Before paying, check the Finnish vehicle details, transfer process and transport route. Then arrange the import inspection, taxes, insurance and registration in the Netherlands.
You can import a used passenger car from Finland, but do not pay until the vehicle details, transfer, original documents and transport route can all be verified. The precise self-drive route for an ordinary used car registered in Finland, with you as the foreign buyer, has not yet been confirmed. Continued lawful Finnish registration and insurance, export registration with its limited eligibility, or a transfer permit are possible self-drive options only after confirmation. For a transfer permit specifically, all of the following must apply: an accepted purpose, validity of the transfer permit in every country and validity of motor liability insurance in every country. Use a vehicle transporter until the full route, including insurance, has been confirmed. The RDW does not issue a number plate for the journey from Finland. 1 2 3
Decisions to make before payment
Record these decisions before paying a deposit.
Treat Dutch private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax (BPM) and value added tax (VAT) separately.
| Decision | Check | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic seller notification | Finnish personal identity code OR valid business ID | Otherwise confirm an alternative channel and the seven-day process 4 |
| Finnish export registration | Vehicle owned by the applicant and not registered in Finland OR unregistered/deregistered racing vehicle for use abroad | Not a standard route for a registered used car 1 |
| Finnish transfer permit outside Nordic countries | Accepted purpose AND transfer permit valid in every country AND motor liability insurance valid in every country | Permit holder verifies every transit country 2 |
| Finnish tax refund | Applicant is the owner on the export date AND permanent use abroad AND roadworthy AND deregistered in Finland AND no more than ten years since first use AND application within thirty days after export AND calculated refund of at least €500.00 | A refund may then be available, subject to a cap and reductions 5 |
| VAT-used | More than six months since first use AND more than 6,000 km | No acquisition VAT due solely to the transfer; BPM remains 6 |
| VAT-new | No more than six months OR no more than 6,000 km | Dutch VAT and special return 7, 8 |
Checking the car, seller and documents
Retrieve the official Finnish technical, inspection and tax details. Paid owner/history information may be restricted by authentication and disclosure limitations. The register does not prove a complete history of accidents, liens, activity abroad, mileage or mechanical condition. Therefore, compare the vehicle identification number (VIN/chassis number), documents and inspection readings, and have the car physically inspected. No vehicle-specific search was carried out for this dossier. 9
Check the seller's identity and authority to sell the car. Sign two identical deeds of transfer. Have the seller order both parts of the Finnish registration certificate in advance and hand them over to you for registration abroad. 4 10
Finnish transfer, export and transport
The electronic seller notification requires the buyer to have a Finnish personal identity code OR a valid business ID. If not, confirm with an inspection station or insurer before signing how you will report the change of ownership within seven days. Have the seller submit the notification only after all certificate, export and insurance steps that require the seller's access; after that, the seller can no longer change the registration details or create a digital certificate. 4 10
| Option | Evidence required | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Valid Finnish registration | Status and cover in every transit country | Sequence for the buyer not confirmed 1, 2 |
| Finnish transfer permit | Accepted purpose, transfer permit valid in every country AND motor liability insurance valid in every country | Nordic recognition does not cover the Netherlands 2 |
| Finnish export registration | Evidence of a narrow eligibility basis | Not generally available for registered used cars 1 |
| Vehicle transporter or trailer | Booking and transport documents | Agree the quote and schedule 3, 1, 2 |
| RDW one-day registration | Appointment, printed evidence, legible white plates, Dutch insurance, safe car | Inspection day; shortest route between the RDW and home in the Netherlands 11 |
