If you are a foreigner in the Netherlands, and wish to buy a car, then a few extra steps are required before they can transfer it to you:
Start by going to your local Gemeentehuis and ask for a new Plaatsbewijs. You will need your passport and BSN (Burgerlijke Service Nummer). It takes only a few moments and currently costs €9.70. They will issue you with a paper certificate which proves you are a legal resident and have been correctly registered.
Once you have found a car (and paid for it) you need to arrange for insurance before they will let you take the car. You will also have to visit the RDW and formally transfer the car onto your name.
The vendor should provide you with a four digit code which you need to take with your driver's licence, plaatsbewijs, health insurance code showing your BSN, proof of insurance, and passport to your local RDW office. This will also cost €9.70.
You can now legally drive the car.
Within a few days you will a green plastic smartcard (a Kentekenbewijs) which you must keep with you/the car at all times and produce it if requested by the police. If you are stopped and don't have it along with your driver's licence, you will receive an automatic fine!
Within a few weeks you will also receive a blue envelope from the the tax-office (Belastingdienst) asking you to pay the road-tax (wegenbelasting). Always check how this is for the car you are buying as it can be a lot more than you expect!
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Wednesday, 5 February 2014
Buying a car
I recently decided to return my lease car due to the ever increasing cost, and to buy my a private car. The big advantage is that I no longer have to pay more than €500/month in lease costs, and I also save a lot of taxes such as the bijtelling.
Before buying a car ensure that you do a lot of research as there seems to be very little protection for buyers when it comes to incorrect mileage, mechanical problems etc. You should also be aware that there are a lot of imported cars, and these can be worth much less, and be more difficult to sell.
How do I know it was imported?
The biggest giveaway is the number-plate, unless the car is very new, it should have a registratio n in the form: NN-XX-YY, if it looks more like: N-XXX-YY or X-YYY-NN then you should check ino the car's history.
Some cars that have been bought by government departments or the army also need to be re-registered, so as long as you have evidence, these cars can be fine when it comes to reselling.
Non-Dutch driver's licences
Most insurance companies seem OK with this but you must be able to provide evidence of a no-claims history or thye will charge a very high premium.
ANVB
Joining is relatively cheap and coverage is good. They also provide lots of good advice and member discounts.
Before buying a car ensure that you do a lot of research as there seems to be very little protection for buyers when it comes to incorrect mileage, mechanical problems etc. You should also be aware that there are a lot of imported cars, and these can be worth much less, and be more difficult to sell.
How do I know it was imported?
The biggest giveaway is the number-plate, unless the car is very new, it should have a registratio n in the form: NN-XX-YY, if it looks more like: N-XXX-YY or X-YYY-NN then you should check ino the car's history.
Some cars that have been bought by government departments or the army also need to be re-registered, so as long as you have evidence, these cars can be fine when it comes to reselling.
Non-Dutch driver's licences
Most insurance companies seem OK with this but you must be able to provide evidence of a no-claims history or thye will charge a very high premium.
ANVB
Joining is relatively cheap and coverage is good. They also provide lots of good advice and member discounts.
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