Dutch customs and vehicle approval
Selected requirements for a used passenger car imported from Korea and cleared through Dutch Customs for Dutch registration. Customs clearance, RDW vehicle approval and BPM tax formalities are separate. Relocation relief, temporary use, prior European clearance or registration and specialist or dealer procedures require their own review; no particular vehicle is approved by this guide.
Sources reviewedDeclare a non-EU vehicle to Customs
A car purchased outside the EU must be declared to Dutch Customs at entry. Customs determines the import duty and VAT due. Relocation relief is a separate conditional procedure.
Confirm the RDW approval route
Vehicles without European or national type approval need individual RDW approval. Testing is normally in Lelystad; accepted prior approval or registration evidence, relocation and older-vehicle cases can follow different inspection-station routes.
Check technical compliance and damage history
The first-registration date determines the applicable technical requirements. Water damage or other serious damage also requires repair approval before a Dutch registration number can be issued. Arrange third-party liability insurance for the registered car.
File the BPM return after RDW approval
For a passenger car bought abroad for Dutch registration and road use, file the BPM vehicle-tax return after RDW approval. Check any exemption separately: relocation relief does not remove the obligation to file.
Documents and registration
Check registration and purchase records
RDW recommends checking that the foreign registration certificate is complete and its VIN matches the car, and obtaining a purchase invoice or signed sales agreement.
Approval evidence depends on the vehicle
If relying on European type approval, check the CoC evidence; RDW accepts an available digital CoC. Vehicles not built to European type approval have no CoC. Some technical requirements need a European certificate or test report.
Confirm before purchase
Still unconfirmed for your vehicle. Check with the relevant authority or receiving agent before purchase.
- RDW acceptance of the specific Korean vehicle, its approval records, emissions, technical specification, damage repairs and any required modifications or test reports.
- The complete customs and registration file for the actual applicant, including private/company eligibility, origin evidence, tax relief, temporary use and any prior European customs clearance or registration.
- Vehicle-specific duty, VAT, BPM, inspection and registration costs, local road-use restrictions, freight arrangements and timing. No preferential tariff is assumed from shipment in Korea.
- The association's US$100 condition inspection is separate from RDW approval, Dutch periodic technical inspection (APK) and any required European certification.
Shipping & costs
For Netherlands, specify the receiving city and importer. Request a written offer showing the route, transport stages, delivery point, insurance and included charges. Confirm vehicle eligibility and required approvals before booking.
What goes into the cost?
Send the vehicle listing, quantity and delivery point. Eligibility and required approvals must be confirmed before arranging shipment. Freight and departure dates need a current offer.
Vehicle purchase
Confirm the vehicle price, invoice and payment recipient.
Vehicle inspection — US$100
Our pre-purchase condition inspection; separate from required government testing or certification.
Korea-side preparation
Request itemized inland transport, export documents, handling and loading.
International freight & insurance
Confirm the route, shipping method, insurance, quote validity and exclusions.
Destination charges
Ask your receiving agent about handling, customs, taxes, registration and delivery costs.
Inspection & next steps
- Send your vehicle details. Share a listing or your preferred model, year and budget.
- Confirm eligibility, then inspect — US$100. Our vehicle condition inspection is separate from government testing or certification.
- Review the shipping offer. Confirm the route, costs and required approvals before booking.
Official sources & review dates
View 7 official sources and review notes
Source publication or amendment dates and our review dates are listed separately.
- Cars and motorcycles — buying a vehicle outside the EU ↗Douane Nederland — Dutch CustomsSource updated: Reviewed: The official page states publication on 26 June 2025 and an update on 25 June 2026. The non-EU purchase section was read separately from temporary-use and relocation provisions.
- Getting a car, motorcycle or moped from outside the EU approved ↗RDW — Netherlands Vehicle AuthoritySource updated: Not stated for this guidanceReviewed: The live official approval procedure and its Dutch counterpart were read and compared. The scope, alternative inspection routes and damage-repair requirement agree. No publication or amendment date is displayed; the footer year is not an update date.
- Check the technical requirements for your vehicle ↗RDW — Netherlands Vehicle AuthoritySource updated: Not stated for this guidanceReviewed: Directly read the technical-guidance page linked from RDW's live non-EU approval procedure. It requires the first-registration date to select the applicable requirements and identifies cases needing European certificates or test reports. No content update date is stated.
- Buying a motor vehicle abroad — how to file the BPM return ↗Belastingdienst — Netherlands Tax AdministrationSource updated: Not stated for this guidanceReviewed: The current filing service explicitly places the BPM return after RDW approval and distinguishes individual and business filing channels. No publication or amendment date is stated.
- When do I need to file a BPM return? ↗Belastingdienst — Netherlands Tax AdministrationSource updated: Not stated for this guidanceReviewed: The live official page was read for passenger cars purchased abroad for Dutch registration and road use. Its exemption section distinguishes tax relief from the obligation to file. No content update date is stated.
- Tips when importing a vehicle — documents and purchase records ↗RDW — Netherlands Vehicle AuthoritySource updated: Not stated for this guidanceReviewed: Read the live RDW import guidance linked by its non-EU approval page. These are purchase-document checks, not an exhaustive statutory customs checklist. No content update date is displayed.
- Requesting a Certificate of Conformity ↗RDW — Netherlands Vehicle AuthoritySource updated: Not stated for this guidanceReviewed: Read RDW's current paper/digital CoC guidance and the vehicles-without-CoC section. The stated 29 November 2026 manufacturer submission obligation is future-dated and is not treated as already effective. No page update date is stated.