Final Finnish deregistration due to departure takes place after export, using a copy of the foreign registration OR proof of exit certified by Finnish Customs. A later notification by an EU authority may be delayed. Name either the seller or the buyer in both deeds of transfer as the owner on the export date and sole refund applicant. All of the following are required: permanent use abroad, roadworthiness, Finnish deregistration, no more than ten years since first use, an application within thirty days after export and a calculated refund of at least €500.00; a cap and reductions also apply. 12 5
The exceptional Dutch exemption for short-term use is not a standard route for permanent import. It requires a foreign number plate, the vehicle to have been made available abroad and advance online notification, lasts no more than two consecutive weeks and may be used once per vehicle and user in any twelve-month period. Otherwise, Dutch private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax (BPM) and motor vehicle tax (mrb) are due from the first day the car is used in the Netherlands. 13
Import inspection and registration in the Netherlands
The EU/EFTA procedure requires a private applicant to be at least eighteen years old and registered in the Dutch Personal Records Database. Take valid ID and the complete original foreign registration certificate to the RDW import inspection; make a copy beforehand for BPM. A certificate of conformity (CvO; internationally often CoC) is optional on this page, but its CO2 value affects BPM. 3
The RDW identifies the car and assesses the documents; this is not a general technical inspection. A hazard or damage may nevertheless lead to a prohibition on road use. Using the original report, the entry on the registration certificate or the number-plate sticker, ask whether the valid Finnish periodic inspection can be carried over: this is assessed, not guaranteed. If there is neither accepted evidence nor a periodic roadworthiness inspection (APK) performed by the RDW, arrange an APK immediately after receiving the registration certificate for a car subject to the APK requirement; delay may lead to a fine. 3
As a private buyer, file the BPM return only after RDW approval and electronic transmission of the vehicle details. After approval by the RDW and the Dutch Tax Administration, the RDW states five working days for the registration certificate and another two working days for the full registration code, subject to postal delivery. Then have number plates made by an RDW-approved manufacturer. From the moment it is registered in your name, an insurance-liable car requires Dutch third-party liability insurance (WA insurance); the insurance reporting code is the last four digits of the VIN. Registration in the owner's name counts as the mrb return. The bill is issued automatically; contact the Dutch Tax Administration if none arrives within one month. The mrb depends on vehicle type, weight, fuel, environmental characteristics and province. 14 3 15
Assessing BPM and value added tax (VAT) separately
For BPM, a car is new if it has not or has hardly been used. At 3,000 km or more, it is certainly used; a lower mileage does not automatically prove the opposite. Gross BPM uses the RDW's CO2 value. New cars follow WLTP; used cars from before 1 July 2020 follow the applicable NEDC/WLTP branch, and cars from before 2018 have no WLTP value. If CO2 is missing, for the period ‘1 July 2020 to the present’ the page specifies 550 g/km for petrol and 395 g/km for diesel, with older, more favourable alternatives of 507/356 and 350/302 (petrol/diesel in each pair). 16
A used car receives depreciation and may compare permitted current and historical rates using a Dutch trade price list, the statutory table or — only if the official conditions for an appraisal report are demonstrably met — an appraisal report; choose the most favourable permitted method. Do not assume that the final option is available for an ordinary car: the AND/OR wording remains unresolved, and there are requirements relating to the case, appraiser, roadworthiness and the report being dated within one month before the RDW inspection. 16 17
VAT-new means no more than six months since first use OR no more than 6,000 km. VAT-used requires more than six months AND more than 6,000 km. If the car is VAT-new, a private buyer pays Dutch VAT using the special EU new-means-of-transport return. If it is VAT-used, the transfer alone does not give rise to Dutch acquisition VAT, although dealer invoice and margin-scheme treatment can differ. BPM remains separate; there is no customs duty on this intra-EU route. 7 8 18 6
Costs without false certainty
These are separate items, not a total; any refund is not a cost item. Rates were checked on 13 September 2026; vehicle details and quotes are still required.
