The APK Test in the Netherlands: A Practical Guide

November 2026 • Car Maintenance • By Razvan Mindreanu

Most cars in the Netherlands must pass a safety test called the APK. If you skip it, you can get a fine of hundreds of euros, even if you never drive the car. The test itself is simple, but many people pay too much or get surprised by repairs they did not ask for. This guide shows you how to prepare, what happens on the day, how to avoid paying too much, and what to do if your car fails.

The Short Version

Look up your APK date on the RDW website.
Book the test up to 2 months early. You do not lose any time by doing this.
Do a 10-minute check at home first. Simple things like a broken bulb can make you fail.
Before the test, tell the garage: "Call me before you repair anything."
Always take the test report with you.
If the car fails, you do not have to repair it at the same garage.

Words You Will See in This Guide

Word	What it means
APK	Algemene Periodieke Keuring: the regular safety and environment test that most cars must pass by law. In English, it is often called the MOT or PTI (periodic technical inspection).
RDW	The Dutch government office for vehicles. It makes the APK rules and checks the garages that do the test.
RDW-approved garage	A garage that is allowed to do the APK. You can spot it by the "RDW erkend" sign.
Keurmeester	The tester: the trained person at the garage who does the APK.
Expiry date (vervaldatum)	The last day your current APK is valid.
Test report (keuringsrapport)	The paper you get after the test, with the result, the new expiry date and any problems found.
Fail point (afkeurpunt)	A problem that makes the car fail. It must be fixed.
Repair point (reparatiepunt)	A repair that was needed to pass and was done during the test.
Advice point (adviespunt)	Something the tester thinks will need attention soon. It is advice, not a reason to fail.
Steekproef	A random spot check. The RDW sometimes re-checks a car after the APK to make sure the garage did the test correctly.
Suspend (schorsen)	Putting a car "on pause" in the RDW register. You then need no APK, but the car may not be on public roads at all.
CJIB	The Dutch government office that sends out and collects fines.
BOVAG	A Dutch trade association for garages and car dealers. Member garages follow its terms, which give customers extra protection.

What the APK Checks (and What It Does Not)

According to the RDW, the tester checks three groups of things:

Safety: brakes, suspension, shock absorbers, tyres, steering, lights and the body of the car, including rust in important places.
Environment: exhaust gases and parts like the catalytic converter (which cleans exhaust gas) and the diesel particulate filter (which catches soot). Since 1 January 2023, diesel cars also get a special soot filter test.
Registration: the mileage, the VIN (the car's unique ID number) and the fuel type. The mileage is recorded, which helps fight mileage fraud.

What the APK is not: it is a test of minimum safety on the day of the test. It is not a full health check. A car can pass the APK and still need an expensive repair next month, for example to the gearbox, clutch or timing belt. So if you are buying a used car, a fresh APK is nice, but it does not prove the car is in good condition.

When Does Your Car Need an APK?

It depends on the fuel and the age of the car. The age counts from the date the car was first registered.

Type of car (up to 3,500 kg)	When it needs an APK
Petrol or electric	First at 4 years old. Then at 6 and 8 years. After that, every year.
Diesel, LPG or other fuel	First at 3 years old. Then every year.
30 years or older	Every 2 years.
50 years or older	No APK needed.

Find your exact date: enter your registration number in the free RDW Kentekencheck on the RDW website and look under "vervaldata en historie" (expiry dates and history).
Reminder: the RDW sends you one reminder letter, 6 weeks before the expiry date. Do not count on it. If you moved, it may go to the wrong address. Put the date in your phone calendar.
No delay possible: you cannot ask for more time. The RDW says clearly that postponing the APK is not possible.

Smart Tip: Use the 2-Month Window

You can have the APK done up to 2 months before the expiry date, and your new date is still counted from the old date. So you lose nothing. Booking early gives you time to fix problems calmly, get a second quote and avoid the busy holiday periods, when garages are full.

Step 1: Prepare Your Car at Home (10 Minutes)

Many cars fail for small, cheap things that you can spot yourself. Fixing them before the test is often much cheaper than letting the garage do it. The ANWB, the Dutch motoring club, suggests checks like these:

All lights: headlights (low and high beam), indicators, brake lights, rear lights, fog light and the small light above the rear number plate. Ask a friend to watch the brake lights while you press the pedal, or park with the back of the car close to a shop window and look in the mirror.
Headlight glass: it should be clear, not cloudy or cracked.
Tyres: the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm. The ANWB advises at least 3 mm for good grip in heavy rain. Look for cuts and bulges, and check the tyre pressure.
Wipers and washer fluid: replace wipers that leave streaks, and fill up the washer fluid.
Windscreen: look for chips and cracks, especially in front of the driver. A small chip can often be repaired cheaply before it grows.
Warning lights: start the car and look at the dashboard. On newer cars, a warning light for a safety system, such as the airbag, can make the car fail. Get warning lights checked before the test.
Fluids: check the oil, the coolant and the washer fluid. If the garage has to top them up, you pay extra.
Horn, seatbelts and mirrors: the horn should work, every seatbelt should click in and roll back, and the mirrors should not be broken.
Number plates: clean and easy to read.

You do not need to bring any documents to the APK, according to the RDW.

Step 2: Choose a Garage and Agree on the Price

What does an APK cost?

