What is a certificate of indemnity?

As long as the vehicle registration has not been transferred to a new owner, the seller remains liable for vehicle tax, auto insurance, the APK inspection, and any traffic tickets. It is therefore important to ALWAYS make sure you receive the certificate of release when selling a vehicle. It happens all too often that the buyer says they will send it later. However, this does not always happen, which means the previous owner thinks they have sold the vehicle while it is still registered in their name—with all the associated obligations and consequences.

You will need to bring the following items with you:

• Valid identification
• Certificate of Registration
• Proof of Transfer
• If necessary, an extract from the Chamber of Commerce

Upon sale, the seller is required to transfer Part I B and Part II of the vehicle registration certificate to the person who has become the owner of the vehicle. The seller is also required to retain Part I A of the vehicle registration certificate until the buyer has returned both the certificate of transfer and the old Part I B. Once this has been done, Part I A of the vehicle registration certificate may be given to the buyer.

Cost of a Certificate of Indemnity for a Car

There is a fee for suspension. For most vehicles, the suspension fee is €71.50 per year. For certain special categories of vehicles, the fee is €23.90 per vehicle per year.

The suspension fee for mopeds is €10.50. If you want to extend a suspension, the fee for the second year is €23.90. This fee is the same for all vehicles, except for mopeds. If you lift the suspension on a vehicle and want to suspend the same vehicle again within a year, the fee is €119.00.

The fee for re-suspending registration within one year for special categories of vehicles is €23.90. The suspension fee of €23.90 applies to:
. vehicles 15 years old or older
. motorcycles
. commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 3,500 kg
. trailers and semi-trailers with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 750 kg

I lost my certificate of indemnity. What should I do now?

If you don't have a certificate of indemnification, you can request a printout from the RDW. You can also do this online using your DigiD. This document will also indicate when you transferred ownership of the vehicle. Click here for more information.

Canceling Car Insurance After a No-Fault Claim

The auto insurance company is not automatically notified. You must notify your insurer or broker yourself that the vehicle has been sold.

Cancel Vehicle Tax

This happens automatically. Once the transfer is complete, you are no longer considered the owner by the tax authorities, and you no longer have to pay vehicle tax.

Canceling an APK Inspection

The APK inspection remains mandatory for the vehicle, but since you are no longer the owner, you will no longer receive a reminder from the RDW.