Importing a car from the Netherlands
Dutch cars are of good quality and therefore popular with importers.
Why buy a car in the Netherlands?
Dutch cars are of good quality and therefore popular with importers. Once you have purchased a car in the Netherlands, we can help you with de-registering the car and arranging all the necessary documentation to transport it to its destination country. This way, you can drive to your destination hassle-free!
How does it work?
Basic documents
Want to buy a car in the Netherlands? Through VWE, you can deregister it from the Netherlands and arrange all the necessary documents to take it to its destination country. You arrange an export declaration via VWE and - if you plan to drive the car out of the country - an export licence plate and temporary insurance.
Easy import with additional documents
We can also help you with additional documents that can make importing easier. These include a ‘Type Approval Data Statement’ - a document containing all the technical information about the vehicle - or a ‘EUR1 Invoice Declaration’, a document proving that the vehicle was manufactured in the EU, which can be advantageous when importing in some cases.
What about taxes?
When importing a car from the Netherlands, you can sometimes benefit from tax breaks. There are two different situations:
Importing into an EEA country
If you import a car into a country outside the EEA, the Dutch seller can reclaim part of the BPM. This means that in many cases you can buy the car at a reduced price. It is important for the seller to be able to prove that the vehicle was actually exported to a non-EEA country. Therefore, the seller may ask you to send him a copy of the registration document bearing your name in the destination country. You will then get back the deposit you paid earlier in some cases.
It is also possible for the seller to first apply for temporary registration in an EEA country (in Germany, for example, with a ‘Fahrzeugbrief’). This means that the seller can immediately apply for a refund of the Vehicle Purchase Tax (BPM), allowing you to benefit from a lower price for the car and avoid paying a deposit.
Importing into a country outside the EU
If you want to import a car from a non-EU country, the seller does not have to charge VAT, which allows you to buy the car cheaper. However, the seller can only waive the VAT if you can prove that the car is actually going to leave the EU. For this reason, you need an ‘EAD Customs Document’ that you should have scanned as proof when leaving the EU. When exporting your car, you can obtain the EAD Customs document directly from VWE.
Note: always check in advance what documents are required in the destination country and in the countries you are travelling through.
Where can I go?
VWE has many branches across the country where you can get the right documents. See here at which location we can help you.
