Transfer registration number to the name of a company

• Your company is a legal entity: for example a BV, NV, VOF, foundation or society, and it is registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK). A foreign legal entity registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce can also register a vehicle registration number to the company.
• You are not self-employed (ZZP), and your company is not a shipping company, a professional partnership or a legal entity in formation.
• The registration certificate must be complete. Check this in advance with the seller of the vehicle. If the seller has lost (part of) the vehicle registration certificate and/or the ascription code, they must first apply for a new registration certificate or a new registration code with us. They cannot sell you the vehicle without it. If the vehicle registration certificate is in paper, it is not a problem if Part I or Part IA of the Vehicle Registration Certificate is missing.
• The RDW registration number check shows that transfer of ownership is possible: the vehicle has not been reported stolen or exported.    

Buying from a private person or a legal entity

1. Go to a vehicle registration counter, an RDW desk or a RDW testing station It may also be possible to transfer ownership of the vehicle online. For more information, see How to transfer ownership online. At some registration desks you can also transfer ownership on Sundays and in the evening.
2. Ask the seller of the vehicle:
   • the vehicle registration document in credit card form (registration card) together with the registration code or 
   • the original registration certificate (part 1B) and the Transfer certificate
3. Take these documents with you, together with a valid proof of identity and an extract from the Chamber of Commerce. (for more information, go to Identification when purchasing a vehicle.) A driving licence is not required.
4. Are you authorised by the company's authorised signatory? Also bring the signed authorisation form and a (copy of) proof of identity from the authorised signatory. (See Not present at transfer of ownership: sign authorisation.)
   Does the authorised signatory or the authorised representative use a foreign proof of identity? In that case, the vehicle cannot be transferred at a vehicle registration counter, but only at a RDW desk or RDW inspection station.
5. You will receive 2 documents from the desk assistant:
   • a vehicle log book containing the first 4 digits of the registration code.  
   • a certificate of indemnification. This is proof that the vehicle is no longer registered in the seller's name. You give this certificate to the seller. 
6. Now the vehicle is registered in your company's name and you have to meet the obligations that come with it. You can read which these obligations are under 'Vehicle obligations'. 
7. We will send you your new registration certificate and the second part of the registration code the next working day. If the registration number is transferred before 4 p.m., we will send the certificate the same day.
   Is your vehicle owned by a lease or finance company? You will receive the vehicle registration card either from us or from the lease company. We always send the registration code of a lease vehicle to the lease company.  
8. Tip: The registration code is often printed on a paper that looks like a receipt. Receipts are often thrown away, so take care to keep the numbers of the registration code safe. You can write down the first 4 digits on the letter you receive from us on the certificate that holds the second part of the code. Then you do not need to keep the receipt.

Not present at transfer of ownership: sign authorisation

You can have a vehicle registered in your company's name by someone else. To do this, you (the person authorised to sign on behalf of the legal entity) sign a one-time authorisation. This makes you the authorising person.

1. Fill in the authorisation form via the 'One-time Authorisation' button (only available in Dutch).
2. You need to provide the following information:
   • Your identification details and those of the person you authorise to act on your behalf (the authorised representative)
   • vehicle registration number and reporting code
   • details Chamber of Commerce extract
3. You will receive an e-mail with a link to the completed authorisation form. Print this form.
4. You (authorised signatory) sign the authorisation form.
5. The authorised representative takes the signed authorisation form to a vehicle registration counter, RDW desk or RDW inspection station to have the vehicle registered in the company's name. (See Buying from a private person or a legal entity)

Requirements for transferring ownership online

You need the following documents/information:

• The registration card and the registration code  of the vehicle you want to transfer. Online transfer is not possible with a 'paper' registration certificate.
• A valid Dutch passport, Dutch driving licence or Dutch identity card with chip. All passports and identity cards come with a chip. Driving licences issued after 14 November 2014 come with a chip.
• A personal eHerkenning tool with assurance level 3 (EH3) or a RDW certificate. You can apply for eHerkenning to an approved supplier.

How to transfer ownership online

1. Keep the registration card and registration code on hand.
2. Log in with your personal eHerkenning  tool (EH3) or your RDW certificate  to the service 'Transfer ownership of a vehicle' (only available in Dutch).
3. Fill in the requested details.
4. If you log in via eHerkenning, you pay the costs via iDEAL. Do you log in with a RDW certificate? In that case, you pay in the way you agreed with us (direct debit or payment after delivery).
5. You will receive several emails from us after you completed the online transfer of ownership. Only after you received the second e-mail, ownership of the vehicle has really been transferred. From that moment on, you are responsible for the obligations that come with owning a vehicle. See 'Vehicle obligations'.
6. In the third e-mail, you will find a link to the certificate of indemnification and the vehicle log book with the first part of the registration code. The vehicle log book is for you. You can download or print the certificate of indemnification and hand it to the seller. Please note: forwarding just the link does not work. The link in the email remains valid for 30 days.
7. You will receive the vehicle registration certificate and the second part of the registration code by post within 3-4 working days.

Is your vehicle owned by a lease or finance company? You will receive the vehicle registration card either from us or from the lease company. We always send the registration code of a lease vehicle to the lease company.

Do you want to register the vehicle in your company's name? You can read here how you can identify yourself.

