Handover checklist
Every step for buyer and seller in one place. Tick off what you have done; your progress is saved.
Handover checklist
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Registration card, the full tenaamstellingscode (registration code, parts 1 and 2), the latest APK report, the service booklet and all keys. Missing something? See lost registration code.Details
Do not send a photo of the registration card or code to anyone interested. With those details someone can put the car in their name. Unsure about a buyer? Run the scam check.Details
Remove personal items, parking permits and toll badges, and unpair your phone from the infotainment system.Details
Two copies, with price, payment method, date and time of handover and known defects. Create it with the contract generator.Details
The full amount must be in your account. A screenshot or proof of payment from the buyer proves nothing. If you are a dealer, do not accept €3,000 or more in cash.Details
That way you both know the contract and the transfer cover this car.Details
Online via the RDW with the buyer's DigiD app, or together at a kentekenloket (registration counter). See transfer car ownership.Details
The vrijwaringsbewijs (indemnity certificate) proves the car is no longer in your name. Check in Mijn RDW or with the RDW Kentekencheck that the transfer is complete.Details
Note the mileage and the time in the sale contract and photograph the odometer.Details
Your car insurance does not stop by itself. Pass on the sale date and send the indemnity certificate. See insurance and road tax.Details
Motorrijtuigenbelasting (road tax) stops automatically and any overpayment is refunded. Amounts of €5 or less are not refunded.Details
Check the Belastingdienst's payments overview to see that road tax has stopped, and that your insurer has confirmed the cancellation.
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Want to know more?Transfer car ownershipArrange insurance and road taxSale contract generator
What does the seller arrange at a car handover?
The seller provides the registration card and the full registration code, checks the payment and only releases the car once they hold the vrijwaringsbewijs (indemnity certificate). After that they cancel their insurance; road tax stops by itself.
What does the buyer arrange?
The buyer checks the car beforehand, takes out at least third-party (WA) insurance starting at the handover, pays at the handover and transfers the registration together with the seller. The new registration card and the road tax bill then arrive automatically.
Who pays what at the handover?
| Cost | Seller | Buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Registration transfer | – | €13.10 (usually) |
| Pre-purchase inspection | – | €150 to €350 (ANWB) |
| Insurance | cancels with the indemnity certificate | from the transfer |
| Road tax (MRB) | pro-rata refund | starts at the transfer |
| APK if nearly expired (optional) | €19 to €70 plus repairs | – |
The buyer paying the €13.10 is a convention, not a rule. A dealer may add a service fee, often €25 to €75. Work it all out with transfer costs.
When does the car officially belong to the buyer?
At the moment of transfer. From then on fines, tax and damage go to the new registered keeper. So record the date and time in the sale contract and only release the car once the transfer is complete. Read the full guide in transfer car ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a car transfer cost in 2026?
€13.10. The RDW fee is the same online, at a registration counter and at the RDW itself. The buyer usually pays, but that is a convention rather than a rule, so agree on it. A dealer may add a service fee, often €25 to €75.
Can I drive away right after the transfer?
Yes. Once transferred, the car is in your name immediately and you may drive, provided it is insured. The new registration card arrives by post. According to the RDW you only need to carry it after 14 days, but abroad you must always have it with you.
When does my road tax stop after the sale?
From the moment the car is no longer in your name. The RDW passes the sale on to the Belastingdienst, and anything you overpaid is refunded automatically. Amounts of €5 or less are not refunded.
Can a buyer living abroad take over the registration?
No. The buyer must be at least 18 and registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) with a Dutch address. If the buyer lives abroad, the car must be exported instead. You arrange that together with the RDW, not through a normal transfer.