If you have a vehicle registered in your name in the Netherlands, you will need a vehicle registration card. You should always have your registration card with you when you are driving.
Paper certificate or chip card
In 2014, the paper vehicle registration certificate started to be replaced by a vehicle registration card, containing a chip. The vehicle registration card is issued by the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). Do you have a paper certificate issued before 1 January 2014? You should always carry two parts of the registration with you: the vehicle registration (voertuigbewijs) and the owner registration (tenaamstellingsbewijs).
Receiving a vehicle registration card
You will receive a vehicle registration card if you:
- Buy a new vehicle
- Buy a secondhand vehicle. You should register the vehicle to your name, then you will receive a vehicle registration card
- Import a vehicle. You have to apply for a Dutch registration card first
- Need to replace the paper certificate for any reason
- Want to exchange the paper certificate for a registration card
In December 2018, the RDW began the obligatory conversion of registration certificates into registration cards.
Transfer
Your vehicle registration card is connected to an owner registration code (tenaamstellingscode). The registration code consists of 9 digits. You will receive the first 4 digits when you register the vehicle in your name. The last 5 will follow with your registration card. The paper registration certificate has a separate transfer sheet that you need to change ownership. You need to store this sheet at home. You can use the owner registration code for:
You can also transfer your vehicle registration certificates to another private owner (including sole traders) online.