Registration requirement

Vehicle registration

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

First admission

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

Maximum authorised weight

The maximum authorised weight of a vehicle, including load.

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

The vehicle that is driven must always comply with the information about this vehicle in the vehicle registration register. In addition, the vehicle must be provided with a clearly visible and original number plates. Depending on the vehicle, this is one or two plates. With a motorcycle it is one plate, on the rear.

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

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

Characteristics number plate

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

Every number plate must be provided with an approval mark. You are only allowed to ride with approved number plates. In case of loss, theft or excessive damage to the number plate, you are no longer allowed to ride this motorcycle. 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 is an extra digit on the top-left of the first digits/letters on the number plate. This digit indicates how many times the number plate has been reapplied for.

Vehicle registration certificate

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

On the vehicle registration card are the information of the owner or holder:

• C.1.1: surname
• C.1.2: initials
• C.1.3: address

And the information of the vehicle:

• A: vehicle registration number
• Report code (last 4 digits of VIN)
• B: date of first admission
• D: brand and vehicle type
• E: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• G: weight in running order
• I: date of registration
• Date of registration in the Netherlands
• K: type-approval number
• P: cylinder capacity, power and fuel
• Q: power / mass
• S: seats

In practice, as the owner or holder, you only receive the vehicle registration card and the registration code. In some cases, you will not receive the registration code, for example with a lease motorcycle. 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.

Validation vehicle registration certificate

A vehicle registration certificate is usually valid until a motorcycle changes owners (usually when the motorcycle is sold). Despite the address of the owner is also mentioned on the vehicle registration card, if you move, you do not have to change these details. The RDW will automatically receive the changed details from the municipality and changes 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 certificate can become invalid if it does not meet certain requirements anymore. For example, it should always be clearly legible.

Indemnity certificate

This is 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 should therefore be kept well.

Obligation to surrender vehicle registration certificate

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

If you are too far behind on paying taxes or do you have a lot of outstanding fines, then your vehicle can 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 have to be provided with a vehicle registration number. Disability vehicles do not need a vehicle registration number. However, they do need an insurance sticker.

Trailers with a maximum weight of up to 750kg do not have their own vehicle registration number but must have a white number plate with the vehicle registration number of the pulling 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 of these number plates.

Number plate heavy trailer
This number plate is for trailers with a maximum weight exceeding 750 kg. One plate is issued per vehicle.

Number plate light trailer
This number plate is for trailers with a maximum weight up to 750 kg and load carriers 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 a test drive.

Number plate taxi
This number plate is for taxis.

Number plate moped, speed pedelec and brommobiel
There are two formats of this number plate. Depending on the vehicle the smaller or wider one is used.

Number plate snorfiets
There are two formats of this number plate. Depending on the vehicle the smaller or wider one is used.

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