still limit or simplify the work. Under article 7:755, the garage can only charge more for extra work you asked for if it told you in good time that the price would go up, unless you should have understood that yourself. According to the ANWB, the garage must ask your permission first if the repair becomes more expensive than agreed. Ask for the old parts, keep the invoice and try to solve a complaint with the garage first.

What does Dutch law say about the price of a car repair?

In Dutch law, a car repair is usually a contract for work, called aanneming van werk: the garage carries out and delivers a job for payment. The rules are in Book 7, title 12 of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek, BW). Two articles matter most to you as a customer: article 7:752 on the price and article 7:755 on extra work. You can read the legal text yourself, in Dutch, on wetten.overheid.nl (consulted November 2026). If you are used to the rules in another country, keep in mind that the Dutch rules may be different.

Situation What the law says Article
No price was agreed You pay a reasonable price. 7:752 BW
An estimate was given (in Dutch: richtprijs) The garage may not go more than 10% above it, unless it warns you as early as possible that it will probably cost more. After that warning you must still be able to limit or simplify the work. 7:752 BW
You ask for changes or extra work (in Dutch: meerwerk) The garage can only charge more if it told you in good time that the price would go up, unless you should have understood that yourself. 7:755 BW
The garage knows, or should reasonably know, that something is wrong with your order or with a part you supplied yourself The garage must warn you about it. 7:754 BW

Source: Dutch Civil Code, Book 7, title 12, wetten.overheid.nl (consulted November 2026). Summary in our own words.

The difference between an estimate and an agreed total matters. An estimate is a forecast of the cost. An agreed amount for a described job is an agreement on the price of that work. If you ask for more work later, that is extra work and article 7:755 applies. Work you did not ask for is covered in the next section.

This guide explains what Dutch law and the ANWB say. It is not legal advice. If you have a dispute with a garage, ask one of the organisations listed further down this page for advice.

Can a Dutch garage charge more than the quote?

No, not without talking to you first. If the repair becomes more expensive than agreed, the ANWB says the garage must ask your permission first. If that does not happen and you receive a higher bill, the ANWB says you can object to that bill. Only with an estimate does the law allow a margin of up to 10% (article 7:752).

Has the garage done extra work without being asked, for example replacing the wiper blades or the tyres? According to the ANWB, the garage should then undo that work where possible. If that is not possible, the garage pays at least part of the extra costs itself.

This is how you avoid a dispute afterwards:

  1. Describe the problem as clearly as you can. “A ticking noise at the front left when braking” is clearer than “something rattles”.
  2. Agree on a price or an estimate, and roughly how long the repair will take. The ANWB advises putting this on paper.
  3. Agree that the garage calls you before it replaces or repairs anything that is not in the agreement.
  4. Ask in advance whether you can see the old parts or take them home.
  5. When you collect the car, check that the invoice matches what was agreed. If it does not, ask for an explanation straight away.

The Dutch consumer programme Radar advises: if you doubt the bill after the repair, pay under protest and make sure you have the old parts. Without proof that a part was replaced for no reason, your position is weak.

What should you check on a garage quote in the Netherlands?

Check seven points: the description of the work, the labour, the parts, the VAT, any extra costs, the warranty and how long the quote is valid. Quotes for the same job can differ a lot. In an ANWB study of quotes from more than 500 garages, one garage charged 3 hours of labour to replace a clutch and another charged 8 hours (ANWB, garage quotes study from 2020, consulted November 2026). So look at what is included, not only at the total.

Item on the quote What to check
Description of the work Does it say which problem is being fixed and which work the garage will do? A vague description makes it hard to show later what was agreed.
Labour How much time does the garage charge for the job? Is it an amount for the whole job or an estimate that can still go up?
Parts Which parts will be replaced, and are they original parts or parts of comparable quality that suit your car?
VAT (in Dutch: btw) Is the amount including or excluding VAT? For a private customer, the amount including VAT is what counts.
Extra costs Are there separate items, such as disposal of old fluids or reading fault codes?
Warranty Which warranty do you get, and which part or work does it cover?
Validity How long is the quote valid? Prices of parts can change.

Checklist by Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, based on the advice of the ANWB.

If you doubt a quote or a diagnosis, you can have another garage look at the car before you say yes. A second opinion on a quote or diagnosis at our garage costs € 145, including up to one hour of investigation. That amount is not deducted from a repair. You may also go to another independent garage. A Dutch quote can contain terms you do not know. Our page with Dutch garage terms explained translates the most common ones.

Do you have to pay if the problem is not fixed after the repair?

Yes, in principle. According to the ANWB, you pay the cost of a repair even if the problem is still there afterwards. That only changes if you can show that the garage made a mistake, for example by replacing the wrong part, going about the work the wrong way or doing nothing at all.

With difficult faults, such as a knock or a rattle, the ANWB says the garage has a duty of effort (in Dutch: inspanningsverplichting). This means the garage must make a real effort to find the right diagnosis and follow a logical approach, but it cannot promise that the first step will solve the problem. That is why we look for the cause of a fault first, before we replace any parts.

