Cars from the Netherlands: where to look and what importing costs
On 1 January 2026 the Netherlands had over 9.4 million passenger cars, 71.3% of them petrol (CBS): diesel is the exception, ex-company cars with a full service history the norm. The Latvian side costs €308–388 — €208 at CSDD with the first roadworthiness test plus €100–180 of OCTA. For the cars on autopase, delivery from the Netherlands takes up to 14 days from payment until the car arrives in Latvia; the delivery price is already inside the car’s final price.
If you would rather not read through the Dutch ads yourself, the cars from the Netherlands are already gathered in one place on our showroom page.
Where to look for a car in the Netherlands
In 2026 the Dutch market sits on four sites, and one of them searches the other three — start there.
All four work in Dutch; ad text stays in the original.
A search engine over the other Dutch portals — start here.
A popular Dutch classifieds site where both private sellers and dealers list cars; the checking is left to you. AutoPase is not affiliated with Marktplaats; the name belongs to its owner.
The Dutch section of the European portal; mostly traders.
Dealer ads with tidy specs and an odometer-history note.
Six words you need to read a Dutch ad
| Bouwjaar | year of manufacture |
| Kilometerstand | odometer reading |
| APK tot | roadworthiness test valid until |
| Tellerstand logisch | RDW verdict: readings rise logically |
| Marge-auto | margin scheme — no VAT shown separately |
| Vrijwaringsbewijs | proof the car is off the seller name |
How the Dutch market differs from Germany
Fuel and owner: at the start of 2026, 71.3% of Dutch cars ran on petrol and 21.5% were electric or hybrid (CBS, 1 January 2026), the diesel fleet halved between 2019 and 2025, and much of the used stock leaves company fleets serviced to schedule but with high mileage.
Tax: the registration tax (BPM) is partly refunded on export — plate from 16 October 2006 or later, "Export" status at the RDW, permanent registration in another EU or EEA country within 13 weeks (Belastingdienst). It reaches whoever deregisters the car, not the buyer.
What delivery from the Netherlands costs
For the cars on autopase, delivery from the Netherlands takes up to 14 days from payment until the car arrives in Latvia. The delivery is already inside the final price shown on the car’s page. No Latvian carrier publishes a tariff for this exact route, so if you arrange the transport yourself, the carrier names the amount once it knows the city and the condition of the car. The only band we verified against named carriers is the German one — €550–800 per car by transporter (re-checked 12 Sep 2026).
Driving it home is the other option: after deregistration you may use Dutch roads for 14 more days on an export plate (RDW), and plates with insurance are published at €100–150 (Elite Cars).
Import cost calculator · Car delivery from Germany — prices and times
Do not want to do it yourself? Order a car from the Netherlands, turnkey
Included: history and mileage check before purchase, delivery, CSDD registration and our work. Not included: first-year OCTA insurance and operation tax where it applies. We state the final price before you pay.
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Search abroadWhat to check: APK, RDW and the odometer
Checking a Dutch car in 2026 starts with one free page: the RDW kentekencheck (ovi.rdw.nl) takes a plate and shows the APK expiry date, an odometer verdict and open recalls.
How often a car needs an APK in the Netherlands
The APK is the Dutch roadworthiness test. It is not valid here — you take a Latvian one, already inside the CSDD figure below — but its history shows how the car was kept:
| Car | First APK | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol, LPG, electric | at 4 years | twice every 2 years, then every year |
| Diesel | at 3 years | every year |
| Cars 30 years and older | — | once every 2 years |
| Cars 50 years and older | — | no APK required |
Source: RDW, "Wanneer en hoe vaak APK keuren", read 21 Sep 2026.
The odometer verdict reads "logisch", "onlogisch" (a lower reading was once recorded) or "geen oordeel" (common on imported cars). What the RDW cannot see — crashes abroad, liens — you check by VIN.
Paperwork and registration in Latvia
A Latvian resident must register an imported car within 5 days of bringing it in (csdd.lv). CSDD charges €208 in total, the first roadworthiness test included, and OCTA costs €100–180 for the first year.
What the CSDD figure is made of
| Natural-resources tax | €110 |
| First registration with certificate and two plates | €41.88 |
| VIN / unit-number comparison | €19.25 |
| First roadworthiness test | €36.95 |
| Total | €208 |
From the Dutch side you need the vrijwaringsbewijs and the export document (registration certificate part II); CSDD asks for the foreign registration document and proof of ownership (csdd.lv). VAT: none from a private seller, none extra under the margin scheme, Latvian VAT on a zero-rated intra-EU invoice. A car under 6 months or 6,000 km is a "new means of transport" (EU Directive 2006/112/EC).
If the Netherlands turns out to be too far
Germany has the largest supply in Europe and public carrier prices — each car there already shows its landed price for Latvia:
Frequently asked questions
Is a car from the Netherlands cheaper than one bought in Latvia?
The Dutch price, plus delivery, plus €308–388 on the Latvian side. It pays off where the Dutch choice is wide and ours is narrow — petrol and hybrid cars with a documented history.
Is a Dutch APK valid in Latvia?
No. You will take a Latvian test, already inside the CSDD figure — €36.95. The APK history still tells you how regularly the car was inspected.
How do I check the mileage on a Dutch car?
Free, on the RDW kentekencheck (ovi.rdw.nl), by plate number. An imported car often has no verdict — then only the service book and a VIN report help.
How long does delivery from the Netherlands take and what does it cost?
For a car on autopase, up to 14 days from payment until the car arrives in Latvia; the delivery price is already inside the final price. If you drive it yourself: on an export plate you may use Dutch roads for 14 days (RDW).
Sources
- RDW — when and how often a car needs an APK · 2026-09-21
- RDW kentekencheck — the free check by plate number · 2026-09-21
- RDW — the export plate and its 14 days · 2026-09-21
- Belastingdienst — BPM refund when exporting a used car · 2026-09-21
- CBS — passenger cars and their fuels (as of 1 Jan 2026) · 2026-09-21
- CSDD — deadlines for registering a vehicle brought in from the EU · 2026-09-21
- CSDD — First registration in Latvia with the certificate and two plates — €41.88; comparing the unit/VIN numbers with the car present — €19.25. · 2026-09-27
- CSDD — The natural-resources tax on an M1/N1 vehicle registered permanently in Latvia for the first time — €110.00. · 2026-09-27
- Kurbads — Car delivery from Germany: "most of the time the delivery fee lands between €550 and €650". · 2026-09-21
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