Vehicle Registration, APK & Mandatory Insurance
Vehicle Registration Certificate (Kentekenbewijs)
The Dutch registration certificate consists of:
- Kentekencard (Plastic card): Contains vehicle technical specifications and owner identity. Must be presented to police upon request.
- Tenaamstellingscode (Registration code): Needed for vehicle sale or transfer. Keep safely at home, never in the car!
APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) Inspection Schedules
The APK checks vehicle safety systems (brakes, tyres, lights, chassis) and environmental emissions.
| Powertrain Type | 1st Inspection | 2nd Inspection | 3rd Inspection | Subsequent Inspections | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol & Hybrid | After 4 years | After 2 years | After 2 years | Every 1 year | 4 - 2 - 2 - 1 |
| Diesel, LPG & Electric | After 3 years | After 1 year | After 1 year | Every 1 year | 3 - 1 - 1 |
- If the APK expires, you may not drive on public roads (fine from RDW without traffic stop).
Mandatory Insurance (WA-Verzekering)
Under the WAM (Wet Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering Motorrijtuigen):
- Every motor vehicle must have at least Third-Party Liability Insurance (WA).
- Covers damage and bodily injury caused to other people and their property.
- Driving without insurance is an administrative and criminal offense with heavy fines.
Essential Statutory Rules (RVV 1990)
- APK (Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection): checks vehicle safety and exhaust emissions.
- Petrol & hybrid cars: inspection schedule is 4-2-2-1.
- Diesel, LPG, and pure electric cars: inspection schedule is 3-1-1.
- Third-party liability insurance (WA-verzekering): legally mandatory under the WAM before entering public roads.
New petrol car: First APK after 4 years, then after 2 years, then after 2 years, then every year (4-2-2-1). Diesel/EV: 3-1-1.
Check Your Understanding (4Questions)
Immediate CBR validation with instant answers and statutory RVV 1990 legal context. Scores persist in your module dashboard.
For what maximum duration in hours can a police officer impose an on-the-spot driving ban (rijverbod) due to alcohol or substance impairment? Enter the number of hours.
By how many km/h must a driver exceed the speed limit on a normal road for the police to immediately confiscate their driving licence on the spot? Enter the number in km/h.
What is the maximum permissible mass (toegestane maximummassa) in kg of a motor vehicle that you may drive with a standard Category B driving licence? Enter the mass in kg.
With a standard Category B licence, you may always tow a light trailer with a maximum permitted mass up to how many kg? Enter the mass in kg.