Car from the Netherlands, used car for sale from the Netherlands (2024)

FAQs

Can an American buy a car in the Netherlands? ›

Yes, a foreigner can buy a car in the Netherlands. You can even put a car in your name with a foreign driving licence. You will need to have one of the following legal documents, however: ID or driving licence from an EU or EVA country.

Required documents

You will need to present proof of your ID which can be one of the following: A valid Dutch driving license; which is no more than 10 years old. A valid EU passport or ID card; plus a residence certificate and copy of personal data from the municipal register, which is no more than three months old.

Netherlands May 2024: Volvo up 56.7%, Kia Niro repeats at #1

The Kia Niro is the best-selling vehicle in the Netherlands again. The Dutch new car market skid a harsh -13.9% year-on-year in May to 28,361 units, meaning the year-to-date tally slips into negative at -1.2% to 158,421.

Everyone who owns a car in the Netherlands pays road tax. It is part of the monthly car cost. It is the Belastingdienst (tax authority) that depreciates the road tax. This happens once a quarter, so you pay the amount for 3 months 4 times a year.

Import Restrictions:

Your vehicle must be manufactured in the USA or be over 25 years old unless you intend to temporarily import the car from Europe or abroad. Contact us if you are unsure of where the vehicle was manufactured. One of our shipping specialists can assist you.

Import a Car from the Netherlands to USA 2024 Guide: Starting at $1,850.

In addition, German cars are often a lot cheaper to buy than Dutch cars. Of course the costs involved in importing a car must be taken into account, Are you planning to import a car from Germany? At Alpina.nl we have put together a handy step-by-step plan for you!

You need a digital (online) authorisation from the new owner before you can transfer a vehicle registration. For this, you first need to print the digital client authorisation form (digitale machtiging, in Dutch), which the new owner must sign . After the signing, you can transfer the vehicle in the name of the buyer.

Paying motor vehicle tax

When you register your vehicle, you automatically receive an assessment from the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst). You pay the motor vehicle tax (also known as road tax) once every 3 months.

The Netherlands consumer association – the Consumentenbond – has named Lexus the country's most reliable car brand after the manufacturer took the number one ranking in its 2020 survey. Lexus achieved an average score of 8.8 in the 2020 study into the reliability of cars up to 10 years old.

How much is a car in the Netherlands? ›

In 2022, the average price for a new petrol car was approximately 33,300 euros in the Netherlands. Passenger cars with hydrogen electric fuel cells were the most expensive, costing 44,400 euros on average.

The average car insurance costs about 75 euros per month, but the insurance premium is different for everyone. You may pay 30 euros or 90 euros per month. It all depends on the factors above.

It is rather expensive because you pay fuel which is expensive and road tax which is also relatively high. Both depend highly on the type of car you drive ( gasoline, diesel or electric / weight of the car). Then in and around cities like Amsterdam you often need to pay parking fees which can be costly also.

Tourists are allowed to drive in the Netherlands on a valid state license, preferably in combination with an International Driver's License which may be obtained in the United States through the AAA.

Buying a car in Europe as an American is possible, but legally owning it is not. Registering a car in your name without an address and/or residency is almost impossible in any European country. There are a few loopholes such as companies that offer buy back schemes or setting up a company in France or Bulgaria.

Buying and Shipping Overseas Cars

Many of the companies that help you find and pay for vehicles from outside the U.S. are able to handle the shipping and country-of-origin paperwork as part of their services — this will probably make the process much simpler for you.

The average cost of car ownership in Europe was the highest in Switzerland, with 1,313 euros, and the lowest in Greece, with 905 euros, in 2022.