Transfer your licence plate if you are staying in the Netherlands longer

If you stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, it is important to register in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). If you move to the Netherlands from Eastern or Central Europe, for example, and take your car with you, you will no longer be allowed to drive a car with an international registration number from then on. If you go to study or are temporarily seconded to the Netherlands, this may be slightly different. Read below what the rules are for registration in your situation.

Registered in the Netherlands

Are you registered in the Netherlands because you are going to live here permanently? Then you are not allowed to drive a car with international registration plates. In this case, you should immediately transfer the registration plate to a Dutch one, and take out a new car insurance in the Netherlands. This can be done for example at Polisa insurance. Polisa.nl is there especially for Eastern and Central Europeans in the Netherlands. For example, you can count on service in your own language here, and claim-free years from your home country are carried over to insurance in the Netherlands, giving you extra discounts.

Exceptions in this situation are if you use the car for a maximum of two weeks in the Netherlands, or if you drive your employer's car with an employer exemption, for example.

Not registered in the Netherlands

Are you not yet registered in the Netherlands but in the Netherlands for a longer period of time? Then it is necessary to transfer your car to a Dutch number plate and Dutch insurance after six months. A Car insurance at Polisa also offers benefits in this case. For instance, with insurance at Polisa.co.uk, you can count on roadside assistance at home and abroad.

Studying in the Netherlands

If you are studying in the Netherlands from Eastern or Central Europe, this will initially only be temporary. Therefore, when you are a student, you will be allowed to drive your own car with original registration number in the Netherlands for your entire study period. Students automatically have an exemption based on international law. However, it is important that the course is recognised.

If you are going to work in the Netherlands besides studying, you do need to transfer the car's registration number and take out insurance in the Netherlands.

Seconded to the Netherlands

If you are seconded to the Netherlands, this will also be a temporary move. On secondment, you have an exemption based on international law. Throughout the posting period, you are therefore allowed to drive your own car in the Netherlands.

Of course, besides these four general situations, there are a lot of exceptions. Whether and when exactly you should transfer your car's registration plate therefore partly depends on your personal situation. In general; if you stay in the Netherlands for longer than six months, transfer your registration.