What is a certificate of indemnity?
A release certificate is a document proving that the registration number of a sold vehicle is no longer in your name. You receive this certificate when you sell the vehicle.
Read all about the new registration certificatehere .
As long as the registration of a license plate has not been transferred to a new owner, the seller remains liable for road tax, car insurance, MOT and any fines. It is therefore important to ALWAYS make sure that you receive the indemnification certificate when selling. It is too common for the buying party to indicate that they will send it later. However, this does not always happen, leaving the old owner thinking they have sold the vehicle while it is still in their name with all the obligations and consequences that entails.
Documents required for transfer
When you want to transfer a license plate, you can do so at various postal agencies. Not every PostNL post office is allowed to perform license plate registration. Therefore, check on the PostNL site which offices in your area may also perform a license plate registration. You will need to bring the following items with you:
- Valid identification
- Registration certificate
- Transfer certificate
- If necessary, an extract from the Chamber of Commerce
At the time of sale, the selling party is obliged to transfer Part I B and Part II of the registration certificate to the party that has become the owner of the vehicle. The selling party is also obliged to retain the Part I A of the registration certificate until the purchasing party has returned the indemnification certificate AND the old Part I B. If this has happened, the registration certificate can be returned to the purchasing party. Once this has happened, the registration certificate part 1 A may be given to the buyer.
Cost of car release certificate
Suspension involves costs. Suspension costs €71.50 per year for most vehicles. For some special categories of vehicles the cost is € 23.90 per vehicle per year.
The suspension fee for mopeds is €10.50. If you want to renew a suspension, the cost for the second year is €23.90. This fee is the same for all vehicles except mopeds. If you lift a suspension of a vehicle and want to suspend the same vehicle again within a year, the cost is € 119.00.
The rate for re-suspension within one year for special categories of vehicles is €23.90. The suspension rate of €23.90 applies to:
. vehicles of 15 years and older
. motorcycles
. commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 3500 kg .
. trailers and semi-trailers with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 750 kg.
I've lost my release certificate, what do I do now?
If you do not have a release certificate, it is possible to request a printout from the RDW. This can also be done online with your DigiD. This also shows when you have transferred the vehicle. Look for more information.
Termination of car insurance after release
The car insurance company will not be notified automatically. You must notify your insurer or agent yourself that the vehicle has been sold.
Cancellation of road tax
This does happen automatically. After the transfer, you are no longer an owner for the Tax Department and no longer have to pay road tax.
Cancelling MOT inspections
The MOT inspection remains mandatory for the vehicle but because you are no longer the owner, you will no longer receive a reminder from the RDW.
Related pages about the release certificate
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