MOT inspection: what does it all entail?

When MOT inspection

If a passenger car or light commercial vehicle (up to 3,500 kg) has previously been MOT approved, you can rely on the date stated on the MOT inspection report. You received this with the previous inspection. Before this date, the car must have been approved again. If your car has not been inspected before, you can see in the MOT inspection schedule when your car should be inspected for the first time. It also tells you how often your car should be inspected. If the fuel of your car changes, it may be that it needs to be inspected more often or less often.

Cost of MOT inspection

The average cost of an MOT inspection is different for everyone. Prices for a separate MOT inspection range from €19 to about €75. For an MOT inspection for a diesel car you will spend more money than for a petrol car. Some garages also charge extra for the soot measurement, four-gas test or the registration of the car. This is only the price you pay for the inspection itself. If defects are found during the MOT inspection that need to be repaired, there will also be an additional cost. In addition to the MOT costs, you will then also have to deal with repair costs.

MOT inspection points

There are several points an inspector looks for when performing an MOT inspection. These are the repair, advisory and rejection points. Repair points are things that need to be repaired before approval can be given. Rejection points are points on which the car has been rejected. If a car has been rejected, it is no longer suitable for use on public roads. It must then be repaired. Advice points are points that do not immediately lead to APK rejection, but which you must replace or repair soon. For example, advice points about the tires, brakes or belts and airbags. At some point, these items wear out and need to be replaced.

MOT inspection without appointment

For an MOT inspection you can go to a car company or garage with RDW recognition. You can recognize these garages or inspection stations by the orange/white RDW recognition shield. Usually you will be asked to make an appointment for the inspection. However, there are also a number of garages where you can go without an appointment. These garages often advertise "Ready while you wait". Always check whether the garage has RDW recognition.

MOT inspection too late

If your MOT expiration date has passed and you forgot to get the car inspected you are no longer allowed to drive your car on public roads. If you do, you risk a fine of €130. Moreover, the RDW checks the inspection register regularly. So your car does not necessarily have to be stopped to receive a fine. After the expiration date, you may only take your car to an inspection station. You must then also be able to prove that you have an appointment to have the car re-inspected.

MOT inspection report

After the MOT you will receive an inspection report. The MOT inspection report states the result of your MOT inspection. The MOT inspection report is prepared by an MOT inspector. The MOT inspector makes an overview of three categories: repair, advisory and rejection points. On this basis it is determined whether your car is approved or rejected. You will also find the expiration date of the MOT in the inspection report. The car must be re-inspected before the expiration date.

MOT inspection requirements

During an MOT inspection, the MOT inspector checks whether your car meets safety and environmental requirements and whether the car is properly registered in the vehicle registration register. He also pays attention to various MOT inspection points. These are divided into repair, advisory and rejection points. An important inspection point, for example, is the tires. Damage and tread thickness are examined. Lights, belts and bodywork are also examined.

MOT inspection papers

You do not need to bring any papers with you to the MOT inspection. Using the chassis number, in combination with the registration number, they can identify your car. Until March 1, 2010 it was necessary to bring the registration certificate part I. However, this is no longer necessary today. Now they use the basic vehicle register of the RDW. You do not need to bring anything to your inspection appointment.

MOT inspection date check

Not sure what the expiration date of your MOT is? Then you can do a license plate check on the RDW website. You enter the license plate number of your car. Then you will get insight into the historical data of the car. Because the license plate check is public, it shows only non-privacy-sensitive data about the vehicle. In addition to the APK expiration date, for example, you can also see how many pounds the vehicle can tow, how many seats it has and when the vehicle was first registered in the Netherlands.

MOT expired

Of course, it can happen that you forget to get your car inspected before the expiration date. Good to know is that without an approved MOT you are not allowed to drive your car on public roads. After the expiration date you will not immediately receive a fine from the RDW for expired MOT. You have up to two months after the expiration date to still have your car inspected without the RDW performing a register check. After these two months, the car must be APK-approved or the license plate must be suspended.

MOT expiration date

Six weeks before the MOT on your car expires, the RDW will send you a reminder letter. You will receive this by mail or online via the RDW's Berichtenbox, depending on what you have set up. This letter contains the exact expiration date of your MOT. This is how the RDW tries to encourage you to take action on time. Always keep a close eye on the expiration date yourself, because you as the owner of the vehicle remain responsible for getting it inspected on time. 'I haven't had a letter' is not a valid excuse for letting the MOT expire. You can look up the expiration date yourself, both on your last inspection report and on the RDW website.

MOT inspection stations

You can have your car inspected at an RDW inspection station. These are located throughout the Netherlands. You can easily make the inspection appointment at an RDW inspection station online:

1. Go to "Make an inspection appointment."
2. Keep the Dutch registration number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) handy
3. Please fill in all requested information
4. After the appointment has been requested, you will receive an email containing the date and time of your appointment

MOT check

Do a MOT check? Through the website of the RDW you can do a license plate check. Not only can you check the APK expiration date, but you will also gain direct insight into the vehicle's historical data. For example, you can also see how many kilos the vehicle can tow, how many seats it has and when the vehicle was first registered in the Netherlands. You can also find the daily value of your car here. So an APK check is useful for several things.

New MOT rules

The RDW constantly monitors road safety and which rules can still be adjusted. Following a growing number of complaints about dazzling lights on cars and trucks, a number of new MOT rules for headlight adjusters and the light display have been in place since Jan. 1, 2021. For example, digital headlight adjusters are allowed in addition to analog headlight adjusters.

Car MOT inspection

An MOT inspection must be performed by garage companies and MOT inspection stations licensed by the RDW. An APK inspection assesses the state of repair of the vehicle based on inspection requirements. An MOT inspection is not a service, but in practice it is often combined with one. If the vehicle has passed the MOT, the owner receives an inspection report. This allows the owner to drive for another year. Since 1994, every passenger car or company car that is 3 years or older and not heavier than 3500 kilograms must undergo an annual MOT inspection.

MOT re-inspection

If a vehicle has been rejected for MOT, you will receive an inspection report from the inspection station. This report indicates the points on which the vehicle does not meet the requirements of the MOT inspection. You are responsible for resolving these points. Subsequently, an MOT re-inspection can take place. The APK re-inspection is seen by RDW as a complete new inspection. It is therefore possible that during a re-inspection other issues will be encountered. Especially if you go to a different inspection station or get a different inspector at the re-inspection of your vehicle.

MOT inspection expired

Six weeks before your MOT expires, you will receive a letter from the RDW stating the exact expiration date. With this letter, the RDW tries to encourage people to make an appointment for an MOT inspection on time. You can also view the expiration date online on the RDW website. 'I did not receive a letter' is therefore not a valid excuse for letting your MOT expire. If the RDW discovers that your MOT has expired you will receive a fine.