The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) is the Dutch equivalent of the British MOT: a legally required check that your car still meets minimum safety and environmental standards. An RDW-approved garage carries it out and reports the result to the RDW. According to the ANWB, an APK usually costs €19 to €70; diesels can cost more.
How often you need one depends on fuel type and age, counted from the date of first registration (RDW, October 2026):
- Petrol or electric: first test after 4 years, then twice at 2-year intervals, then every year from age 8.
- Diesel, LPG/gas or other fuels: first test after 3 years, then every year.
- 30 years or older: every 2 years. 50 years or older: no APK required.
Why it matters when buying or selling
Without a valid APK a car may not be driven on public roads, so buyers can't take a test drive. A fresh APK makes a car easier to sell. You can test up to 2 months early and keep the same expiry date, plus 1 or 2 years. An APK only checks minimum requirements on one day; it is not a pre-purchase inspection (aankoopkeuring). Check the expiry date for free with our licence plate check or set an APK reminder.