Before paying, check the Spanish registration, the seller's authority and the tax position; then arrange deregistration, safe transport and registration in the Netherlands.
Short answer: before paying, check the Spanish registration, the seller's authority, the purchase documents and the relevant tax branch. After definitive Spanish deregistration, choose green temporary plates or carriage on a vehicle transporter; only drive the car yourself if every condition and route-coverage detail is confirmed in writing. 1 2 In the Netherlands, the next steps are the RDW import inspection, a return for the Dutch private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax (BPM), registration in the Netherlands vehicle register, number plates, insurance and motor vehicle tax (mrb). 3 4 5
Decide before you pay
| Decision | What to check | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Proceed with the purchase | DGT report, VIN and independent inspection | No guarantee of a complete damage or maintenance history or of the car's condition 6 |
| Accept the seller and proof of purchase | Private seller: every page signed by both parties; company: invoice; applicant proves authority | The purchase contract alone is not always sufficient 1 |
| Start export deregistration | No precinto and (no restriction on disposal or consent/removal by the finance provider) | An outstanding restriction blocks the baja 1 |
| Choose transport after the baja | Green plates or a vehicle transporter/recovery truck | An ordinary Spanish number plate is not an export route after the baja 1, 2 |
| Determine the Spanish ITP branch | Taxable purchase of a used car between private individuals and the seller's transaction is not subject to value added tax (VAT) | Then, as a non-resident buyer, use Modelo 620: 4% of the prescribed tax base within 30 working days; first confirm the competent tax authority for the exact Spanish region or territory 7 |
| Determine the Dutch VAT branch | More than six months and more than 6,000 km | No additional acquisition VAT as a result of the transfer; BPM remains 8 |
Check the full DGT report against the registered keeper, incidents, restrictions, ITV, mileage and vehicle identification number (VIN/chassis number). Maintenance records come only from participating garages that use an electronic book. The report does not prove a complete damage or maintenance history, repair quality or current condition; arrange an independent inspection. 6
Check the seller and documents
For the online route, private parties sign every page of the contract; a company provides an invoice. A baja application may be made by the registered keeper, a third party with proof of ownership or an authorised representative; the purchase contract alone does not always establish authority. Before the baja, check both that there is no precinto and that either there is no restriction on disposal, or the finance provider expressly consents to the baja or has the restriction removed. 1
Keep the original foreign registration certificate and valid ID for RDW; copy the certificate in advance for BPM. A certificate of conformity (CvO; internationally often CoC) is optional, but CO2 can affect BPM. 3
Arrange the Spanish baja
Complete the baja definitiva por traslado del vehículo a otro país (definitive export deregistration) before export. Ensure the car leaves within 90 days to prevent reactivation. DGT retains the registration documents; keep copies and the baja/export evidence. The extra-EU ITV rule for cars over four years old does not apply here, but green plates do require a valid ITV. 1 2
Choose transport to the Netherlands
| Option | Conditions | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Drive the car yourself with Spanish green plates | Baja and valid ITV and compulsory insurance; confirm identification and any NIE procedure for a non-resident with the selected DGT office | 60 days; confirm route cover and recognition in writing 1, 2 |
| Vehicle transporter or recovery truck | After the baja; keep the baja/export evidence | Use this option if a plate, ITV, insurance or recognition is missing 1 |
| RDW one-day registration | Appointment, inspection day, proof, white plates, Dutch insurance, safe car | The Netherlands only: the shortest route from the stated departure point to RDW and then back home; not Spain–Netherlands 9 |
After the baja, choose green plates or a vehicle transporter/recovery truck; an ordinary Spanish number plate is not an export solution. Before applying, confirm with the selected DGT office the required identification and any NIE procedure that applies to you as a non-resident. The green registration is valid for 60 days, but neither its duration nor an insurance policy proves cover and recognition in transit countries. Confirm both in writing. 1 2
RDW does not issue a number plate for the Spain–Netherlands journey. The free one-day registration requires an appointment and is valid only in the Netherlands, on the inspection date and along the shortest route from the stated departure point to RDW and then back home, with printed proof, legible white plates, Dutch insurance and a safe car. 3 9
The short-use exception for a foreign-registered vehicle requires it to have been made available abroad, prior online notification and use for no more than two consecutive weeks, once per vehicle/user per 12 months. If the conditions are breached or use continues for longer, BPM and mrb are due from day one. This is not a standard import route. 10
Complete the RDW process and periodic roadworthiness inspection (APK)
For the EU/EFTA route, as a private individual you must be at least 18 and registered in the Dutch Personal Records Database (BRP). RDW identifies the car and assesses the documents; this is not a general technical pre-purchase inspection. Danger or damage can result in a prohibition on road use. 3
Ask RDW to carry over a valid Spanish periodic inspection, presenting the original report, an entry on the registration certificate or a sticker; acceptance is not guaranteed. Without accepted evidence or an RDW APK, arrange an APK immediately after receiving the registration certificate if the car is subject to APK. Delay can result in a fine. 3
