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RDW suspension

Are you not using your car for an extended period of time? Perhaps you are staying abroad for an extended period of time, you have had an operation that prevents you from driving for an extended period of time, or the car is not intended for daily use. Then it is wise to suspend the registration of your car. You can save a lot of unnecessary costs. During the suspension you do not have to meet the vehicle obligations(third-party car insurance, motor vehicle tax and MOT). Suspension and de-suspension of your license plate can easily be done online via the website of the Dutch Road Transport Agency (RDW), at the license plate counter, RDW desk or RDW inspection station. All information regarding RDW suspension can be found below!

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rdw suspend

What does suspension mean exactly?

When you are not using your car for a longer period of time, you can suspend the vehicle. Suspending means putting it temporarily out of action. A suspension of the validity of the vehicle registration certificate is requested. So you temporarily suspend the registration number of your vehicle. You then no longer have to meet the vehicle requirements, namely the motor vehicle tax, third-party insurance and the MOT. The motor vehicle tax stops automatically. You do have to cancel the car insurance yourself. The suspension is valid for 1, 2 or 3 years and is valid from the date that you register the suspension until exactly 1, 2 or 3 years later, depending on what you have chosen as the suspension period.

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What do I need?

If you want to suspend the registration of your car online, you need your DigiD to log in. Are you not in possession of a DigiD? Then you can apply for one free of charge at www.digid.nl. In addition, you need the registration number of your car and the ability to make payments through online banking. When you suspend your car at a vehicle registration office, RDW counter or RDW testing station, you have two options. Option 1: you have an original valid proof of identity, a transfer certificate and a registration certificate. Option 2: you have an original valid proof of identity, a vehicle registration card and a registration code.

How can I suspend my car?

You can suspend the registration number of your car online, but also at the vehicle registration desk, the RDW desk or the RDW testing station. You can suspend the registration number of your car online on the RDW website. You can then do the suspension at any time of the day, so at a time that is convenient for you. If you prefer to arrange the suspension via an office, you can do so at a vehicle registration desk, RDW counter or RDW inspection station.

Online Suspension

Step 1: Go to 'Request suspension or renewal' and log in with your DigiD.
Step 2: Fill in the requested data at DigiD and then you will enter the RDW environment.
Step 3: Select the license plate of the vehicle you want to suspend.
Step 4: Choose how long you want to suspend the vehicle (1, 2 or 3 years).
Step 5: Pay the costs via iDEAL.
Step 6: You will receive a confirmation of the request by email.
Step 7: Pay attention! The license plate is only suspended once you have received a second mail from the RDW. The RDW will send you a new registration certificate within 5 working days with the (expected) end date of the suspension. Print and keep this e-mail carefully. This e-mail is your proof of the suspension.
Step 8: The RDW notifies the Belangdienst that the license plate has been suspended. The motor vehicle tax stops automatically but you must stop the insurance yourself.

Suspension at a vehicle registration desk, RDW counter or RDW testing station

Step 1: Go to the license plate counter, RDW counter or RDW inspection station.
Sap 2: Choose how long you want to suspend your vehicle (1, 2 or 3 years).
Step 3: Pay the fees.
Step 4: The license plate is immediately suspended.
Sap 5: You will receive a suspension report from the clerk that includes the (expected) end date of the suspension. Keep this suspension report well, this is your proof of the suspension.
Step 6: The RDW notifies the Belangdienst that the license plate has been suspended. The motor vehicle tax stops automatically but you must stop the insurance yourself.

Suspend car: where to park?

Your suspended car may not be on public roads in the Netherlands or abroad. The car is also not allowed to be parked along the public road. This means that the car has to be parked on your own property or in a closed garage. A public parking garage counts as a public road and is therefore not allowed. You risk a high fine if your suspended car is parked in a public place anyway.

How often may you suspend a car?

Before 2019, an additional high penalty rate of €120 was applied if you suspended your car under 15 years of age multiple times within 1 year. This rule has now changed. You may now suspend your car as often as you like. However, you will pay the high suspension rate each time.

RDW suspending a car

Suspending a car is done via the RDW. Where you used to have to go to the post office, nowadays a suspension can be arranged very easily online. You can suspend the use of a car if you are planning not to use the car for a while, for example because of a lengthy repair, because you are going abroad for a long time, because you cannot drive in it for a while due to an operation or because the car is part of a collection and not intended for daily use. By suspending the car, you avoid unnecessary costs, because you no longer have to meet the vehicle obligations. Are you selling a car of which the license plate has been suspended? Then you do not have to do anything. The suspension will expire as soon as the seller has the vehicle transferred into his/her name.

RDW lifting suspension

After the indicated suspension period of 1, 2 or 3 years, the suspension will automatically end. You will receive a reminder from RDW 1 month before the suspension expires. It is also possible to lift the suspension of your vehicle earlier if you want to drive with your vehicle on the public roads again. The minimum suspension period is 1 month. When you terminate the suspension of your vehicle within 1 month after the start of the suspension, you must still pay motor vehicle tax over the period in which the registration certificate was suspended. You will pay this motor vehicle tax over the suspension period by means of an additional levy. When the suspension is lifted, you must immediately fulfil all of the vehicle obligations again.

RDW suspensions prolongation

If you want to suspend your car for a longer period, it is possible to extend the suspension. Extending the suspension can be done at the latest on the end date of the suspension. Extending the suspension can be done from up to 6 weeks before the end date of the suspension. The expiry date will then remain the same as the end date of the old suspension. If you extend the suspension before the maximum of 6 weeks (before the end date of the suspension), you will not keep the old expiry date. The new expiry date is the date the new suspension was extended plus 1, 2 or 3 years. You will receive a reminder from RDW 1 month before the suspension expires. You can extend the suspension online, but also at the vehicle registration desk, the RDW counter and the RDW testing station.

RDW suspension costs

Applying for and renewing a suspension costs money. The exact cost of a suspension depends on the type and age of your car. Is your car up to 14 years old? Then you pay what is known as the "normal rate. Is your car 15 years old or older? Then you pay the so-called "low rate. Extending a suspension falls under the low suspension rate. Unfortunately, you will not get a refund if you end the suspension earlier.

RDW suspension of vehicle registration

When suspending your car, the registration number of your car is suspended. The validity of the registration certificate is then suspended. In other words, you temporarily suspend the registration number of your vehicle. The RDW registers the suspension in the vehicle registry. The vehicle registration certificate (paper/credit card format) remains valid after the suspension. You will not receive a new vehicle registration certificate after the suspension.

RDW suspension business

When you decide not to use the vehicle in your company's name for a longer period of time, you can suspend the registration of your business vehicle. The third-party insurance, motor vehicle tax and MOT will then be temporarily suspended. You can immediately suspend your business vehicle for 1, 2 or 3 years. From that moment on, the vehicle may no longer be found on the public highway. In order to use the RDW service, you must be registered with the RDW as a business customer or as an authorised representative.

RDW suspension conditions

Suspending your car is subject to a number of conditions.

  • You can only suspend your car if the vehicle is in your name
  • Is the licence plate registered to your company? Then you can also suspend it
  • You must be in possession of a complete registration certificate
  • The suspension shall take effect immediately after the request
  • Your suspended car may not be on the public highway

RDW suspension and APK

You are not allowed to use public roads when your car is suspended. However, there is an exception to this rule. You may drive your suspended car to the inspection company for an MOT. Your car must have a valid MOT when the suspension expires or is terminated by you. On the day of the inspection you drive the shortest route to the inspection company and back to the address where your car is stored.

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  • 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. In case of business use, you can enter the postal code of the company here.

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