Lost registration certificate

If you have lost part of your registration certificate, request a new one from the RDW. This applies to both your registration card and your registration code. Apply for yourself or for someone else. Make sure you can always show your proofs and do not keep them in the car.

Get car insurance

Car papers stolen

To be safe on the road, in addition to having a car insurance you also need car papers. These papers allow you to show that the car is in your name and insured.

Are your car papers stolen and you do not have a registration card and/or registration code anymore? Then apply for a new one via the website of the National Road Transport Agency (RDW).

Cost if you lose the registration certificate

A new registration card and registration code costs €39.80

Re-applying for the registration code costs €1.25

Transfer certificate is now registration code

There used to be a registration certificate part 3: the transfer certificate. From January 1, 2014, this was replaced by the registration code. This is the part you need to transfer the license plate and which you must keep at home.

Without Part 3 registration certificate, you could not sell the vehicle. In fact, you needed Part 3 to convert the registration certificate to the new owner at the post office.

Registration code lost

You need a registration code if you sell, scrap or suspend your car. Do you still have the registration card, but have you lost the registration code? Then you do not need to apply for a new registration code. You can download a new registration code online at the RDW.

Requesting a new registration code for yourself

Apply for a new registration code via the RDW website. Is the vehicle in your name and do you have DigiD? Or is the vehicle in your company name and do you have eRecognition? Then you can download the complete code of 9 digits directly.

Step 1

Go to lost registration code on the RDW website.

Step 2

Go to registration code direct download, log in with DigiD or eHerkenning and request your new registration code.

Step 3

Pay the fee of €1.25 with iDEAL.

Step 4

You will receive 2 emails from the RDW within a few minutes. The second email contains the link to your new registration code. You may have to log in again to download the code.

Step 5

The registration code will remain in front of you for 40 days. Save the file with the registration code and keep it safe.

Step 6

After receiving your new registration code, the old code is no longer valid. Your registration number does remain the same.

Applying for a registration code for someone else

Applying for a registration code for someone else differs from applying for yourself.

Step 1

Go to the heading Apply for someone else or without DigiD or eHerkenning on the lost registration code page of RDW.

Step 2

Make sure you have the report code handy. The report code consists of the last 4 digits of the vehicle identification number.

Step 3

Request a new registration code using the Request Registration Code button . Choose Request only registration code. Pay the costs via iDEAL.

Step 4

The vehicle owner receives the complete 9-digit code by mail. The RDW sends the code to the address registered with the municipality.

Step 5

In the schedule on the RDW website, you can see when you will receive the registration code.

Step 6

After receiving the new registration code, the old code is no longer valid. The registration number does remain the same.

Lost registration card

Has your registration card been lost, stolen or damaged? Then apply for a new registration card at the RDW. You can do this yourself or give someone else permission. When you apply for a new registration card, you will automatically receive a new registration code.

Do you still have the old, paper form of the registration certificate? You also need a new registration certificate if you have lost part of it, such as your transfer certificate. An application for a replacement registration certificate is only possible if the vehicle is in your name.

Step 1

Go to license plate application via RDW.

Step 2

Grab the four-digit report code. Note: this is not the same as the registration code (9 digits). Read on the RDW website where to find the report code.

Step 3

Click on Apply for registration certificate. Choose Apply for Registration Card with registration code. You pay the cost of €39.80 via iDEAL.

Step 4

You will receive a new registration certificate (registration card) and automatically a registration code as well.

Step 5

The RDW sends the registration certificate to the registered owner's address as registered with the municipality.

Step 6

Did you have a paper registration certificate? If so, cut the old paper license plate parts after receiving your new license plate. Did you have a registration card? Then throw away the "old" registration code. This is no longer valid.

Step 7

Good to know: you keep the same license plate.

No more need for new license plates

If you lose your registration papers, you do not have to purchase new license plates. The same applies the other way around: if your license plate is lost or stolen, you do not have to apply for new papers. Previously, this was required, which cost vehicle owners unnecessary money and caused the RDW extra work.

Therefore, the RDW has arranged that the registration certificate and license plates each have their own duplicate code. If 1 of the 2 goes missing, you only need to replace the missing product.

Duplicate code

The duplicate code is a number found on the license plate and registration papers. When the registration certificate is replaced, both receive the same duplicate code. This link helps deter the misuse of stolen or lost license plates and registration certificates.

Car papers stolen from leased car

Do you have a leased car and your car papers have been stolen? If so, contact the leasing company. Only the owner can request a new registration certificate and new registration code for the vehicle. In this case, that is the leasing company. They will send the new registration card to you.

Never keep registration documents in the car

Do not keep your registration certificate in the car. If your car is stolen and you also lose your license plate, some insurers may not pay out. During an inspection, the police will ask for your license and registration. So always keep these with you while driving, for example in your wallet. Keep the registration code safe at home.

Do you still have a paper registration certificate? Then you must be able to show part 1A (vehicle certificate) and part 1B (registration certificate) if the police ask for them. Part 1A contains information about the car and part 1B about the current license plate holder.

Keep part II, the transfer certificate, at home, because it is needed for the transfer. If you lose part I and II, the car can easily be put in another name.

Frequently asked questions about lost registration certificate

How long will it take to receive a new registration certificate?

When you apply for a new registration certificate through the RDW, you usually receive it in the mail within a few business days. It is sent to the address registered with the municipality. If you only apply for a new registration code, you can download it directly online (when applying with DigiD or eHerkenning).

What is the difference between a registration card and registration code?

The registration card is the physical proof of your vehicle's registration and includes your license plate number and vehicle information. The registration code is a separate 9-digit code you need to sell, suspend or scrap the vehicle. You keep this code safely at home, separate from the registration card.

Compare your car insurance premiums online!

License plate

Unknown

Postal code

To calculate premiums, we need the zip code of the primary driver. For private use, the youngest driver must reside at the same address as the applicant. For business use, you can enter the company's zip code here.

House number Addition