Suspending an oldtimer

If you purchase an oldtimer with the aim of restoring it, you can have the license plate suspended at the RDW or at a PostNL post office. As a result, during the suspension, you do not have to pay road tax, which lapses automatically.
In addition, the vintage car does not need to have a valid MOT and the vintage car insurance can be stopped temporarily.

From 3 January 2019 it will be possible to suspend a vehicle for a period of 2 or 3 years. The suspension no longer needs to be renewed every year.

What do you need for a suspension?

You can arrange the suspension of an old-timer online via RDW or at a PostNL post office. What you need is proof of identity, a certificate of transfer of ownership of the car and a registration certificate. There are costs associated with a suspension. The suspension fee depends on the age of the car. For a passenger car with a weight up to 3500 kg and older than 15 years, you pay €24,10 per year. For a car younger than 15 years, you pay €73,10 per year. The suspension will expire automatically after one year. You can lift the suspension at a PostNL post office or RDW throughout the year. From that moment on, the old-timer must comply with the vehicle requirements.

The fine imposed for a not valid MOT is €140,-. The fine for not having an insurance certificate is €600. If the suspension is lifted within one month after it started, the motor vehicle tax for that month must still be paid. If you have lifted the suspension and you suspend it again in the same year, you will again pay the low rate of €24.10 per year for an old-timer.

Suspend insurance

During a suspension, the car insurance can be stopped temporarily or cancelled completely. You have to report this to the insurance company yourself. Suspending the insurance is not always possible, this is usually only possible when the car is sold. It is not compulsory to stop or cancel the insurance. If you choose to do so, the car must be on private property or in a garage.

When you have suspended the insurance and want to insure the vintage car again, there are two options. You can reactivate the insurance or take out a whole new insurance and terminate the suspended insurance. When taking out a new insurance policy, you may have to pass on the new value of the car to the insurance company, which can cause the premium to rise or fall. With WA coverage, it is usually not necessary to have the car valued. When you choose for a more extensive coverage like a WA all-risk or WA + limited hull insurance, the car usually needs to be valued. To be entitled to the appraisal value when the car is total loss, the car has to be appraised every three years. If you do not do this, you will not receive the assessed value but the current market value. If you choose to continue the insurance, it is important to look at the type of insurance. If you intend to take to the road, you should at least have third-party insurance. This compensates you for any damage you cause to others.

If there is no intention of taking to the road, the third-party insurance can be suspended or cancelled. In that case, it is better to take out a different insurance policy that also covers theft or fire, for example. WA+ limited casco and all-risk insurance are good options.

Lift suspension

When the suspension is lifted, the RDW will inform the tax authorities. If you want to lift the suspension, then from that moment on you must start paying road tax again on an old-timer that was put into use less than forty years ago. You must also ensure that you have a valid MOT and car insurance. Without a valid MOT, you cannot get a car insurance.

If you are on the road without a valid MOT while the licence plate is suspended, you can be fined. In a few cases, you can take to the roads while the licence plate is suspended. To go to an event, you need permission via the events scheme. You are also allowed to take the car on the road to have it inspected for the periodic safety inspection. For this, you will need a confirmation of the appointment, you may only drive around the time of the appointment and the car must be insured.