Since 1 January 2026, traders in the Netherlands may not accept or pay €3,000 or more in cash for goods. This includes car dealers. The ban is part of the Dutch anti-money laundering act (Wwft), introduced through the Wet plan van aanpak witwassen, and aims to prevent money laundering. Splitting an amount into smaller cash payments still counts (FIU-Nederland).
Why it matters when buying or selling
| Situation | Cash of €3,000 or more? |
|---|---|
| You buy a car from a dealer | Not allowed |
| You sell or trade in at a dealer | Not allowed |
| Private seller to private buyer | Allowed |
- Private persons: the ban does not apply between private persons. Even so, a bank transfer is usually safer than a pile of cash. Watch out for counterfeit notes and fake payment confirmations, and use the scam check.
- Dealers: pay or receive €3,000 or more through the bank.
- EU: from 10 July 2027, an EU-wide cash limit of €10,000 applies to traders. The lower Dutch limit of €3,000 stays in place.
Record the payment method in your sale contract.