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New registration certificate from 1-1-2014

A new registration certificate will be introduced in the Netherlands as of 1 January 2014. The paper vehicle registration certificate (part IA, IB and part II) will be replaced by a vehicle registration certificate in credit card format (the vehicle card) and a registration code. With the arrival of the new single-piece registration certificate, there will also be drastic changes in the registration process and the registration of vehicles. The owner/holder of a vehicle does not have to do anything to obtain a new registration certificate in credit card format, but will receive it upon purchase of a new or used vehicle. If you wish to change to the new registration certificate sooner, you can apply for a replacement certificate via the website of the National Vehicle Authority (RDW). The owner/holder of the vehicle will then receive the new registration card and the corresponding registration code by post. After receiving these documents, the paper copy can be destroyed as it is no longer valid.

Within 5 years everyone will have a new license plate?

It is expected that within 5 years all paper registration certificates will be replaced by the new registration certificate. Incidentally, owners of old-timers may keep the paper/linen document and will receive a registration card and code in addition, which they will need for formalities.

The registration card and the registration code will apply to all registered vehicles from 2014. Special registration plates, however, will retain their paper registration certificates. Vehicles belonging to, for example, the Royal Family, diplomats and the Ministry of Defence, as well as exceptional transport, border traffic, transit registration plates, temporary registration plates and commercial registration plates will retain the paper version.

Registration code will become important with the new registration certificate

The current Transfer Certificate (Part II or Copy Part III) will be abolished and replaced by the 9-digit registration code. You will need this code for registration processes such as transferring the vehicle to the name of another owner, applying for or cancelling the registration at the vehicle registration desk and exporting or scrapping the vehicle.

The registration code is issued in 2 parts and can only be used once. Once the code has been used, the owner/holder will receive a new code. Others than the owner/holder are not authorised to use the full code.

The new owner/holder receives the first 4 digits of the registration code after the registration at the vehicle registration desk or at an RDW-approved institution. RDW processes this registration on the same working day and then also sends the registration card and the second part of the registration code (5 digits), so that the owner/holder receives these on the next delivery day. With a (costly) urgent application, it is possible to receive the registration card and the second half of the registration code on the same day.

Duty to show registration certificate?registration certificate

Have you had the number plate put in your name (transfer), but not yet received the registration card? In that case, you may drive without a licence plate for 14 days after the transfer. When you are abroad, you are still required to present the registration card.

What is a registration desk and where are they located?

The license plate counter is a place where individuals and companies can have their vehicles registered and/or apply for, extend or lift a suspension.
Currently, the license plate counters are the inspection stations of the RDW, the RDW counters in Veendam and Zoetermeer, and authorized branches of PostNL.
In time, there should be more license plate counters nationwide, and with the central issuance of the license plate by the RDW in 2014, other agencies may also be eligible to become RDW license plate counters. The RDW regulates the recognition of these counters.

In the future, there should also be a digital licence plate counter. This would simplify and speed up the transfer even more. However, this will only be possible once it can be verified with certainty that the person wanting to transfer is actually the owner/holder. Unfortunately, the current DigiD is not yet sufficient to guarantee this.

How does the registration process work?

First registration of a new car

The buyer identifies himself at the dealer with a valid ID. The dealer will then put the vehicle's registration number in the buyer's name and provide him with a form (the so-called "registration report"). This registration report contains the registration number and the first half (4 digits) of the registration code. This registration code is needed when selling the vehicle, so it must be kept.

Once in possession of the registration certificate, the customer can take the purchased vehicle with him. At that time, there is no registration certificate. However, this does not pose a risk, as the police will be able to see from the vehicle registration online when the customer is stopped that the car has been transferred and is registered in the customer's name.

The registration by the dealer will be processed by RDW on the same day. The registration certificate (the vehicle registration card) is prepared that same working day and sent by post together with the second half (5 digits) of the registration code directly to the customer, who receives the documents on the following delivery day. With the receipt of these documents, the customer has everything: the vehicle registration card and the full 9-digit registration code. It is important that the registration card and the registration code are kept separate.

Front of new registration certificate

registration certificate

New registration certificate back

back of registration certificate

 

Change of owner

The owner of the vehicle hands the buyer the registration card and the registration code. With these, the buyer can go to a registration desk (to be found on the RDW website) to have the car registered.