Determine BPM, value added tax (VAT) and activation
As a private individual, file the BPM return only after RDW approval and electronic transfer of the vehicle data. For BPM, new means ‘not used or hardly used’; at 3,000 km or more, the car is definitely used, but below that threshold no automatic conclusion follows. This is not the VAT test. 4 11
Gross BPM uses RDW's CO2 figure. New cars use WLTP; for used cars from before 1 July 2020, NEDC/WLTP depends on the available measured or converted figures, and cars from before 2018 have no WLTP figure. Where CO2 is unknown, for ‘1 July 2020 to the present’ the page lists 550 g/km for petrol and 395 g/km for diesel; for ‘1 January 2015 to 1 July 2020’, the potentially more favourable alternatives are 507/356, and for ‘1 January 2009 to 1 January 2015’, they are 350/302, in each case for petrol/diesel. 11
A used car receives depreciation and the permitted current and historical rate branches may be compared. Calculate depreciation separately using a Dutch trade price list, a permitted valuation report or the statutory table; choose the most favourable permitted depreciation method. Do not assume that the car is eligible for valuation: special conditions apply to the case, the valuer, roadworthiness and the one-month period before RDW, while the official AND/OR boundary remains unresolved. 11 12
VAT-new means: first used no more than six months ago or driven no more than 6,000 km. VAT-used requires more than six months and more than 6,000 km. A VAT-new vehicle is subject to Dutch VAT and the special private intra-Community return. For a VAT-used vehicle, the transfer itself does not trigger additional Dutch acquisition VAT, but invoice or margin treatment may differ. There is no customs duty within this EU route; BPM remains separate. 13 14 15 8
After RDW and tax approval, RDW states five working days for the registration certificate and two working days later for the full registration code, subject to postal delivery. Have the plates made by an RDW-approved manufacturer. A vehicle subject to compulsory insurance must have third-party liability insurance (WA insurance) from the moment it is registered in your name; the reporting code is the last four digits of the VIN. Registration in your name constitutes the mrb return; contact the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration if the automatic bill has not arrived after one month. The amount depends on vehicle type, weight, fuel, environmental characteristics and province. 3 5
Budget without a misleading total
| Cost item | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Full DGT vehicle report | €8.67 | Checked on 13 September 2026; before payment 6 |
| Spanish EU export deregistration | €8.67 | Checked on 13 September 2026; under 15 years old. Exempt if at least 15 years old and first registered in Spain 1 |
| Spanish green temporary registration | €20.61 | Checked on 13 September 2026; if driving the car yourself after the baja, with valid ITV and insurance 2 |
| Manufacture of green plates | Request a quote | If driving the car yourself; separate from the registration fee 2 |
| Insurance for green plates | Request a quote | If driving the car yourself; written route cover required 2 |
| Carriage on a vehicle transporter | Request a quote | Alternative to driving the car yourself; depends on the route and vehicle 1 |
| Spanish transfer tax (ITP) via Modelo 620 | To be determined | As a non-resident buyer, you use Modelo 620 for a taxable purchase of a used car between private individuals and where the seller's transaction is not subject to VAT: 4% of the highest prescribed tax base, within 30 working days. This is transfer tax, not a registration fee. Confirm in advance the competent tax authority for the exact Spanish region or territory; the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla are not covered 7 |
| RDW identification up to and including 3,500 kg | €58.50 | Checked on 13 September 2026; up to and including 3,500 kg 3 |
| RDW identification from 3,501 kg | €120.00 | Checked on 13 September 2026; from 3,501 kg 3 |
| RDW registration certificate | €50.00 | Checked on 13 September 2026 3 |
| Registration in name via RDW | €13.10 | Checked on 13 September 2026 3 |
| Recycling contribution | €22.50 | Checked on 13 September 2026; if applicable to an imported passenger car/light commercial vehicle up to and including 3,500 kg 3 |
| RDW control reinspection | €42.00 | Checked on 13 September 2026; only if required 3 |
| BPM and any diesel surcharge | To be determined | Requires CO2, date of first registration, use and permitted depreciation 11, 12 |
| Dutch VAT on a VAT-new car | To be determined | If first used no more than six months ago or driven no more than 6,000 km 13, 14 |
| Dutch number plates | To be determined | After the registration certificate; RDW-approved manufacturer 3 |
| Dutch third-party liability insurance (WA insurance) | Request a quote | If insurance is required, from registration in your name; depends on the person and vehicle 3 |
| Motor vehicle tax | To be determined | Depends on vehicle type, weight, fuel, environmental characteristics and province 5 |
| White one-day plates and insurance | To be determined | The registration itself was free on 13 September 2026; plates and insurance are separate 9 |
| Independent pre-purchase inspection | Request a quote | For the current condition and gaps in registry data 6 |
| APK and any repairs | Request a quote | If the inspection is not carried over or repairs are needed 3 |
| Replacement CvO or translation | To be determined | If needed; check availability and acceptance in advance 3 |
| Trade price list or permitted valuation | Request a quote | Only a permitted BPM method; valuation is not automatically permitted 12 |
| Exceptional or additional RDW approval | To be determined | Only if RDW requires this for the vehicle 3 |
The amounts were checked separately on 13 September 2026. Do not add the transport alternatives together or produce a final total without quotes and tax inputs.
