Thinking about purchasing a secondhand vehicle? Here are 10 helpful tips for expats for buying used car in Netherlands which will make the transaction easier, safer and quicker.
1- VEHICLE OWNER HISTORY & PERFORMANCE
By definition a secondhand vehicle has had at least one prior owner. Some may have had multiple past owners (potential red flag). Luckily the Dutch department of motor vehicles (RDW) maintains a record for each individual car. The vehicle record not only tells you how many past owners there were but also the date of the last road-worthiness test (APK), its weight (which impacts annual road tax to be paid), tow capacity and fuel efficiency (to estimate your average operating cost). You can access the vehicle check using the car’s registration number.
2- VEHICLE MILEAGE
A secondhand car’s performance (and value) is typically inversely related to the number of kilometers it has been driven. The distance shows in the odometer. But how do you know the reading hasn’t been manipulated to display a lower number to fraudulently increase the vehicle’s book value? You should run an odometer reading check through the RDW. While it may not know the exact current mileage, it is able to provide a determination of whether the mileage you enter for the vehicle is logical or illogical based on what the odometer reading was when the last APK test was performed.
3- CAR INSPECTION
With a secondhand vehicle there is always the possibility it may have sustained damage from an accident, weather event, vandalism or other reason. Cosmetic repairs could make detecting such damage difficult for the average person. It is always a good idea to have a secondhand car you wish to buy inspected by a professional. This will likely turn up any major damage sustained during its life.
4- TEST DRIVE
The only way to know if you feel totally comfortable driving a specific car is by test driving the vehicle. The longer the test the better. Make sure to drive it in multiple settings including a low-speed town center, mid-speed provincial road and high-speed motorway. If you’ll be transporting a family, test drive the car with multiple passengers in it or improvise with a heavy suitcase. A lighter car handles differently than a heavier one. Make sure you are happy with how the car performs in both scenarios.
5- COMPARE ASKING PRICE TO BOOK VALUE
You don’t want to pay more for a used car than it is actually worth. Compare the selling price with the estimated book value of the vehicle. There are many online tools available such as this one.
6- FACTORY WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE
Buying a used car that is still covered under the manufacturer’s warranty or by a guarantee provided by the seller is always advised. Not only does it offer some peace-of-mind but could end up saving the buyer a lot of money if something should go wrong.
7- FINANCING?
If financing will be required, the buyer should make sure the seller offers such an option, what the parameters are to qualify and what terms are available. Alternatively the buyer may want to secure a car loan with a Dutch bank/ financial lender (although this can often be challenging for expats who have not lived long in the Netherlands.
8- REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE
Title of ownership must be transferred to the buyer’s name to complete the sale. If the seller is registered with the RDW, they can process the title and registration transfer. The buyer must show proof of identity and insurance. The ID can be a Dutch driving license, Dutch passport or Dutch identity card (with BSN number and date of birth).
Expats not in possession of one of those needs to register the vehicle at an RDW office or affiliated location. Acceptable forms of identification are driving licenses or identity cards issued by another EU/EFTA country and passports (diplomatic, service or foreign). A BSN number must be on the document. Those without a BSN number must be accompanied by a ‘Certificate of Residence’ (with BSN number) obtained from their local municipality.
Expats can obtain the certificate needed to register a car before they even choose a car to buy. But it must not be more than 90 days old on the date of vehicle registration.
9- REPUTABLE SELLER
Buying used car in Netherlands will require a sizeable payment to a company you probably do not know. It is worth the time to research the seller. For example, check if the business is certified by Thuiswinkel and if the company has had any consumer mediation on record. If you find substantially more negative than positive customer reviews, buy from a different seller.
10- AVOID COVID, BUY ONLINE
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on around the world and right here in Holland, it doesn’t make sense to do anything face-to-face that can be done online. It’s safer and easier. This also applies when buying used car in Netherlands… do it online.
To compile this list of tips we reached out to the experts at Bynco, the number one car shop for expats in the Netherlands. Bynco was established by Jeroen Veldman in 2017 and is a division of the AutoBinck Group. With Bynco all transactions are quick, easy and safe. Every car sold in their webshop has been independently inspected and comes with a minimum 180-day warranty. When you buy a vehicle, it gets delivered free to your home within 5 days. You can test drive the car for 14 days and if not satisfied, can return it and get your money back. Bynco even offers financing options. Find out more about Bynco.
Related information…
BUYING A CAR IN THE NETHERLANDS
