When planning to bring a car from the Netherlands, start by asking what you will have in your hands after the RDW export procedure and how the car will travel onwards.
When planning to bring a car from the Netherlands, start by asking what you will have in your hands after the RDW export procedure and how the car will travel onwards. For registration abroad, you need either the registration card returned after the export procedure with a corner cut off or the paper registration document Tenaamstellingsbewijs (Deel 1B), in both cases together with the export document exportbewijs (kentekenbewijs deel II). The 14 days allowed after deregistration for export concern Dutch public roads; they do not establish permission to drive along the entire route to Estonia. RDW export guidance.
Agree on the handover of documents and transport before deregistration and before spending money on travel. Before paying a deposit, check the condition and authority to sell; before transport, check the documents and driving requirements; before Estonian registration, check the technical data and tax treatment. This guide covers an M1 passenger car with up to seven seats bought by a private individual living in Estonia.
Agree on the sequence of export steps before buying
Ask the seller who will arrange deregistration for export, where it will take place and when you will receive the original documents. RDW recommends completing the export procedure in the foreign buyer’s name. For the export procedure, you normally submit the registration card together with the code known as the tenaamstellingscode, or the paper registration document Tenaamstellingsbewijs (Deel 1B) together with the transfer certificate Overschrijvingsbewijs. An exception applies to the registered owner at an RDW service counter or inspection station; before the procedure, confirm with RDW which documents you need to submit in your situation. The old number plates are surrendered. After the procedure, the registration card with a corner cut off or the paper document Tenaamstellingsbewijs (Deel 1B) is returned to you, and you are issued with the export document exportbewijs (kentekenbewijs deel II). For registration abroad, you need both: the returned registration document and the export document. The Overschrijvingsbewijs submitted before the procedure is not the exportbewijs issued during the export procedure. Check the existing original documents before the procedure and, at handover, both original documents needed for registration abroad. RDW requirements.
Include the car’s VIN, price, documents to be handed over and each party’s responsibilities for arranging the export in the purchase agreement. Keep the final payment and handover terms clear: a verbal promise from the seller to send the documents later leaves you uncertain about when you can proceed with registration.
As at 4 October 2026, the service fee for an export procedure handled directly by RDW is EUR 12. A private company sets its own export service price. Ask separately whether the quote includes making the number plates and providing insurance: RDW’s EUR 12 does not automatically cover these costs or transport. RDW service fee and export company pricing.
Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying RDW: vehicle export
Check the car and seller before making a binding payment
Compare the VIN on the car with the VIN on the registration card or the paper document Tenaamstellingsbewijs (Deel 1B), and with the VIN on the sale document. Establish whether the party you are entering into the contract with has the right to sell the car; if the seller differs from the person named in the documents, ask for authorisation or documents proving the transfer of ownership. Check that service invoices and mileage entries are consistent over time, and ask for repair records relating to any damage. Historical data, mandatory roadworthiness testing and a pre-purchase condition inspection serve different purposes. A clean history alone does not guarantee that the car is in good condition. Transpordiamet’s recommendation for checks before buying.
The physical inspection should inform your purchase decision and repair budget. Ask for the body panel fit, paintwork, underbody, fluid leaks, brakes and tyres to be examined. A cold start, diagnostics and, where possible, a lawful test drive help assess whether the advert’s description matches reality. Focus on the condition of this particular car and the additional costs that any identified faults could mean for you.
Before the inspection, ask what access is available to the car and its underbody. If the seller does not allow an important part to be assessed, treat this as an unresolved risk in your purchase decision. Obtain a specific quote from a workshop for the cost of repairing a fault.
CarAudit EE: current public offer, directly read in browser Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying
Book the inspection before fixing your return journey
The Netherlands is among CarAudit’s publicly listed inspection countries. Under the offer as at 4 October 2026, the standard inspection costs EUR 289, including VAT and the technician’s travel costs, and covers up to 270 inspection points. The report is ready within 48 hours after the inspection, excluding weekends and public holidays. The inspection appointment must be agreed separately; the report deadline does not run from the time you place the order. CarAudit’s offer.
Before ordering, confirm the VIN, the car’s exact location, the seller’s consent and access. For an electric car or plug-in hybrid, ask whether the particular vehicle is compatible with the EUR 179 battery inspection add-on and what can be measured on it. An unrestricted battery condition test cannot be promised for every car. Read what we inspect and the frequently asked questions; clarify any special conditions through the contact form.
CarAudit provides an independent pre-purchase inspection. Transport, customs procedures and registration require separate arrangements, and the report is not a guarantee that the car will remain free of faults.
