Rules for agricultural and construction vehicles
Do you own agricultural and/or construction vehicles? You must register these vehicles with the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) if you drive them on public roads and they can exceed 6 km/h.
You have to register the following types of agricultural/construction vehicles with the RDW (in Dutch):
- tractors for agriculture and forestry
- trailers for agriculture and forestry (towed vehicles)
- tractor-drawn machinery (such as a fertiliser tank or a rotary rake)
- mobile machines (for example a forklift truck or excavator)
Do you still have a motorised vehicle with limited speed (MMBS)? Since 2021 these vehicles fall under the mobile machinery category.
You can find the costs for registration on RDW's website (in Dutch).
Registration check
You need to register both new vehicles and vehicles that are already in use. For some motorised vehicles you do not need to register. You can check if your vehicle needs to be registered with the RDW’s Dutch-language tool.
Vehicle inspection
Before you can register you agricultural or construction vehicle, you must have it inspected by the RDW. You can make an appointment to have your vehicle tested at an RDW testing station or at your business premises (in Dutch).
Registration plates
In certain cases you also need to fit your vehicle with a registration plate (licence plate). For example, if you (can) drive faster than 25 km/h with the vehicle.
Insurance obligation
If you have registered your vehicle then you must have third-party liability insurance (WA-verzekering). Whether you drive it or not. You provide your registration number and reporting code to the insurer. The reporting code consists of the last 4 digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN). There is no insurance requirement for:
- tractor-drawn machinery
- trailers
Periodical technical inspection (APK) for tractors
Do you own a tractor for agriculture or forestry that can exceed 40 km/h? You must have your tractor tested periodically (in Dutch).