| Cost item | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Finnish technical and tax information | €0.00 | Rate on 13 September 2026 19 |
| Finnish owner/history query | €2.75 | Access required; rate on 13 September 2026 19 |
| Registration certificate, electronic service | €7.00 | Channel choice; excluding VAT 20 |
| Registration certificate, in person | €10.00 | Channel choice; excluding VAT 20 |
| Export or special plate | €10.00 per plate | Applicable route; excluding VAT 20 |
| Finnish transfer permit | €17.50 | Purpose and route confirmed; excluding VAT 20 |
| Finnish export registration | €57.50 | Narrow eligibility basis; excluding VAT 20 |
| Deregistration, electronic service | €7.00 | Channel choice; excluding VAT 20 |
| Deregistration, in person | €22.00 | Channel choice; excluding VAT 20 |
| Finnish VAT and delivery | To be determined | Traficom prices exclude VAT; delivery unknown 20 |
| Vehicle transporter | Request a quote | Route, vehicle and schedule required 3, 1, 2 |
| Finnish route insurance | To be determined | Self-drive route confirmed for every country 2 |
| RDW identification | €58.50 | Up to 3,500 kg; rate on 13 September 2026 3 |
| RDW identification | €120.00 | From 3,501 kg; rate on 13 September 2026 3 |
| Dutch registration certificate | €50.00 | RDW rate on 13 September 2026 3 |
| RDW registration in the owner's name | €13.10 | Rate on 13 September 2026 3 |
| Recycling contribution | €22.50 | If applicable, up to 3,500 kg 3 |
| RDW reinspection | €42.00 | If applicable; rate on 13 September 2026 3 |
| RDW one-day registration | €0.00 | Inspection date; Netherlands only 11 |
| BPM and any diesel surcharge | To be determined | CO2, date, use, depreciation and fuel required 16, 17 |
| Dutch VAT/invoice | To be determined | Age, km and seller type required 7, 8, 18 |
| CvO/CoC or translation | Request a quote | If the documents require this 3 |
| APK, repair or assessment | To be determined | Evidence, condition and RDW outcome required 3 |
| Trade price list or appraisal | To be determined | Selected permitted BPM method 17 |
| Dutch and white number plates | To be determined | Manufacturer, plate type and one-day journey required 3, 11 |
| Dutch WA insurance | Request a quote | Car, registered keeper and cover required 3 |
| Dutch mrb | To be determined | Type, weight, fuel, environmental characteristics and province 15 |
| Physical pre-purchase inspection | Request a quote | Only after availability at the Finnish location has been confirmed 9, 21 |
| Dutch insurance | Request a quote | RDW one-day registration 11 |
Chronological checklist
Keep every piece of evidence and only tick an item off after completing it.
| Action | When |
|---|---|
| Retrieve the Finnish vehicle details; note the access limitations | Before payment 9 |
| Compare the VIN, documents and inspection readings; have the car inspected | Before payment 9 |
| Check the seller; have both certificate parts ordered in advance | Before signing 4, 10 |
| Confirm the transfer channel, seven-day process and notification sequence | Before signing 4, 10 |
| Name either the seller OR the buyer in both identical deeds of transfer as the owner on the export date and sole refund applicant; sign them; receive both certificate parts. | Before signing and at purchase 5, 4, 10 |
| Confirm the permit and cover for every country or book transport | Before departure 1, 2 |
| Provide a copy of the foreign registration or Finnish Customs evidence for deregistration | After departure 12 |
| Copy the registration certificate; gather the original, ID, CO2 and inspection evidence | Before the RDW inspection 3 |
| Complete the import inspection; request assessment of the Finnish inspection evidence | At the RDW 3 |
| Keep BPM and VAT separate; file BPM after the RDW transmits the details | After RDW approval 14, 16, 7, 8 |
| For an insurance-liable car, activate Dutch WA insurance from registration in your name; receive the registration certificate and then have the number plates made. | After tax approval 3 |
| For a car subject to APK, arrange an APK immediately if the Finnish evidence is not carried over AND the RDW has not performed an APK. | After receiving the registration certificate 3 |
| Check the mrb bill; call if no notice arrives within one month | After registration in the owner's name 3, 15 |
Additional pre-purchase inspection
According to the Dutch website, CarAudit is provided by Carvago Deutschland GmbH; the terms shown apply from 1 August 2026. The homepage mentions a report within 48 hours after the inspection, excluding weekends and public holidays, but that timeframe is indicative and depends on availability and circumstances. Finland was not a publicly confirmed coverage country on 13 September 2026: ask whether the service is available at the location before ordering. Access to the seller and car, time, weather and the ability to conduct a test drive may limit the inspection. The inspection is not a guarantee, does not promise to identify hidden or unobservable defects and is not an import administration service. 22 23
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive the car myself from Finland to the Netherlands?