Identification at a vehicle registration counter, RDW desk or RDW inspection station

When transferring the ownership of your vehicle to your company, you can use the following (valid) documents to identify yourself:

• Dutch driving licence of the authorised signatory showing his or her date of birth
• Dutch passport of the authorised signatory showing his or her citizen service number (BSN)
• Dutch identity card of the authorised signatory showing his or her citizen service number (BSN).

Identification at a RDW desk or RDW inspection station

You can use one of the following documents only if you go to an RDW inspection station or an RDW desk: 

• Identity card or driving licence from a EU  or EFTA  country showing your date of birth
• Diplomatic passport
• Dutch travel document for foreign nationals
• Dutch travel document for refugees
• Service passport
• Foreign passport.

Please note: you cannot register a vehicle with a residence permit.

Also bring an extract of the Chamber of Commerce

In addition to your identity document, you must submit (a copy of) a recent extract of the Chamber of Commerce (KvK). The extract must not be older than 1 year and must not be an extract downloaded from the internet. The extract must show the name of the authorised signatory.

One-time authorisation

Are you (the person authorised to sign) not doing the transfer yourself? In that case, the person doing the transfer (the authorised representative) must bring a one-time authorisation. (See the explanation at How to transfer ownership via a counter or a vehicle company).

Immediately check the transfer

After the transfer of ownership, you can immediately check whether the vehicle is registered in your name. You can check via ‘Mijn RDW ’. Log in as a private person (only available in Dutch). You'll need the DigiD app or DigiD with sms check.

Vehicle obligations

If the vehicle is registered in your name, you are responsible for the vehicle obligations. What these obligations are, is explained under 'Vehicle obligations'.

On the road without registration card

You have registered the vehicle in your name, but you haven't received the vehicle registration card yet? You can already drive on the Dutch road. The Dutch police can directly check the vehicle register for your details. You must be able to show your registration card within 14 days after the vehicle was transferred.
Please note: You are not allowed to drive your vehicle abroad without a registration certificate.

The fees for transferring ownership of a vehicle are always the same. It does not matter whether you transfer ownership with us or with a vehicle registration counter.

If you have a car, commercial car or camper registered to your (company) name, you must meet a number of obligations.

1. Insurance
2. APK (Periodic Technical Inspection)
3. Motor vehicle tax
4. Correct registration number plates

Insurance

A car, commercial car or camper must be insured from the moment it is registered in your name (in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act (WAM)).

You can take out liability insurance with an insurance company. This must be an insurance company authorised to make entries in the RDW's insurance register. This usually means that it has to be a Dutch company.

When you take out the insurance, the insurance company asks you for the reporting code. This reporting code consists of the last 4 digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN) . You can find the reporting code on the vehicle log book that you received when you bought the vehicle and on the registration card.

APK (Periodic Technical Inspection)

A car, commercial car or camper must be APK inspected (APK meaning Periodic Technical Inspection).

Motor vehicle tax (MRB)

You have to pay motor vehicle tax (MRB). When you register a vehicle registration certificate in your name, you automatically file a motor vehicle tax return at the same time. The Tax and Customs Administration will send you automatically an invoice for motor vehicle tax.
For more information on motor vehicle tax, go to the site of the Tax and Customs Administration.

Do you have a classic vehicle? You may be eligible for the tax arrangement for classic vehicles. Under this arrangement of the Tax and Customs Administration, you do not pay vehicle tax for your classic vehicle. However, you do have to comply with the insurance obligation and the APK obligation.
For more information about the classic vehicle arrangement, ("oldtimerregeling") go to the site of the Tax and Customs Administration.

Registration number plates

You must have the correct registration number plates on your (camping/commercial) car.

Suspend vehicle obligations

You can suspend the obligations that come with owning a (camping/commercial) car by taking the vehicle "off the road". This is called suspension.

Fines after routine checks of registered particulars

We check the insurance register and the inspection register daily. This way we can immediately see whether a vehicle is insured and APK-approved. Each vehicle is checked in both registers at least once a year (100 percent check). We perform these checks on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Security.
 
If your car is not insured, you will be fined by the Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB) in Leeuwarden. If your car is not APK approved, you will also be fined by the CJIB. The Tax and Customs Administration checks via the vehicle register whether you have to pay motor vehicle tax (MRB) for your vehicle. If you do not pay (on time), you will be fined by the Tax and Customs Administration.

Amount of the fine

You can find the amount of the fine here (only available in Dutch). 

Do you deregister your company from the Company Register? In that case, you cannot have any vehicle registered under the name of this company. Make sure the vehicles have been transferred to another company or to the name of a private individual. Do you need to transfer ownership of more than 50 vehicles? See Transferring large numbers of registration certificates (only available in Dutch).

A vehicle of a discontinued company may no longer be used on the public road. The police can seize your vehicle at the time of a check. 

Change only the company's name and/or address

If only the name or address of your company changes, but not the registration with the Chamber of Commerce? You are not obligated to transfer registration certificates. Name and address details are updated automatically in our vehicle register.

There may be circumstances, however, in which is it is wise to update your vehicle registration certificates after all. Incorrect name and address details on the registration certificate can cause problems abroad. Do you want to change the name and address on the vehicle registration certificate? Use the button You have lost your registration certificate.

Different company registration number

If your company continues but is registered with a different number with the Chamber of Commerce, you also must transfer the vehicles to the company with this new company registration number. This is necessary, for example, if the legal form of your company has changed. Does your company change into a one-person business? In that case, you must transfer the vehicles to your own name.