Checklist
| Action | Timing |
|---|---|
| Cross-check the DGT report, registered keeper, restrictions, ITV, mileage, VIN and documents | Before payment 6 |
| Have the technical condition independently inspected | Before payment 6 |
| Check authority; sign every contract page together or obtain the company invoice | Before payment 1 |
| Rule out a precinto/restriction; determine the ITP or VAT branch | Before the baja 1, 7 |
| Copy the registration documents; collect the original identity and vehicle documents | Before surrendering them to DGT 1, 3 |
| Complete the baja, keep the evidence and leave within 90 days | Before transport 1 |
| Choose green plates with ITV, insurance and recognition, or a carrier | After the baja 1, 2 |
| Arrange the RDW import inspection; bring the originals, ID and inspection evidence | After arrival 3 |
| File the BPM return using the correct CO2, rate and depreciation branch | After RDW approval 4, 11, 12 |
| Submit the special VAT return if required | If the VAT-new test applies 13, 14 |
| Arrange number plates and WA insurance from registration in your name, and check mrb | After Dutch approval 3, 5 |
| Arrange an APK immediately if the Spanish evidence is not carried over | After receiving the registration certificate 3 |
Frequently asked questions
Which documents should I keep for RDW if DGT retains the Spanish documents?
DGT retains the registration documents. Make BPM copies in advance and keep the baja/export evidence. RDW asks for the complete original foreign registration certificate and valid ID; verify the exact set. A CvO is optional, but CO2 can affect BPM. 1, 3
Can I drive to the Netherlands on ordinary Spanish plates after the baja?
No. After the baja, choose green plates or a vehicle transporter/recovery truck. Driving the car yourself requires valid ITV, compulsory insurance, and confirmed cover and recognition in every transit country. 1, 2
Does a valid Spanish ITV automatically become a Dutch APK?
No. Ask RDW to carry it over, presenting the original report, an entry on the registration certificate or a sticker; RDW will assess the request. Without accepted evidence or an RDW APK, arrange an APK immediately after receiving the registration certificate if the car is subject to APK. Delay can result in a fine. 3
Can I calculate the exact BPM before buying the car?
Only once you have the vehicle data and a permitted method. RDW's CO2 figure, the date of first registration, use and depreciation are decisive. A trade price list, the statutory table or a permitted valuation report may apply. The return follows RDW approval and transfer of the vehicle data. 4, 11, 12
When is Dutch VAT due on a car from Spain?
VAT-new means first used no more than six months ago or driven no more than 6,000 km; Dutch VAT and the special private return then apply. VAT-used requires more than six months and more than 6,000 km. Invoice or margin treatment may differ. 13, 14, 15
How long does it take for the Dutch registration documents to be issued after approval?
After both approvals, RDW states five working days for the registration certificate and two working days later for the full registration code, subject to postal delivery. Have the plates made, insure the car from registration in your name and check mrb within one month. 3, 5
Can CarAudit inspect a car in Spain and handle the import?
The site names Carvago Deutschland GmbH as the provider; the terms apply from 1 August 2026. The country list on 13 September 2026 included NL, AT, BE, CZ, DE, FR, IT, LU, PL, RO, SE and SK, but not Spain; availability at the location is confirmed in advance. ‘Within 48 hours after the inspection’, excluding weekends and public holidays, is indicative and depends on availability and circumstances. Access, time, weather and the ability to test-drive can impose limits. The inspection is not a guarantee, does not promise to find hidden defects and does not handle import administration. 16, 17
What does the full import from Spain to the Netherlands cost?
Not without vehicle data and quotes. The DGT and RDW amounts are listed separately; BPM, ITP or VAT, insurance, mrb, plates, transport, APK, repairs, documents and valuation depend on the applicable branch. 6, 1, 2, 7, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 5
Inspection: ask about the location first
Spain was not included in the public coverage list on 13 September 2026. 16 17
Considering an inspection? First ask whether one is available at the exact vehicle location in Spain and what conditions apply; route coverage has not been confirmed. 18
Sources
- Baja definitiva por traslado del vehículo a otro país
- Matrícula temporal — placas verdes
- Voertuig invoeren vanuit een Europees land
- Ik koop een motorrijtuig in het buitenland - hoe zit het met de bpm-aangifte?
- Motorrijtuigenbelasting
- Informe de un vehículo
- Modelo 620 — vehículos, embarcaciones y aeronaves usados (no residentes)
- Belasting van personenauto's en motorrijwielen (bpm)
- Eendagskenteken aanvragen
- Vrijstelling bpm en mrb bij kortstondig gebruik
- Hoe bereken ik de bpm voor een personenauto?
- Bpm afschrijving gebruikte motorrijtuigen
- Wat zijn nieuwe of bijna nieuwe vervoermiddelen?
- Aankoop van nieuwe en bijna nieuwe vervoermiddelen uit EU-landen
- Auto kopen of verkopen: btw
- CarAudit: koop een tweedehands auto nooit blind
- CarAudit-voorwaarden
- Contact
