Why Germany beats the Dutch market
Germany is Europe's largest used-car market — over 1.5 million listings on mobile.de alone. For Dutch buyers that scale translates directly into availability: the well-specced version of the car you want, in the right colour with a documented service history, is far more likely to exist across the border than at home. German cars also tend to carry more equipment for the same money, and the deeper supply keeps asking prices honest.
The distance works in your favour too. Germany and the Netherlands share a border, so transport is short, fast and cheap compared with almost any other import route in Europe. The two things that still need managing are the BPM tax — which depends heavily on the specific car's CO2 and age — and the risk of buying a car you've only seen in photos. We handle both before you commit a single euro.
What we do for you
Registering the car in the Netherlands
- Registration runs through the RDW — the car goes through an import inspection at an RDW station before it gets Dutch plates.
- BPM tax applies. It's based on the car's CO2 emissions, with a depreciation reduction for used cars — so older and low-CO2 cars pay less. We help you estimate the BPM before you commit.
- No Dutch VAT on used EU cars. A used car bought in another EU country triggers no Dutch VAT; a new means of transport is different — Dutch VAT applies.
- Annual road tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting, MRB) applies once the car is registered — worth checking for heavier cars before you choose the model.
- Short transport distance. Germany is next door, which keeps delivery fast and transport costs low compared with other import routes.
Rules and rates change, so treat the above as orientation rather than tax advice: we confirm the current process and help estimate the BPM for your specific purchase before you commit, and we deliver the car with the full document package — purchase contract, German registration certificate and CoC where available — ready for the RDW inspection.
How it works
Frequently asked questions
How much BPM will I pay?
It depends on the specific car: BPM is based on CO2 emissions, with a depreciation reduction for used cars — so an older or low-CO2 car pays considerably less than a new high-emission one. Before you commit, we help you estimate the BPM for your candidate car so the total cost is clear up front.
How does registration with the RDW work?
The imported car goes through an import inspection at an RDW station, after which it can be registered and get Dutch plates. We deliver the car with the complete document package — purchase contract, German registration certificate and CoC where available — so the RDW process starts without missing papers.
How long does transport from Germany take?
The Netherlands is one of our shortest routes — Germany is next door, and fixed routes run weekly from Germany and the Benelux. Delivery is typically within days to a week of purchase, on a covered carrier with CMR insurance included.
Do I pay Dutch VAT on the car?
Not on a used car bought in another EU country — no Dutch VAT applies. A new means of transport is the exception: Dutch VAT applies. After registration, the annual motorrijtuigenbelasting (MRB) is the recurring cost to budget. We flag all of this for your candidate car before you commit.
Is a German car really cheaper than buying in the Netherlands?
Frequently — and even when the sticker price is similar, the German car often carries a better spec or a cleaner documented history, simply because the market is so much deeper. We put the full comparison on the table: car price, transport, BPM estimate and our fees against the equivalent Dutch listing.
Tell us the car — we'll plan the route to the Netherlands
Send a listing link and your delivery address in the Netherlands — we'll reply with a concrete plan: inspection slot, BPM estimate, total cost and delivery estimate. No commitment.