Vehicle requirements
If you are going to drive with your motorcycle on public roads, you are responsible for the technical state and the correct use of the motorcycle. The motorcycle must meet the permanent requirements (general technical requirements) and the usage requirements.
- Permanent requirements
These are the general technical requirements set for a vehicle before it is admitted in the Netherlands. This assessment is done by the Road Traffic Service (the RDW). This is about, for example, which lighting a vehicle may and must have, how wide and high a vehicle may be and which features it should have.
- Usage requirements
These are the requirements for, for example, transporting passengers and load, or towing a trailer.
Responsibility permanent requirements and usage requirements
For these requirements, you are not only responsible as a driver. The owner or holder of the motorcycle is also responsible for this. If you borrow a motorcycle from someone and the motorcycle is missing its licence plate for example, then you are responsible for that, but the owner of the motorcycle is also responsible.
The same applies when you lend your motorcycle to someone who handles it in the wrong way. Both of you are responsible, even though you might not know anything about this.
You are not allowed to ride, or let someone ride, in a vehicle if this vehicle:
- is not of sound (good) construction or design;
- is not well maintained;
- is built or designed in such a way that the driver has insufficient view to the front or sides;
- does not meet the vehicle requirements in any other way.
Make sure that you always know who you lend the vehicle to and what this person intends to do with it. Make clear arrangements for its use.