RDW

The RDW is the Netherlands Vehicle Authority, responsible for the admission, inspection, administration, and provision of information regarding the national vehicle fleet.

This comprehensive range of tasks ensures that the RDW is broadly represented and involved throughout society.

Target Groups

The RDW presents a different face to every party. The public primarily knows the RDW as the authority responsible for vehicle registration documents or the APK (MOT). Professional carriers turn to the RDW for special transport permits, while vehicle and component manufacturers seek type approval for their products. The police, Tax and Customs Administration, and municipalities utilize the RDW's extensive registers. Furthermore, the RDW maintains close working relationships with insurers, post offices, customs, garages, transport companies, construction firms, and manufacturers of cars, trucks, and trailers.

Activities

The RDW monitors the safety and environmental aspects of the Dutch vehicle fleet. In addition, the RDW registers data on vehicles, their owners, and issued documents such as vehicle registration certificates and driving licenses. The RDW also provides this information to authorities both domestically and abroad. Using this specific expertise, we advise stakeholders, participate in consultations within EU and ECE contexts, play a central role in international information exchange, and contribute to the fight against fraud and crime. All activities are carried out in the interest of the Netherlands in general and vehicle owners in particular.

Core Tasks of the RDW

• Admission
• Admitting vehicles and vehicle components to the Dutch and European markets, and exercising control over technical specifications from safety and environmental perspectives.
• Supervision and Control
• Enforcing laws and regulations and supervising companies that perform public tasks within the mobility chain, such as garages, importers, providers, and insurance companies.
• Registration and Information Provision
• Registering driving licenses, vehicles, vehicle characteristics, and vehicle owners, and providing information on these matters.
• Document Issuance
• Issuing documents within the vehicle and driving license chain.