CarAudit EE: current public offer, directly read in browser Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying
Check the route if driving yourself; ask a carrier for a precise quote
After deregistration for export, the car may be driven on Dutch public roads for 14 days. For a passenger car, this requires insurance, a valid Dutch roadworthiness inspection, known as the APK, and white export number plates. RDW’s explanation of driving after export deregistration.
Before deciding to drive the car yourself, check the requirements of every country you will pass through and the validity of the insurance along the whole route. Ask the insurer for written confirmation covering the car, dates and territory. The Dutch 14-day rule does not, by itself, establish whether driving on export plates is permitted in the next country. Do not plan the journey on the assumption that missing registration or insurance can somehow be replaced along the way.
To obtain a carrier’s quote, provide the collection and delivery addresses, VIN and information about whether the car can move. Ask what the price includes, how loading and unloading will be handled, and what arrangements apply to recording damage and liability. Photograph the car at handover. Compare the carrier’s total price with the full budget for driving it yourself: travel to the Netherlands, insurance, plates, fuel, overnight accommodation and any charges along the route. These are two alternatives, not costs to add together into a single transport total.
Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying RDW: vehicle export
In Estonia, start with the documents and pre-registration inspection
In Estonia, an imported vehicle must undergo a pre-registration conformity inspection. A car put into road use must be registered within five working days of being put into use in Estonia. The deadline does not automatically start when the car crosses the border, nor does it give permission to drive without valid registration or insurance. Transpordiamet’s registration guidance.
Keep the original documents proving the transfer of ownership, the used car’s registration certificate with both parts if they have been issued, an identity document and, where a representative is involved, proof of authority to act. After the Dutch export procedure, specifically check that you have either the returned registration card with a corner cut off or the paper document Tenaamstellingsbewijs (Deel 1B), as well as the export document exportbewijs (kentekenbewijs deel II) in either case. Estonian document requirements; Dutch export documents.
A certificate of conformity, or CoC, is required for a new vehicle, but it cannot be treated as an unconditionally mandatory document for every used car. Ask Transpordiamet, using the specific VIN, whether the existing documents provide sufficient evidence of the technical data and type approval. Clarify this before buying if there are gaps in the documents or the car’s details differ from the advert. Technical data required for registration.
Transpordiamet: registration RDW: vehicle export
Assess age and mileage together when checking VAT
For VAT purposes, a car is used only if more than six months have passed since first use and its mileage exceeds 6,000 km. If at least one of the opposite conditions applies — no more than six months since first use or mileage of no more than 6,000 km — the car is new for VAT purposes. Exactly six months or exactly 6,000 km fall on the new-vehicle side of the boundary. For example, an eight-month-old car with 6,000 km is new for this calculation. EU VAT rules.
An ordinary used-car purchase from another EU country does not automatically attract a further Estonian VAT charge for a private individual in Estonia. When buying from a car dealer, however, check the invoice’s tax treatment and the final price. Where standard-rate VAT is payable in Estonia, the rate is 24%. A car acquired from the EU that is new for VAT purposes must be declared and the VAT paid within ten calendar days of arrival, and no later than registration. EMTA’s vehicle purchase guidance; VAT rate.
Bringing Union goods from the Netherlands to Estonia generally involves no customs duty. However, the place of sale does not establish the goods’ customs status: if the car comes from outside the EU, check the evidence of previous customs clearance. EU purchase and customs principles; EMTA’s customs explanation.
Swiss customs: exporting vehicles EMTA: buying a vehicle abroad EMTA: standard VAT rate Your Europe: VAT on buying and selling cars
Calculate the registration fee and annual tax separately
The registration fee payable before first registration in Estonia and the annual motor vehicle tax administered by EMTA are separate payments. Both have applied since 1 January 2025. The distinction between fees and taxes.
The base amount of the registration fee for an ordinary M1 car is EUR 150. For an ordinary M1 car with WLTP data that is not fully electric, the CO₂ component is calculated progressively: grams 1–117 cost EUR 5 each, 118–150 cost EUR 10 each, 151–200 cost EUR 30 each, and each gram from the 201st onwards costs EUR 50. The maximum permitted mass component is EUR 2/kg for the mass above 2,000 kg, capped at EUR 2,000; for a plug-in hybrid, it starts above 2,200 kg. Maximum permitted mass is not kerb mass. Calculation rules in the Traffic Act.
