General requirements – part 1

Extra information most important technical requirements for vehicles

Legally, every vehicle has to meet quite a few technical requirements. Normally, you can assume that a vehicle you buy new will meet all these requirements. If something breaks, it may mean that the vehicle no longer meets these requirements. If you have the broken parts fixed or replaced with original parts, then the vehicle will normally continue to meet these requirements.

You are responsible for the state of your vehicle. An annual check-up done by someone who knows about it is therefore definitely recommended.

The technical requirements generally come down to the same thing. All parts must be in good condition, work properly and be mounted correctly.

slecht onderhoud — If your moped is no longer in good condition, you are not allowed to ride it.

originele onderdelen — Make sure you use as many original parts as possible when you replace anything on your moped. Otherwise, you run the risk of the moped no longer meeting the requirements.

Custom modifications

If you modify something to your vehicle yourself, it may mean that the vehicle no longer meets the requirements as stated in the vehicle registration register. In that case, the vehicle must be re-approved. Consider the following:

adding extra weight;
replacing the engine block;
changing the power or construction speed;
changing the number of seats;
changing the noise level (for example, mounting a different exhaust).

As long as the vehicle has not been re-approved in these situations, it may not be driven!

Red reflector

Because a vehicle that is stationairy and switched off usually has no lights on, it is dificult to see in the dark. To prevent other drivers from driving into it, a red reflector must always be present on the back of a vehicle. On a brommobiel even two. Without these reflectors, you are not allowed to place the vehicle on public roads (including the verge!).

Reflector: Reflectors reflect light in the same direction as where it came from. They thus make the vehicle they are on visible. Usually, they are red, amber yellow or white.

reflectoren — Reflectors come in different colours and make sure that vehicles are also visible when parked in the dark.

retroreflector achterop — In addition to the reflector in the light fitting, there is often a separate red reflector on the back of the moped.

Vehicle registration number

A vehicle can be recognised by its vehicle registration number and the vehicle identification number (VIN). This means that:

the vehicle must also meet the information that is on the vehicle registration card and that is in the vehicle registration register;
the vehicle must be fitted with a properly mounted and clearly legible original number plate with an approval mark;
the VIN must be stamped into the chassis, frame or similar structure and it must be clearly legible. If it has been (partially) removed, it could mean that the vehicle was once stolen.

Dimensions

Unladen weight: Mass (weight) of the vehicle in running order (as delivered from the dealer), decreased with 7 kg, or as stated on the vehicle registration certificate.
Load: All persons that you transport in or on the vehicle and goods that you transport in, on or attached to the vehicle.
Load carrier: Removable or retractable construction meant for transporting goods and resources. Think of a luggage carrier or luggage rack on the back of the moped.

Mopeds, snorfietsen, speed pedelecs and brommobielen may not be longer than 4 metres and higher than 2.5 metres. Two-wheeled mopeds, snorfietsen and speed pedelecs may not be wider than 1 metre. Three-wheeled mopeds and brommobielen may be a maximum of 2 metres wide. All these measurements are including load.

Exhaust system

The exhaust system must be gas tight, properly mounted and may not produce too much noise. How much this may be is mentioned in the vehicle registration register. If no value is mentioned here, a noise standard of 90 decibels applies to a snorfiets, and 97 decibels to a moped. During a check, you may exceed this limit by a maximum of 2 decibels. If you mount a different exhaust, you must properly check whether it exceeds this limit.

Speedometer

The speedometer is the only meter on the dashboard that is required to be present. This meter indicates how fast you are driving and must always work properly and must also be clearly legible (lighted) in the dark.

snelheidsmeter — You often find more lighted meters on the dashboard, but only the speedometer (the meter that indicates how fast you are driving) is required and must be lighted in the dark.

Maximum construction speed

Mopeds have a maximum construction speed of 25 km/h (snorfiets) or 45 km/h (moped, speed pedelec and brommobiel). This is something the police can check for by putting the vehicle on a roller bench. If this indicates more than 29 km/h on your snorfiets (25 plus a measuring margin of 4 km/h), or more than 50 km/h on your moped (45 plus a measuring margin of 5 km/h), you are in violation.