Does the fault come back after a repair at our garage? Contact us and we will look at it. You get a warranty on our repairs. With the quote we tell you which warranty applies.

If you go to another garage without talking to the first garage, the ANWB says you usually pay that second garage yourself. So give the first garage the chance to solve the problem first.

How do you make a complaint about a garage in the Netherlands?

Start with the garage itself. If you cannot solve it together, put your complaint in writing and ask an independent organisation for advice. The first four steps below follow the ANWB step-by-step plan for repairs and servicing (in Dutch). The last step is our own tip:

  1. Go back to the garage. Explain what is wrong and give the garage the chance to solve it.
  2. Collect evidence. Keep the quote, the invoice, photos and the old parts. If you disagree, a technical inspection by another company can help.
  3. Send a letter. Describe the problem, the chances the garage has already had to fix it, the solution you want and a deadline of two weeks. In Dutch this formal letter is called an ingebrekestelling. The ANWB advises sending it by registered post (aangetekend).
  4. No reply from the garage? Send another registered letter. Write that the deadline has passed and that you will take further steps.
  5. Ask for advice. If you cannot agree, you can turn to ANWB Juridisch advies (the ANWB’s legal advice service), the Consumentenbond (the Dutch consumers’ association) or the Juridisch Loket (the Dutch legal aid desk). The Juridisch Loket gives free legal advice to people with a low income and little savings. If you have legal expenses insurance, check what it can do for you.

Damage to your car during the repair is a separate point. According to the ANWB, you then have to show that the damage was not there when you brought the car in and that the garage caused it. So if you are unsure about the condition of your car, take photos when you drop it off.

How do we work at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug?

At Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, a family business in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde since 1979, you know in advance where you stand. We do not quote an hourly rate. We tell you one amount in advance based on your registration number, and we only do extra work with your approval. The prices we publish in advance are on our page with prices and rates.

  • Quote in advance: you receive a quote in advance based on your registration number, including VAT. We only carry out repairs with your approval.
  • Extra work: if we find something else during the work, we call you first. We only do extra work with your approval.
  • Diagnosis first if there is a fault: reading the fault codes costs a fixed amount. Call us and we tell you in advance. It is not deducted from a repair.
  • Old parts: you can see the replaced parts on request, as long as they are still available.
  • Warranty: ask us in advance which warranty applies to your repair and what it covers.
  • Explanation in Dutch or English: our team speaks Dutch and English. We are happy to go through the quote or the invoice with you.
  • Paying: you pay when you collect the car, by debit card or cash.

Would you like to know what to look for when choosing a garage, including ours? Read our checklist for choosing a reliable garage in Rotterdam. Do you have a question about a quote or a repair? Call +31 10 479 00 00 or see our contact page for the address and opening hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for a Dutch garage to charge for a diagnosis?

Yes. Finding a fault is work, and under Dutch law you pay a reasonable price for work you asked for if no price was agreed. At our garage, reading the fault codes costs a fixed amount, which we tell you in advance when you call. A second opinion costs € 145, including up to one hour of investigation. Neither amount is deducted from a repair.

The garage did work I did not ask for. Do I have to pay for it?

No, not automatically. According to the ANWB, the garage should undo work you did not order where possible. If that is not possible, the garage pays at least part of the extra costs itself. That is why it helps to put the agreed work on paper.

Can I ask for my old parts back?

Yes. The ANWB advises asking for the old parts, because they help if you later want to show that something went wrong. Ask for them in advance. At our garage you can see the replaced parts on request, as long as they are still available.

How long is the warranty on a car repair in the Netherlands?

That depends on the garage, the part and the repair. So ask in advance which warranty you get and what it covers.

Can I take my car to another garage if the repair is not right?

Yes, but talk to the garage that did the work first. According to the ANWB, you usually pay the other garage yourself if you switch without talking to the first one. Dutch law also says that, as a rule, you give the garage the chance to put defects right within a reasonable time (article 7:759). Give the first garage the chance to solve it and put your complaint in writing.

Who pays for damage to my car during the repair?

That depends on what you can show. According to the ANWB, you have to prove that the damage was not there when you brought the car in and that the garage caused it. If something breaks during normal work, the garage is not automatically liable. If in doubt, ask ANWB Juridisch advies, the Consumentenbond or the Juridisch Loket for advice.

Can you explain my Dutch quote in English?

Yes. Our team speaks Dutch and English. Call +31 10 479 00 00 or bring the quote with you, and we will go through it with you.

Is this article legal advice?

No. We explain what Dutch law and the ANWB say, so you know what to look out for. For advice about your own situation, you can turn to ANWB Juridisch advies, the Consumentenbond or the Juridisch Loket.

Questions about a quote or a repair?

Call us with your registration number. We tell you one amount in advance, and we only do extra work 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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