The age coefficient reduces the additional components, not the EUR 150 base amount; the coefficient for a five-year-old car is 0.48. The NEDC CO₂ figure is multiplied by 1.21. For a fully electric car, the EUR 150 base amount is supplemented by a maximum permitted mass component of EUR 2/kg above 2,400 kg, capped at EUR 2,200, with the age coefficient applied to this additional component. Use the first registration date, CO₂ measurement method and maximum permitted mass, rather than just the model year in the advert. Use the official calculation for the exact amount; special rules apply to a car without a CO₂ figure. Registration fee formulae.
An imported M1 car subject to the registration fee is not charged the separate general administrative registration state fee of EUR 150. Standard number plates cost EUR 65. State fee exemption; number plate fee.
The annual tax’s EUR 50 base amount is supplemented by vehicle-specific CO₂ and mass components, with age adjustment applied to the additional components. In the year of first registration in Estonia, the tax is calculated proportionately from the day after registration to the end of the year. Annual tax calculation; first-year calculation.
Transpordiamet: state fees and registration fee interaction EMTA: annual tax rates and calculation EMTA: vehicle registered during the year Transpordiamet: current state fee table Current Estonian Traffic Act, §§19019,19022,19024 Transpordiamet: motor vehicle tax
Add only the actual costs of your purchase to the price
The known amounts below are as at 4 October 2026. Obtain quotes for variable costs before making the final payment. Note each quote’s validity, scope and whether VAT is included. Driving the car yourself and using a carrier are alternatives; likewise, use either RDW’s service fee or the private company’s quote for the export procedure, depending on your chosen arrangement. RDW export service pricing.
Base your repair allowance on the faults identified and the workshop’s assessment. If an important technical question remains unanswered or a required document is missing, pause the purchase until it is clarified. The checklist is intended to help you decide when to proceed with the next payment or step.
Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying RDW: vehicle export
Budget for bringing a car from the Netherlands to Estonia: known amounts as at 4 October 2026 and inputs to obtain separately
| Cost | Amount or input | Scope and checking the price |
|---|---|---|
| Car purchase price | The seller’s final written price | Ask for a contract or invoice with the VIN and details of the tax treatment. EMTA Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying EMTA: buying a vehicle abroad Your Europe: VAT on buying and selling cars |
| CarAudit standard inspection | EUR 289 | Includes VAT and the technician’s travel; confirm the location and access. Offer CarAudit EE: current public offer, directly read in browser |
| Battery inspection add-on, if wanted | EUR 179 | Additional to the standard inspection; confirm vehicle compatibility. Offer CarAudit EE: current public offer, directly read in browser Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying |
| Export procedure | EUR 12 at RDW; as quoted by a private company | Use one provider’s price; plates and insurance are separate. RDW RDW: vehicle export |
| Option A: driving yourself | Travel, plates, insurance, fuel, overnight accommodation and route charges | Obtain quotes for plates and insurance; calculate the costs from your travel plan. Dutch driving requirements: RDW RDW: vehicle export |
| Option B: a carrier | Ask the carrier for a quote for the exact addresses | Provide the VIN and whether the car can move; clarify loading and liability. Do not add this to the costs of driving yourself. |
| Estonian registration fee | EUR 150 base amount + vehicle-specific additional components | Use the technical data and age of the vehicle identified by the VIN in the official calculation. Formulae Current Estonian Traffic Act, §§19019,19022,19024 |
| Estonian standard number plates | EUR 65 | The separate general administrative registration state fee of EUR 150 is not added for this M1 vehicle. Exemption; fees Transpordiamet: state fees and registration fee interaction Transpordiamet: current state fee table |
| Annual motor vehicle tax | Annual base amount of EUR 50 + vehicle-specific components | Calculate using the vehicle data; the first year is proportionate. Rates; first year EMTA: annual tax rates and calculation EMTA: vehicle registered during the year |
| Estonian VAT, where applicable | 24% if a tax liability arises in Estonia | Establish the vehicle’s tax category and invoice treatment; it is not automatically added to a used-car purchase from the EU. EU; rate EMTA: buying a vehicle abroad EMTA: standard VAT rate Your Europe: VAT on buying and selling cars |
| Customs duty | Generally none for Union goods | For a car brought in from outside the EU, check previous customs clearance. EMTA Swiss customs: exporting vehicles EMTA: buying a vehicle abroad Your Europe: VAT on buying and selling cars |
| Rectifying faults and servicing | Workshop quote | Give the workshop the inspection findings and ask for a total price including labour and parts. Inspection recommendation Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying |
Which missing evidence should make you pause a Dutch purchase or the start of your journey?
