Dutch export plates show your existing Dutch registration number on white plates with black characters. With them, a vehicle that has been deregistered for export may be driven on Dutch public roads for 14 days. We supply them at our RDW-approved export desk in Hengelo, together with temporary third-party liability insurance and a Green Card.
For buyers collecting a car, van or motorhome in Almelo, this is the way to drive it home on its own wheels. Dealers taking several vehicles get plates per vehicle, and insurance for every vehicle that is driven.
How Dutch export plates work
- Same registration number as now, on white plates instead of yellow ones.
- White plate, black characters, legible in all weather.
- Valid for 14 days, but never beyond the expiry date of the APK (the Dutch roadworthiness test).
- Without a valid APK the vehicle may not use public roads.
- You may only drive with the insurance required for that type of vehicle.
The RDW explains the rules on Exporting a vehicle.
Need more time for registration at home? The export plate insurance can be extended online by 14 days at a time, with the insurer's approval. The 14 days on Dutch roads stay the same.
Plates per vehicle type
- Car, van, commercial vehicle or motorhome: two plates.
- Motorcycle, scooter or moped: one plate, at the rear.
- Trailer or caravan: one plate, at the rear.
- Truck or semi-trailer: heavy or non-standard, price on request.
| Vehicle | Insurance required | APK (Dutch roadworthiness test) required | White plates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, van, truck or motorhome | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| Motorcycle, scooter or moped | Yes | No | 1 |
| Caravan or trailer | No, but the towing vehicle must be insured | Only above 3,500 kg | 1 |
Source: RDW. The export registration is valid for 14 days, but not beyond the APK expiry date.
Trailers and caravans
A trailer or caravan needs no insurance of its own during the export trip in the Netherlands; the towing vehicle must be insured. An APK is only required for a trailer or caravan above 3,500 kg. If you export a car and trailer together, the car needs the temporary export insurance and the trailer gets its own white plate. Mention both registration numbers in your request.
Driving abroad on Dutch export plates
The rules for a Dutch export registration differ per country, so check your destination and every transit country before you leave. For Germany, the ADAC says that a car driven there on its own wheels needs an export or transfer registration from the country where it is located, and it names the Dutch export registration. Transport on a trailer is always possible. Which countries and which driver are insured is stated on the policy and Green Card; see our export insurance page.
How to get export plates
- Send the registration number, vehicle type, start date, destination and route.
- Come to the desk with the yellow plates, ID, registration card, current mileage, the buyer's foreign address and the details of policyholder and driver.
- You leave with the white plates, the insurance and the Green Card.
- You drive to your destination within 14 days.
The insurance and plates package (from €100) does not include the export document. If the vehicle has not been deregistered yet, choose the complete package (from €150), which includes the export documents.
Export plate prices
All amounts are starting prices per vehicle. You pay in cash or by bank transfer.
| Service | Included | From |
|---|---|---|
| Export document | Export certificate, vrijwaringsbewijs (indemnification certificate) and RDW processing | €50 |
| Export insurance + white plates | 14 days liability cover, Green Card and white export plates | €100 |
| Complete export package | Export document, vrijwaringsbewijs, 14 days liability cover, Green Card and plates | €150 |
| Export insurance extension | 14 extra days of liability cover with a Green Card, requested online (per 14 days) | €120 |
When can the price be higher?
- All amounts are starting prices, including VAT where applicable.
- A surcharge may apply outside office hours. Office hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:30.
- Postal delivery costs more, especially international shipping.
- The price can differ per vehicle, for example for heavy or non-standard vehicles.
- You always know the price in advance.
The desk in Hengelo
You will find us at Slachthuisweg 135 in Hengelo, about 16 km and roughly 20 minutes from the Grotestraat in Almelo via the A35 and the A1. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 16:30; outside those hours we work 24/7 by appointment. With complete documents, a standard request is usually ready in about 15 minutes.
Exporting today?
Call or message us to book a time, also outside office hours. You will know the price in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I extend the 14 days?
Not the export registration itself: on Dutch public roads the limit stays at 14 days after deregistration, and never beyond the APK expiry date. The export insurance can be extended online, each time by 14 days and with the insurer's approval, for example when registration at home takes longer. Ask well before the cover ends.
Can you post the white plates to me abroad?
Yes. Documents and plates are sent insured and with tracking, also internationally. The yellow plates must reach us physically first, and processing starts once they arrive. Postal delivery costs more; you get the price in advance.
Do I need export plates if the car goes on a trailer?
A vehicle on a trailer or car transporter usually needs no driving insurance. The export document is still required. Tell us how the vehicle will be transported when you send your request.
Who may drive on the export plates?
The policy and the Green Card determine which driver is insured. Give us the details of the policyholder and of the driver when you apply.
What if the yellow plates are missing?
The yellow Dutch plates are handed in at export. If they are lost, first have plates made by a recognised plate manufacturer, then come to the desk.
Sources
Checked on 30 October 2026