Registration requirements

Vehicle registration

Having it registered in the vehicle registration register that a vehicle belongs to a particular owner or holder.

First admission

The date on which the vehicle was first allowed on public roads. This could also have been abroad, if the vehicle was imported at a later date.

Maximum authorised mass

The maximum authorised weight of a vehicle, including load.

Most motor carriages have a registration requirement. This means that, as soon as the vehicle is registered for the first time, a vehicle registration number is issued for this vehicle. The owner or holder of the vehicle receives the vehicle registration certificate that belongs to this. They are then responsible for this vehicle registration certificate.

The vehicle that is driven must always comply with the information of this vehicle in the vehicle registration register. The number plate must also be clearly visible and legible. Depending on the vehicle, it must have either one or two number plates. For a moped, speed pedelec, snorfiets and a brommobiel this is one, on the rear.

It may not be plastered, or otherwise treated in a way that makes it less legible. The plate may also not be placed too slanted or hidden. Both the driver, as well as the owner and holder are responsible for all these requirements.

Without a number plate, your vehicle is also not allowed to be parked on public roads. The municipality is then allowed to remove your vehicle.

Characteristics number plate

Every vehicle has its own unique vehicle registration number. It consists of letters and digits. The layout of these letters and digits changes every once in a while, when all possible vehicle registration numbers of one layout have been used.

Which colour plate your vehicle receives, depends on the construction speed. For a moped, speed pedelec or brommobiel, the vehicle registration number is on a yellow plate, for a snorfiets it is on a blue plate. Every number plate must be provided with an approval mark. You are only allowed to drive with approved number plates. In case of loss, theft or excessive damage to the number plate, you are no longer allowed to drive this vehicle. In that case, you must wait until you have received a new number plate. This replacement number plate is provided with a duplicate code. This digit indicates how often the number plate has been reapplied for.

Vehicle registration certificate

As soon as the vehicle is registered to a name, the owner or holder of the vehicle receives a vehicle registration certificate. This vehicle registration certificate consists of the vehicle registration card, a vehicle registration certificate part II and a registration code.

The information of the owner or holder are mentioned on the vehicle registration card:

• surname and initials;
• address.

And the information of the vehicle:

• licence plate number;
• vehicle registration number;
• report code (last 4 digits of VIN);
• date of first admission;
• manufacturer and vehicle type;
• vehicle identification number (VIN);
• weight in running order;
• date of registration;
• date of registration in the Netherlands;
• vehicle category;
• type approval number;
• cylinder capacity, power and fuel;
• power / mass;
• seats;
• maximum allowed speed.

In practice, as the owner or holder, you will only receive the vehicle registration card and the registration code. In some cases, you will not receive the registration code, for example, when you lease or borrow a moped. The vehicle registration certificate part II is kept by the RDW and is only given to the owner or holder if they are exporting the vehicle abroad.

Validity vehicle registration certificate

The vehicle registration certificate is usually valid until a vehicle changes owners or holder (usually when the vehicle is sold). Despite the fact that the address of the owner is also mentioned on the vehicle registration card, you do not have to change this information if you move. The RDW will automatically receive the changed details from the municipality and change these in the vehicle registration register. The fact that the old address remains on the vehicle registration card is not a problem.

The vehicle registration card can become invalid if it no longer meets certain requirements. For example, it should always be clearly legible.

Indemnity certificate

The document you receive when you sell your vehicle and it is no longer registered under your name in the vehicle registration register. This is proof that you are no longer responsible for this vehicle and it should therefore be kept well.

Obligation to surrender the vehicle registration certificate

From the moment a moped is registered in your name, you are required to show the corresponding vehicle registration certificate when an authorised person asks for this. This may be a police officer, but also someone from the Royal Military Police, tax authorities or customs. You only have to show the vehicle registration card (and if asked your driving licence).

If you are too far behind on tax payments or if you have a lot of outstanding fines, then your vehicle may be confiscated during one of those checks. As long as your debts have not been sufficiently repaid and a notification of this has been made in the vehicle registration register, it is not possible to register another vehicle to your name.

Exception to registration requirement

Not all motor carriages are required to have a vehicle registration number. Disability vehicles do not receive a vehicle registration number. They do have an insurance sticker.

Trailers with a maximum permissible weight up to 750 kg do not have their own vehicle registration number, but they must have a white number plate with the vehicle registration number of the towing vehicle.

Different vehicle registration numbers per category

Number plate motor vehicle
This plate is provided with a blue area with the EU logo and country code. Depending on the vehicle, one or two number plates are issued. There are two formats for these number plates.

Number plate heavy trailer
This number plate is for trailers with a maximum permissible weight over 750 kg. Per vehicle, one plate is issued.

Number plate light trailer
This number plate is for trailers with a maximum permissible weight up to 750 kg and the load carries on the towbar, such as a bicycle carrier. It has the same vehicle registration number as the towing vehicle.

Number plate dealer
This number plate is for car dealers. This plate is mounted over the normal number plate during test drives.

Number plate taxi
This number plate is for taxis.

Number plate moped, speed pedelec and brommobiel
These plates have two formats, depending on the vehicle, the smaller or wider plate is used.

Number plate snorfiets
These plates have two formats, depending on the vehicle, the smaller or wider plate is used.

Number plate special mopeds
This plate is used for segways, BSO buses and other types of special mopeds.