The new owner must identify himself at the registration desk and present the registration card and the registration code.
Once the license plate counter has approved and entered all the data, the registration card is cut in the presence of the new owner and the registration code expires.
The new owner then receives the first half of a new registration code as well as a release certificate intended for the previous owner (the selling party). Once the old owner is in possession of the indemnification certificate, the key transfer can take place. That same day, the registration is processed by the RDW and the new registration card and the second half of the new registration code are sent to the new owner of the vehicle, who receives the pieces the next delivery day. With the receipt of these pieces, the new owner now has everything complete; the registration card and the full 9-digit registration code. It is important to keep the registration card and the registration code separate.
The old owner has the indemnification certificate, is thus indemnified and no longer runs any risk regarding the sold car. However, it is important that the indemnification certificate is kept properly.

Suspension and de-suspension of a licence plate

If the car is not used for a longer period of time, for example due to a long stay abroad, the license plate can be suspended. This removes the obligations regarding the MOT, road tax and insurance (the insurance policy must still be suspended separately). Once the license plate is suspended, the car may no longer be on public roads, and it must be parked on private property (for example, in the driveway or garage) or stored in a garage.

You can easily suspend and remove a licence plate online via the RDW website, by entering the licence plate and personal DigiD code and making an electronic payment. If you wish, you can also suspend or remove a licence plate at a vehicle registration desk.

Suspension online via the RDW site

The owner/holder of the vehicle can log in with DigiD via Online Vehicle Suspension on the RDW website. Next, the license plate and the registration code have to be entered, as well as the date until which the license plate has to be suspended. After paying via iDEAL, the vehicle is immediately suspended and the vehicle registration number now also states that the vehicle has been suspended. Unlike before, no new documents are created. The customer should therefore keep the existing registration card in a safe place, because it will be valid again once the vehicle comes out of the suspension. The report containing the end date of the suspension of the vehicle can be printed and should be kept. The registration code is not used for this operation and therefore remains valid.

Suspension via the licence plate counter

The vehicle registration certificate and the registration code must be presented at the registration desk. The date until which the vehicle was suspended is then recorded in the vehicle registry. Unlike before, no new documents will be created. The customer should keep the existing registration card in a safe place, because it will be valid again once the vehicle comes out of the suspension.

The owner/holder receives a report from the vehicle registration desk containing the end date of the suspension of the vehicle, as well as the first four digits of the new registration code. The second part of the new registration code is sent by RDW to the owner/holder by letter.

Extending the suspension

Extending the suspension goes in the same way as applying for the (first) suspension.

Termination of suspension (de-suspension)

The suspension ends automatically at the end of the period specified by the owner/holder. The suspension is then also terminated in the vehicle registration register. The old vehicle registration card is automatically valid again after the end of the suspension period. If the suspension was requested while the vehicle still had a paper vehicle registration document, then the owner/holder will receive a registration card and registration code at the end of the suspension period. The paper document is then no longer valid.
If the owner/holder wishes to terminate the suspension before the specified de-suspension date, this can be done through the RDW website or through the registration desk. Through the RDW website, this can be done in the same way as suspending. At the license plate counter, the owner/holder uses the full registration code. He then receives a transaction report containing the date and time of the de-suspension and the first 4 digits of a new registration code. The RDW then sends the second part of the registration code by letter.
Once the vehicle is de-suspended, the car may be allowed back on the road with the existing registration card.

Importing a vehicle into the Netherlands

The buyer must take the vehicle to an RDW testing station to check and establish the identity of the vehicle. At that time, the obligations of the Tax and Customs Administration must also be met. At the inspection station, the prospective owner/holder can have the name, address and identification details recorded while waiting for the vehicle to be assessed. If the application for the licence plate is approved, the identification details can be used for the registration of the imported vehicle.

If all obligations have been fulfilled, RDW sends a new registration card to the registered owner/holder, together with the registration code and the registered data. The new owner/holder then has to have the licence plates made at a recognised licence plate factory on presentation of the licence card.

When a vehicle has to be transported from abroad to the Netherlands, the vehicle needs a valid third-party insurance. This temporary car insurance can be arranged with us. You will get a 15-day WA insurance from € 109.00.

 

New registration certificate from 1-1-2014

Exporting a vehicle to a foreign country

The foreign buyer receives the vehicle registration card, the registration code and both licence plates. With these, he goes to an RDW-approved dealer authorised to provide 'export services' or to an RDW desk. There he will receive the certificate of indemnification for the previous owner and a paper registration certificate part II, which is needed together with the registration card for the re-registration of the vehicle abroad.