There is no fixed price. Each garage sets its own. The ANWB has found prices from about €19 to €70. A diesel APK can cost more. Some garages also charge extra for the soot test, the exhaust gas test or for registering the result with the RDW (afmelden).

How to avoid paying too much

The ANWB warns that a very cheap APK can be bait: a way to get your car into the garage and then sell you repairs. Protect yourself like this:

Ask for the total price of the APK when you book, including the soot test, exhaust test and registration. Ask: "Is that the full price, with nothing extra?"
Say it clearly, and get it in writing: "Do not repair anything without calling me first." The ANWB advises always agreeing on this. A text message or email is proof.
Ask for a price for each repair, split into parts and labour (the time the mechanic works). Then you can compare.
Ask: "Is this a fail point or an advice point?" Only fail points must be fixed to pass. Advice points can wait. Plan them for later, or ask another garage.
Know your rights at a BOVAG garage. Under the BOVAG terms, if the final bill is going to be more than 10% higher than the price you agreed, the garage must contact you first. The Dutch disputes committee for vehicles (Geschillencommissie Voertuigen) has ruled that customers did not have to pay more than the agreed price plus 10% when the garage did not ask.
Ask for your old parts back. It shows the part was really replaced, and garages that work honestly will not mind.
Compare hourly rates. Labour costs differ a lot. A survey by the trade magazine AMT, reported by the ANWB, found an average of about €82 per hour including VAT, from €61 to €165. Brand dealers are often more expensive.

Combining the APK with a service can save money, because the car only goes to the garage once. Some garages even give the APK for free with a large service. But only do this if you needed the service anyway.

Step 3: On the Day of the Test

Book early. The RDW warns that garages can be very busy, especially around holidays.
Ask how long it takes, so you know whether to wait or come back.
The tester checks the car and records the result with the RDW. This must happen on the day of the test, even if the car fails.
Spot check: sometimes the RDW picks a car for a random re-check after the test. If your car is chosen, you must take part. The garage will tell you.
Always take the test report. You get one even if the car fails. If you do not get it, ask for it. In the Netherlands you do not have to carry it, but the RDW says you do need it when you drive abroad. Keep a photo on your phone.

The three possible results

Result	What it means	What you do
Pass	The car meets the rules. You get a new expiry date.	Read the advice points and plan them.
Pass after repairs	Small problems were fixed during the test, then the car passed.	Check the bill matches what you agreed.
Fail	One or more fail points must be fixed.	Read the next section.

Step 4: What to Do If Your Car Fails

Do not panic, and do not say "yes" to every repair on the spot. Follow these steps.

Read the report. Find the fail points. Only these must be fixed now.
Ask for a written price for each fail point.
Get a second opinion if the price is high. You are free to have the repairs done at another garage. The APK garage cannot force you to repair with them.
Ask yourself if the car is still worth it. If the repairs cost more than the car is worth, it may be smarter to sell it as it is, or to scrap it.
Have it repaired and tested again before the expiry date. Ask the garage what a re-test costs. Some garages re-test for free within a short time.

Can you still drive a car that failed?

Before the expiry date: legally, your old APK is still valid until its expiry date, so you are allowed to drive. But the RDW warns that the police can still fine you if the car is unsafe, and your insurer may not pay if something happens. If a fail point is about brakes, tyres or steering, do not drive it.
After the expiry date: you may not drive it, except to a garage appointment (see below).

Do you think the tester was wrong?

You can ask the RDW for a new test by an RDW inspector. You must ask for this straight after the test, by saying so and signing the test report. You pay for this extra test, unless it turns out you were right. Ask the garage how to do it before you leave.

If Your APK Has Expired

Time since the APK expired	What is allowed
From day 1	You may not drive the car on public roads. The police can fine you.
Up to 2 months	The car may stay parked on a public road, but not driven.
After 2 months	If the car is still not tested or suspended, you get an automatic fine from the CJIB of €180 to €500, even if you never drove it.

Driving to the test with an expired APK

The RDW allows you to drive to your APK appointment, but only if:

the car is WA-insured (the basic legal insurance) on that day;
you drive around the time of the appointment, from your home address to the garage;
you bring the appointment confirmation to show the police if they stop you.

If you need more time, for example because the car is broken and waiting for parts, you can suspend it at the RDW. Then you do not need an APK, but the car may not be on public roads at all, not even parked.

Got an automatic fine? The RDW says you can only object if you can show an APK report for the right date. A garage bill is not enough.

Buying a Used Car? Use the APK History

Check the APK expiry date on the RDW website. A car with an APK that runs out next month means extra cost and work for you soon.
Ask the seller for the last APK report. Read the advice points: they show what will need money soon.
Remember: a fresh APK is not a full check. For a proper look at the car, read how to read an RDW vehicle report and how to spot hidden defects.

Your APK Checklist

Look up your APK date and put it in your calendar.
Book up to 2 months early.
Check lights, tyres, wipers, windscreen, warning lights and fluids at home.
Ask for the full APK price, with nothing extra.
Tell the garage in writing: "Call me before any repair."
Ask whether each problem is a fail point or an advice point.
Take the test report, and keep a photo of it.
If the car fails, get a second quote and fix it before the expiry date.

Buying a Car? We Look Beyond the APK

The APK checks the minimum. Our independent inspection checks the whole car, including the expensive parts the APK does not look at, and tells you in plain words whether it is worth the price. See our inspection packages or send us the listing.