How does importing a moped work?
A moped that is registered abroad must be tested in the Netherlands via an established procedure. A distinction is made between an import from an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country and a non-EU EFTA country. When importing from Great Britain, you must take into account the consequences of a possible Brexit! It is also possible that you are moving to the Netherlands and taking the moped with you as a "removal good". We will briefly look at the conditions that you and the moped must meet and discuss the inspection of the moped by the Road Transport Department (RDW).
Some conditions concerning you and the moped.
You have to be registered in the "Basisregistratie Personen (BRP)" and be at least 16 years old. If you want to register in the name of your company, the company must be a legal entity established in the Netherlands. You appear in person (for a company, you must have signing authority). As far as the moped is concerned, the registration does not depend on the technical condition of the moped. RDW can, however, declare the registration certificate invalid if the moped clearly constitutes a danger to road safety. Please note that RDW does carry out a thorough inspection of mopeds built before 01/01/1978.
To be allowed on the road in the Netherlands, the moped must be inspected. The RDW inspection station checks whether the foreign registration can be taken over. You can make an appointment for an inspection online. If you are not transporting the moped on a trailer or car ambulance, you can apply online for a one-day registration for the inspection. If you are driving to the Netherlands from abroad, ask the foreign authorities in advance if this is possible. If you are importing from a non-EU/EFTA country (or if you built the moped yourself), a so-called "admission inspection" is required. The moped must meet certain requirements of road safety, noise, lights, environment, etc. This technical inspection is done at the RDW test center in Lelystad or at home. You can also have an inspection at other RDW testing stations when:
- you import the vehicle as removal goods.
- the moped has previously had a Dutch registration number.
- the moped was first put on the road before 01/01/2006.
- the moped has a European type approval (ask the manufacturer or importer).
You move to the Netherlands and take your moped with you.
If you move to the Netherlands from another EU/EFTA country, you can still drive with the foreign license plate for some time. You ask the Tax Administration how long this is possible. When moving from a non-EU/EFTA country, in addition to the usual documents, take the import document (with the notation "removal goods") with you. After the inspection, you will still have to declare the "Taxation of Passenger Cars and Motorcycles (BPM)(see Tax Office). Upon approval by the inspection services and the Tax Office, you will receive the registration certificate.
The (documents for the) inspection and the registration certificate.
You will bring all necessary documents such as the original foreign vehicle registration certificate, your proof of identity and any other relevant documents (e.g. Certificate of Conformity) in your possession. The RDW will send you the Dutch registration certificate within 5 working days. Then have the license plate made at an approved license plate manufacturer and take out moped insurance. You are now ready to drive the moped in the Netherlands!
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