apply for a one-day licence

If you take your car to the testing station yourself, you need to apply to RDW for a free one-day registration certificate. You can apply for this registration certificate when you make an appointment for the inspection. The application for a one-day registration certificate from RDW may take a few days and will be sent to you as soon as possible.

With the one-day licence plate you can transport your car to the inspection station. The registration number is only valid in the Netherlands and only on the day of the test. When you take your car to the inspection station, you must affix the one-day registration number in black letters to a plate with a white background and mount it on your car. This does not have to be an original licence plate.

If, for example, you have bought your car in Germany, you can drive to the inspection station with the one-day registration number. Since the registration number is only valid in the Netherlands, when you cross the border you will have to replace your temporary foreign registration number with your one-day licence plate.

Import examination without appointment

You can present your imported vehicle on working days from 08.00 to 12.00 hours without an appointment at a RDW testing station for a license plate inspection. This applies to vehicles not heavier than 3500 kg. For vehicles heavier than 3500 kg, you must make an appointment.

Exceptions are:
Tricycles and quads, Mondays and Tuesdays only without appointment
Mopeds (by appointment only)
Vehicles from outside the EU/EFTA (e.g. America), which were put into service after December 31, 1997 and do not have a CVO (by appointment only)

A CVO is the written proof that a manufacturer can issue for a vehicle built according to a certain type approval. With a CVO you can prove that the vehicle meets the approval requirements.

RDW processes the applications in order of arrival. This arrangement is based on the principle of saving time for you. However, if it is particularly busy, the employee at the inspection station will make an appointment with you on a new date.

How do I make an appointment for an examination by telephone?

To make an inspection appointment, you can contact an employee of a RDW testing station by telephone. They can also give you information on the documents you need to bring along. The telephone number is: 0900-0739 (€ 0.10 p/m). The inspection stations are open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 12.15 pm and from 1 pm to 4.45 pm.