The precise self-drive route for you and this car has not been confirmed. Possible branches still to be confirmed are continued Finnish registration with insurance, export registration with limited eligibility or a transfer permit. For a transfer permit specifically, an accepted purpose, validity of the transfer permit and validity of motor liability insurance in every country must all apply. Without confirmation of the full route, choose a vehicle transporter; the RDW one-day registration is valid only in the Netherlands. 1, 2, 3, 11
Which Finnish documents should I receive when buying the car?
Obtain two deeds of transfer and both parts of the registration certificate. Check the seller's identity and authority, and the VIN; record the arrangements for export, deregistration and the refund. 4, 10, 5, 9, 12
When is the car finally deregistered in Finland?
After export, using a copy of the foreign registration OR Finnish Customs evidence. A later notification by an EU authority may be delayed. 12
Is the RDW import inspection also a pre-purchase inspection?
No. The RDW identifies the car and assesses its documents; a hazard may lead to a prohibition on road use. Have the car physically inspected before purchase: the register does not provide a complete history. 3, 9
Does a valid Finnish periodic inspection automatically become a Dutch APK?
No. Ask the RDW to assess the original evidence. If it is not carried over and the RDW does not perform an APK, arrange an APK immediately after receiving the registration certificate; delay may lead to a fine. 3
How do I determine the BPM for the used Finnish car?
After RDW approval and transmission of the details, use the RDW CO2 value, the correct NEDC/WLTP branch and permitted depreciation. At 3,000 km or more, the car is certainly used; an appraisal is subject to special requirements. 14, 16, 17
When do I pay VAT on the car in the Netherlands?
VAT-new means no more than six months OR no more than 6,000 km; Dutch VAT and the special return then apply. VAT-used requires both thresholds to be exceeded. Dealer treatment can differ; BPM remains and customs duty does not apply. 7, 8, 18, 6
How long does it take to receive the Dutch registration certificate after approval?
The RDW states that the registration certificate is sent within five working days and the full registration code two working days later, subject to postal delivery. Arrange the number plates afterwards; activate WA insurance from registration in your name. 3
Will I automatically receive a Finnish car tax refund?
No. The owner on the export date applies within thirty days after export. Permanent use abroad, roadworthiness, Finnish deregistration, no more than ten years since first use and a calculated refund of at least €500.00 all apply, as do a cap and reductions. 5
Additional inspection in Finland? Ask about availability and conditions at the location. Coverage, price and provision of the service have not been confirmed; import administration is not included. 21, 23
Sources
- Apply for the export registration of a vehicle
- Apply for a transfer permit for a vehicle
- Voertuig invoeren vanuit een Europees land
- Seller: Submit a notification of transfer of a vehicle
- Refunds of car tax due to export
- Belasting van personenauto's en motorrijwielen (bpm)
- Wat zijn nieuwe of bijna nieuwe vervoermiddelen?
- Aankoop van nieuwe en bijna nieuwe vervoermiddelen uit EU-landen
- Check the vehicle information
- Order a vehicle registration certificate
- Eendagskenteken aanvragen
- Decommission a vehicle transferred abroad or to Åland
- Vrijstelling bpm en mrb bij kortstondig gebruik
- Ik koop een motorrijtuig in het buitenland - hoe zit het met de bpm-aangifte?
- Motorrijtuigenbelasting
- Hoe bereken ik de bpm voor een personenauto?
- Bpm afschrijving gebruikte motorrijtuigen
- Auto kopen of verkopen: btw
- Price list — Transport
- Customer prices for vehicle registration
- Contact
- CarAudit: koop een tweedehands auto nooit blind
- CarAudit-voorwaarden