The registration code will no longer be valid at that time, and the yellow number plates will be destroyed. With the registration card, the vehicle registration certificate part II and the white number plates (with the existing licence plate), the new owner may drive the car to the border himself (provided that the vehicle has a valid MOT). In this way, the vehicle disappears from the Dutch roads and from the Dutch administration. The vehicle will then receive the status 'export' in the vehicle registration system.

When a car is traded in, the garage owner sometimes already knows that it is destined for a foreign country. In that case, he will not only provide the customer with a certificate of release from liability, but will also ask him to retain the registration card in order to give it abroad. He does need the customer's written permission for this.

Also in case of export of a vehicle by road, the vehicle must have a valid third-party insurance. Take out this insurance directly online via our export insurance. This insurance includes a green card.

Dismantling or scrapping the car should it be approved?

If the vehicle is dismantled (scrapped) at a dismantling company recognized by the RDW, the owner/holder of the vehicle must hand over the registration card and the registration code to the dismantling company. The registration card must then be cut on the spot so that it cannot be misused.
The yellow license plates must also be removed from the car and destroyed.

As a final administrative act, the vehicle must be deregistered from the RDW by the dismantling company, and the owner is given a certificate of release.
With this, the car is not only gone from the road, but also from the vehicle registration register.

If the owner/holder no longer has a (full) registration certificate, the vehicle can still be dismantled. To this end, a dismantling code (= a temporary document number and registration code) can be requested via the RDW website. A dismantling code is then issued that can be used to go to an RDW recognised dismantling company to have the dismantling notification carried out. The dismantling code is then used instead of the registration certificate and the registration code.

What to do when a car is bought from a garage/shop that does not have online registration?

When the vehicle is purchased from a garage or shop that does not offer online registration, the garage/shop will give the buyer the registration code and a temporary document number instead of the registration card. With this temporary document number and the registration code, the buyer can then go to a registration desk. If the registration is approved, the vehicle and the buyer will be linked in the vehicle registration register.

The used registration code is thus immediately invalidated. The buyer will receive a certificate of release from liability for the seller and a report containing, among other things, the first part of the new registration code. When the indemnification certificate has been handed over to the previous owner, all formalities have been completed. The buyer takes the car with him and the registration card and the second part of the new registration code are created on the same working day at the RDW and sent by post to the new owner, who receives the documents on the following delivery day.

Authorize an RDW-approved company should it?

For a (first) registration or transfer at the vehicle registration desk, the new owner/holder must in principle appear in person, but it is also possible to authorise a company recognised by the RDW to register the vehicle for the owner/holder. The company then fills in an authorisation form on the RDW website and needs a valid proof of identity from the new owner/holder. The customer then signs the printout and an employee of the authorised company can take the signed authorisation form to the vehicle registration office to have the registration completed.

In doubt about whether the registration card belongs to the vehicle in question?

Do you have doubts about whether the registration card belongs to the vehicle in question or if it is a forgery? If so, a check can be carried out via the RDW website. Via 'validation document number', the document number of the vehicle registration certificate and the registration number on the card can be entered and a check can be made as to whether the combination is correct or incorrect according to the vehicle registry.

What to do in case of loss or theft of the registration card and/or the registration code?

Registration card
If the owner/holder no longer has the registration certificate, a new registration card must be requested from the RDW. The RDW then sends a new registration card and a new registration code to the owner/applicant. The registration card then has the same registration number, but a different document number.
The cost for this is €31.50.

Registration code
If the owner/holder still has the registration card but no longer has the registration code, he can request a new registration code via the RDW website.
The RDW will then send the code to the address of the registered owner/holder.
The cost for this is (expected to be) € 20.00.

Apply for an urgent registration card
If the owner/holder no longer has the registration certificate and/or the registration code but needs a replacement registration certificate, a new registration code or both on the same day, he can opt for an urgent request.
The cost of an urgent delivery of a registration card with registration code is €200.00.
Incidentally, no money will be refunded if the old registration card and/or code is later recovered.

New registration card rates

First registration of the vehicle in the vehicle registration register: €39.00
Having the vehicle transferred to a new owner's name: €9.70
Express application for registration certificate + code, delivered to your home before 18:00: € 200.00
Emergency vehicle registration certificate + code, collected from RDW Veendam: € 50.00
Lost/stolen registration card; application for replacement card and code: € 31.50
Lost registration code; application for new code: € 1
Export certificate abolished; on exportation, exporter receives a supplement to part II made out in his name: € 9.54

More information
More information can be found on the RDW website
RDW

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