When you sell a car, the registration has to be put in the buyer's name. In Dutch this is overschrijven or tenaamstellen. In 2026 it costs €13.10, the same everywhere. Dealers sometimes add a service fee, often €25 to €75. There are three ways to do it:
- Online on the RDW website: the buyer logs in with the DigiD app with ID check and pays with iDEAL or Wero.
- At a registration counter (kentekenloket), for example at a PostNL branch.
- At an RDW desk in Veendam or Zoetermeer, or at an RDW inspection station.
The seller needs the valid kentekencard and the complete tenaamstellingscode (registration code). The buyer must be at least 18, registered at a Dutch address in the BRP (the municipal population register) and have valid ID.
Why it matters when buying or selling
Once transferred, the car is immediately in the buyer's name. From that moment the buyer needs at least third-party (WA) insurance and pays the road tax. By convention, the buyer pays the €13.10. The seller receives a vrijwaringsbewijs (indemnity certificate): keep it safe. Follow our step-by-step transfer guide and the handover checklist.