Buying a second-hand car, an occasion, in the Netherlands is mostly about getting one document right: the kenteken transfer. Get that wrong and you can be liable for someone else’s tax and fines. Here is how it works and the words that protect you.
The word: occasion
An occasion (or tweedehands auto) is a used car. You will find them at an occasiondealer or privately (van een particulier) on sites like Marktplaats. The looks-French word is standard in Dutch car ads.
The heart of it: the kenteken transfer
The kenteken is the vehicle registration (and number plate). When you buy, it must be put in your name, the tenaamstelling. As the RDW (the vehicle authority) sets out:
- The seller gives you the tenaamstellingscode (a code from the vehicle papers).
- You take it with your ID to a post office or RDW counter.
- The registration is transferred to you, and the seller receives a vrijwaringsbewijs (indemnity certificate).
That vrijwaringsbewijs is crucial: it proves the seller is no longer responsible for the car’s tax or fines. Both sides should make sure the transfer happens at the moment of sale.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| het kenteken | registration / plate |
| de tenaamstelling | registration in your name |
| de tenaamstellingscode | transfer code |
| het vrijwaringsbewijs | indemnity certificate |
What to check before you buy
| Check | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Valid roadworthiness test | de APK |
| Mileage (against tamper register) | de kilometerstand / NAP |
| Open recalls / tax owed | via the kenteken on the RDW site |
| Overall condition | de aankoopkeuring (pre-purchase inspection) |
The APK is the mandatory periodic inspection, the subject of the garage and APK lexicon. The NAP register logs odometer readings to catch rolled-back mileage. A pre-purchase aankoopkeuring, e.g. via the ANWB, is wise for an older car.
After you buy
- Insurance: at least WA, see the insurances every expat needs.
- Road tax: motorrijtuigenbelasting (wegenbelasting), paid to the Belastingdienst, automatically due once the car is in your name.
- If you import a car instead, mind the BPM.
Guides for newcomers like IamExpat cover buying and registering a car.
Where it connects
Buying a car sits with the rest of driving admin: getting a Dutch licence, the garage and APK, importing and BPM, and parking permits and paid parking.
The bottom line
A used car is an occasion; the deal turns on transferring the kenteken to your name (tenaamstelling) at a post office or RDW point with the seller’s code, after which the seller gets a vrijwaringsbewijs. Before buying, check the APK, the kilometerstand via NAP, and the RDW record. Then sort WA insurance and road tax. Get the paperwork right and you drive away safely.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the used-car vocabulary, occasion, kenteken, tenaamstelling, vrijwaring, APK, in five-minute lessons built on real deals, so you buy a second-hand car without getting caught out.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ‘occasion’ in the Netherlands?
An occasion is the Dutch word for a used or second-hand car (also tweedehands auto). You will see occasions advertised by dealers (occasiondealer) and privately (particulier) on sites like Marktplaats and AutoTrack. Buying one means transferring the kenteken (vehicle registration) to your name and sorting insurance and road tax. The word looks French but is everywhere in Dutch car ads.
How does transferring the kenteken (registration) work when buying a car?
The kenteken (registration/number plate) must be put in your name, the tenaamstelling. The seller gives you the tenaamstellingscode (a code from the vehicle documents); you take it with your ID to a post office or RDW counter, where the registration is transferred to you. The seller then receives a vrijwaringsbewijs (indemnity certificate) proving they are no longer responsible for the car, tax, or fines, so both parties should ensure this is done at the moment of sale.
What should I check before buying a used car in the Netherlands?
Check that the APK (the compulsory periodic roadworthiness inspection) is valid and how long it runs; verify the kilometerstand (mileage) against the NAP register (which logs odometer readings to catch tampering); confirm there are no open recalls or outstanding road tax; and look up the car’s details on the RDW site using the kenteken. For a private sale, get a vrijwaringsbewijs at transfer. A pre-purchase inspection (aankoopkeuring), e.g. via the ANWB, is wise.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for buying a car?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the used-car vocabulary you need, occasion, kenteken, tenaamstelling, vrijwaring, APK, kilometerstand, in five-minute real-situation lessons, so you can buy a second-hand car confidently and avoid a bad deal.
