What prerequisites must drivers and vehicles fulfil to be legally on the road?
To lawfully participate in traffic, you are required to:
- Possess a valid driver’s license for the (type of) vehicle you are operating
- Have with you a vehicle registration card or equivalent documentation
- Display two sanctioned registration plates with identical registration numbers on the vehicle
- Ensure payment of the vehicle ownership tax
- Have your vehicle insured
The subsequent sections discuss various types of driving licenses, license plates and the vehicle registration certificate. Further down, you’ll find more information regarding vehicle ownership tax and vehicle insurance.
Motor vehicle tax
As a vehicle owner, you are liable to pay an ownership tax, otherwise known as a motor vehicle tax. The procedure is as follows: you get your vehicle registered in your name at the RDW (Rijksdienst for Wegverkeer, National Transport Agency). The RDW then forwards your details to the Tax Office (Belastingdienst) , which in turn automatically sends you a ‘motor vehicle tax assessment’.
A popular name for motor vehicle tax is ’road tax’. This is because the tax used to be mainly used for maintenance of the road network. The tax is now used for general purposes.
Motor Vehicle Tax Level
The amount of motor vehicle tax you pay varies based on:
- The type of motor vehicle you operate
- Your vehicle’s weight
- Your vehicle’s age
- The type of fuel consumed by your vehicle
- How fuel-efficient your vehicle is
- Your province of residence
- If you use your vehicle for personal or business purposes.
No or reduced tax: You pay no or reduced motor vehicle tax if your car:
- Was first used over 40 years ago
- Carries a foreign license plate
- Is equipped with a wheelchair accessible feature.
Insurance
Dutch: verzekering
You must insure your vehicle to the extent that if you cause an accident, your insurance fully compensates for the inflicted damage.
Third-Party Insurance
Such obligatory insurance is termed ‘legal liability insurance’ (wettelijke aansprakelijkheidsverzekering or WA). If covered only by third-party insurance, your inflicted damages are covered, whereas you pay for your own damages.
Fully Comprehensive Insurance
If you prefer your insurer to cover damages caused by your fault, subscribe to a combined third-party liability and comprehensive insurance. This fully comprehensive insurance is primarily used for new vehicles.
International Motor Insurance Certificate
This (electronic) document indicates where you are insured, the insured licence plate number, and the validity of the insurance. Prior to July 1, 2020, the certificate was printed on green paper, hence it is also known as the ’green card’ (groene kaart).
In the Netherlands, it’s not mandatory to keep the insurance certificate on hand. However, certain countries do require this.