Fine RDW not insured
Is your vehicle not insured? You run the risk of a €500 fine from the RDW. The RDW checks this strictly. In most cases, you will first receive a warning from the RDW for uninsured driving. From the Police, you can also receive a fine of €700.
Get car insuranceWhy you can get fines from the RDW
Bought a new car? Once a license plate is in your name, you are liable for motor vehicle taxes, car insurance and the General Periodic Inspection (APK). This applies even if you are not using or parking the vehicle on your own property. Without insurance you risk high fines from the RDW and the Police for uninsured driving.
The RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer) oversees the insurance obligation of vehicles in the Netherlands. The RDW manages the license plate register and compares it with the database of insurers: the Central Register of Motor Insurance Liability Act (CRWAM). If there is no active insurance linked to your vehicle, this is automatically noted.
Take immediate action
Do you receive a warning or fine from the RDW? Pay the fine on time, take out car insurance or object if you think it is unjustified. This will prevent the situation from getting out of hand and you from facing even bigger problems.
Fine uninsured driving 2025
In 2025, the RDW's standard fine for an uninsured vehicle is €500. This fine applies to passenger cars, campers, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, agricultural vehicles and mobile machinery. The fine for an uninsured moped, moped or scooter is €460.
So make sure all your vehicles are insured. You will receive the fine for uninsured driving from the Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB).
Difference fine RDW and the Police
In addition to the RDW fine, you can also be fined by the Police for uninsured driving. Whereas the RDW only enforces administratively, the Police act on actual violations on the road. You will be fined if you are actually caught driving without at least third-party insurance. For example, during a traffic check.
The Police traffic fine for an uninsured vehicle is €700. This is a criminal offense with potentially more serious consequences: a higher fine, a criminal record or even confiscation of the vehicle.
First a warning, then a fine
Have you not insured the vehicle within 28 days of its registration? Then you will receive a warning letter from the RDW. This letter states that the vehicle registered in your name is not insured.
After the warning letter, you have time to still insure the vehicle or your insurance company can still register the license plate with the RDW.
Second letter
After the first letter, you will receive a second letter. In this letter, the RDW asks for an article 34 WAM statement. If you did not have valid insurance on the RDW's reference date, the RDW can impose a fine.
Do you have insurance? Request a section 34 statement
Is your car insured and you still get a fine? Contact your insurance company or intermediary as soon as possible. They can check, if you are insured, whether something went wrong with the registration of the vehicle with the RDW.
In that case, you can request an Article 34 WAM statement from the insurance company. This statement states that you were insured on the relevant reference date. With this you can prove that you fulfilled the insurance obligation.
If you still have not insured the vehicle or have insured it too late, the insurance company cannot help you in all cases. For example, in the case where you have not taken out insurance at all, the insurance company cannot do anything for you.
Contact the RDW
Do you receive a fine for uninsured driving, but are convinced that your vehicle was insured and want to contest the fine? Contact your insurer and the RDW immediately to discuss the situation.
Collect all relevant data, such as policy numbers, proof of payment, and contact with your insurer. If it turns out that the fine was imposed unfairly, it can be withdrawn.
Suspending a license plate
Are you not using a vehicle (temporarily)? Or are you selling, scrapping or exporting the car? Then you can have the license plate suspended at the RDW. If your vehicle is suspended, you are exempt from the obligation to pay third-party insurance, road tax and MOT inspection.
This prevents a fine from the RDW for uninsured driving. During the suspension period, you are not allowed to drive the vehicle on public roads.
Please note that if the suspension expires and you have not re-suspended the vehicle you are again required to insure the vehicle to avoid fines.
No warning letter from RDW in case of suspension
When you cancel or suspend your vehicle's insurance, you do not receive a warning letter from the RDW. They only perform the inspection. You will receive a letter immediately in these situations informing you that you must submit an article 34 WAM statement. Otherwise, you can be fined.
Clearance certificate
When buying or selling a vehicle, it is very important to make sure that your vehicle(s) are insured. Only with a certificate of indemnification or a certificate of suspension do you have no insurance obligation. With this certificate you show that you are no longer liable for the vehicle.
According to the RDW, it is common for people to sell a vehicle but not transfer the registration number. They then report the new vehicle to the insurance company, but forget that they are still liable for the old vehicle until it is transferred.
The consequences of a fine for uninsured driving
Uninsured driving is a criminal offense. If you do not pay an imposed fine, the consequences can quickly become more serious. The fine may be increased and eventually you may be issued a citation and may end up in criminal court. This can cause you to have a criminal record.
A criminal record, in turn, can affect such things as your job, a mortgage or applying for a visa. Insurance companies may also start to see you as a risk. Getting new insurance may become more difficult or expensive if you have a criminal record.
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Frequently asked questions about a fine from the RDW
What happens if you don't have your car insured?
You may then receive a fine from the RDW for uninsured driving. The RDW checks digitally and takes immediate action as soon as it appears that your vehicle is not insured.
Also, insurance does not pay out if you are involved in an accident.
Can you object to a fine?
If so, contact your insurer and the RDW as soon as possible. With an article 34 WAM declaration you show that you were insured on a certain date or during a certain period.
Is insurance required if you don't use the car?
Yes, as long as your vehicle is not officially suspended from the RDW, it must remain insured. Even if the vehicle is stationary in the garage or on private property.
What if your insurance has just expired for a day?
Even then you can be fined. The RDW works with daily registrations, so even one day without insurance can result in a fine for an uninsured car.
Who is responsible for insurance after a vehicle is sold?
Until the vehicle is officially transferred and you receive a release certificate, you remain responsible for insurance, taxes and any fines.
How do you avoid an RDW fine?
Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, always make sure you have valid auto insurance for your car, motorcycle or other vehicle. Pay your premium on time and make sure your insurance is not inadvertently discontinued.
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