| Evidence | Your next action | Reason to pause | Your check |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIN and authority to sell | Compare the car, documents and authorisation. Pre-purchase checks | An identity or authority-to-sell discrepancy remains unresolved. Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying | To check |
| Condition and servicing | Review the report and repair quote. Pre-purchase checks | An important fault or inspection limitation cannot be assessed. Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying | To check |
| Returned registration card with a corner cut off or paper document Tenaamstellingsbewijs (Deel 1B), in both cases together with the export document exportbewijs (kentekenbewijs deel II) | Check that both originals are handed over. RDW | The seller promises to send the missing document only later. Transpordiamet: registration RDW: vehicle export | To check |
| Driving requirements in the Netherlands and transit countries | Confirm the plates, APK, insurance and requirements of each country on the route. RDW | The only assurance is a reference to the Dutch 14 days. RDW: vehicle export | To check |
| Age, mileage and invoice | Determine the VAT category before payment. EU rules | A borderline vehicle is treated as used without explanation. EMTA: buying a vehicle abroad Your Europe: VAT on buying and selling cars | To check |
| Original documents and technical data required for Estonia | Clarify the registration requirements using the VIN. Transpordiamet | A gap in the documents or a data discrepancy remains unresolved. Transpordiamet: registration | To check |
Documents or conditions still need checking. Do not treat the file as complete.
Do the Dutch 14 days allow me to drive to Estonia on export plates?
RDW’s rule concerns Dutch public roads after deregistration for export. A passenger car must have white export number plates, insurance and a valid APK there. To drive to Estonia, you must separately check the requirements of the countries you will pass through and the territorial validity of the insurance. The 14-day period alone does not establish that driving the entire route is permitted. Make these checks before deregistration and before booking travel. RDW export rules.
Which documents should I receive after the RDW export procedure?
After the export procedure, always keep the returned registration card with a corner cut off or the paper document Tenaamstellingsbewijs (Deel 1B) together with the export document exportbewijs (kentekenbewijs deel II): RDW identifies them as documents needed for registration abroad. For Estonia, also retain the originals proving the purchase and transfer of ownership, and proof of authority to act where necessary. Check the VIN in the documents against the one on the car. A seller’s promise to send a missing part later does not, on its own, meet the requirements for registration. RDW documents; Estonian requirements.
Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying Transpordiamet: registration RDW: vehicle export
Why does an export company charge more than RDW’s EUR 12?
EUR 12 is RDW’s own service fee for the export procedure, not a mandatory final price for every provider. A private company sets its own service price. Ask for an itemised quote so that you can see the costs of the procedure, plates, insurance and any additional services. Calculate transport and Estonian registration costs separately. The fee is stated as at 4 October 2026. RDW’s pricing explanation.
Does a valid APK replace a pre-purchase inspection?
The APK is the Dutch mandatory roadworthiness inspection and one of the requirements for driving there after export deregistration. A pre-purchase inspection separately helps assess the condition of the car you are buying and the potential costs. Ask for evidence of servicing and repairs even if the APK is valid, and have assessable faults examined. A roadworthiness inspection, registration data and an independent condition inspection do not provide the same information. APK driving requirement; the different purposes of inspections.
Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying RDW: vehicle export
Is a one-year-old car with 6,000 km used for VAT purposes?
No. Exactly 6,000 km falls within the new-vehicle threshold for VAT purposes, regardless of the fact that the car is more than six months old. Both conditions must be met at the same time for used status: an age of more than six months and mileage of more than 6,000 km. When acquiring a vehicle from the EU that is new for VAT purposes, declare and pay the VAT within ten calendar days of arrival in Estonia, and no later than registration. Exact thresholds; declaration deadline.
EMTA: buying a vehicle abroad EMTA: standard VAT rate Your Europe: VAT on buying and selling cars
Does Estonia’s five-working-day deadline start as soon as the Dutch car arrives?
The registration deadline is linked to the vehicle being put into use in Estonia, not automatically to its arrival date. A car used on the road must be registered within five working days of being put into use. This is not permission to drive with missing or invalid registration, number plates or insurance. Arrange the pre-registration conformity inspection and the necessary documents in good time. Transpordiamet’s registration procedure.
Will the CarAudit report arrive within 48 hours of placing the order?
The published deadline is 48 hours after the inspection has taken place, excluding weekends and public holidays. First, the car’s location, VIN, the seller’s consent to the inspection and the appointment must be confirmed. In the Netherlands, the published price of the standard inspection is EUR 289, including VAT and the technician’s travel; the EUR 179 battery inspection add-on requires confirmation of compatibility. Do not tie the final payment to an assumed report arrival time. CarAudit’s offer, 4 October 2026.
CarAudit EE: current public offer, directly read in browser Transpordiamet: thorough check before buying
