What is BPM?

BPM is the abbreviation for "tax on passenger cars and motorcycles. You are required to pay this in the Netherlands for every passenger car, van and motorcycle registered in the Netherlands. You also have to pay when these vehicles are not registered in the Netherlands and a Dutch resident drives them on the road in the Netherlands. As an entrepreneur, when buying a van, you do not owe BPM for sales tax. When it comes to car insurance, whether or not you have to deduct BPM can affect the amount of the premium.

A car or motorcycle is not registered (put on license plates) until BPM has been declared and paid. Only then may you take the vehicle onto public roads. In the case of a delivery van, if you are not an entrepreneur or do not meet the entrepreneurial scheme, you must declare and pay this within one month after registration. You may drive it on public roads during that month.

In the following cases, BPM has to be paid:

• If you want to register a passenger car, delivery van or motorcycle with the RDW. You pay for a delivery van if it was put into use for the first time on or after July 1, 2005, and you are not an entrepreneur or do not meet the entrepreneur scheme.
• You are driving on public roads with a van that has been converted into a passenger car. This is a van on which BPM has not yet been paid or for which you have not yet recovered it.
• You get a passenger car, van or motorcycle from abroad and want to register it with the RDW.
• You convert a van put into service before July 1, 2005, into a passenger car.
• You no longer meet the conditions of the entrepreneurial scheme, the disability scheme or the cab or public transportation scheme.
• You live in the Netherlands and drive a passenger car, van or motorcycle here with a foreign license plate.
• You live in the Netherlands and want to drive here for longer than 14 days in a passenger car, motorcycle or van with a foreign license plate that you borrowed, rented or leased abroad.
• You modify the engine of a passenger car within three years of registration such that the CO2 emissions are higher than the CO2 emissions on which tax has been paid.

For a passenger car, van or camping car with a CO2 emission of 0 grams per kilometre, no BPM has to be paid.

You also do not pay BPM for a passenger car that was first put into service on or after January 1, 2009 and is equipped with:

• A petrol engine with CO2 emissions of up to 110 grams per kilometre.
• A diesel engine with CO2 emissions of up to 95 grams per kilometre.

With a new car or motorbike, it is ultimately the importer who transfers the BPM to the tax authorities. The dealer puts the amount on the customer's account and transfers it to the importer.

In other cases, you use the 'BPM return' form. Fill it in and send it to one of the sixteen BPM declaration points of the Tax and Customs Administration. After checking, you will receive a payment notification with the amount, reference and account number. You can use this to pay via your bank.

Click here for a schedule of fees.

When you import a used car, you don't pay the full amount. You only have to pay part of the original amount. This portion is also called residual BPM. This is calculated based on several factors, such as the age of the car and mileage, for example. This drops, just as a new car drops in value.

Calculating BPM involves calculating the amount you have to pay. For a passenger car, you make this calculation based on the CO2 emissions of your car. For a van, camper or motorcycle the BPM is a percentage of the net catalog price. Do you want to import a car from abroad? By calculating this you can determine whether or not importing a particular car pays off. Here you can see per vehicle how to calculate the BPM.

You can reclaim BPM if you:

• A passenger car used for taxi transport or public transport.
• A van used for transporting a disabled person and his wheelchair or other assistive device.

Entrepreneurs do not pay BPM when purchasing a van. This exemption is granted automatically if you are an entrepreneur for sales tax purposes. However, the amount does count towards the additional taxable benefit. If you do not meet the entrepreneur rule, you must declare and pay the BPM within one month after registration. You may use the car on public roads during that month.

You can arrange your car insurance online at Alpina! Do you prefer personal contact? Our customer service is happy to help you find an answer to your question as quickly as possible. Call 088-6883700 for help at your convenience.