Driving your car out of the Netherlands on its own wheels? Then it needs insurance for the export trip on Dutch roads. At our RDW-approved export desk in Hengelo we arrange temporary third-party liability insurance for 14 days, with a Green Card and white export plates.
We are not an insurer. The export insurance runs through our insurance partner: we take your details, arrange the application and hand you the Green Card and the plates.
What you get
- 14 days of third-party liability cover. It covers damage you cause to others with the vehicle. What else is or is not included is stated in the policy.
- Green Card. The Green Card (IMIC) is the international certificate of insurance. According to the Council of Bureaux, it proves that the vehicle has at least the compulsory third-party cover of the country you are visiting.
- White export plates. Two for a car, and one at the rear for a motorcycle, scooter, moped, caravan or trailer.
The Council of Bureaux explains the system on its page What is the Green Card system?. In the Netherlands, the obligation to insure a motor vehicle is set out in the Wet aansprakelijkheidsverzekering motorrijtuigen, the Dutch motor liability insurance act.
What the policy decides
Your policy and Green Card determine in which countries and for which driver you are insured. That is why we do not give you a list of countries ourselves. Before you leave, check the Green Card against your destination and every country on your route.
Tell us who will actually drive when you apply. If someone else is going to take the wheel on the way, discuss that in advance.
What we need from you
- the start date you want;
- destination and route;
- details of the policyholder and the driver;
- for a business buyer: company name, address and VAT number.
With the complete export package we also deregister the car. For that you also need valid ID, the registration card and the yellow plates; see export documents for the full list. The RDW's English page on exporting a vehicle describes the export itself. With complete documents, a standard desk request is usually ready in about 15 minutes.
Which vehicles need insurance
For the export trip in the Netherlands, a car, van or motorhome needs insurance and a valid APK, the Dutch roadworthiness test. A motorcycle, scooter or moped needs insurance but no APK. A caravan or trailer needs no insurance of its own, but the towing vehicle does. A truck counts as a heavy vehicle: insurance and APK are both required, and the price is 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.
From our desk to the German border
From our desk at Slachthuisweg 135, the A1 motorway is about 1 km away, via the Bornsestraat. At De Lutte the A1 becomes the German A30; Bad Bentheim is about 35 km away, roughly 30 minutes. Heading for Gronau? That is about 29 km, so allow 25 to 30 minutes.
Up to the border you drive in the Netherlands on the export registration, so the 14 days, the APK and the insurance all apply. Beyond it, each country has its own rules for Dutch export plates; check them before you go.
Price
Export insurance with white export plates costs from €100; the export document is not included. The complete export package with deregistration, vrijwaringsbewijs, insurance, Green Card and plates starts at €150. Outside office hours, for postal delivery or for heavy and non-standard vehicles the price can be higher, and we always confirm it in advance.
| 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.
What can go wrong
- Wrong driver details. The policy decides who is covered, so name the person who will actually drive.
- APK running out. The export registration is never valid beyond the APK expiry date.
- More time needed than planned. The cover lasts 14 days, so plan the drive within that time. If registration abroad takes longer, you can extend the export insurance online, 14 days at a time and subject to the insurer's approval. The Dutch export registration itself is not extended.
- Expecting cover for your own car. Third-party liability is about damage to others; the policy states what else applies.
Collecting the plates at the same time? Read how that works on our page about Dutch export plates, or call or WhatsApp +31 6 38199986.
Exporting today?
Call or message us to book a time, also outside office hours. You will know the price in advance.
Frequently asked questions
When does the export insurance start?
You give us your preferred start date when you apply. Match it to the day you leave, because the export registration is valid for 14 days from deregistration.
Can the export insurance be extended?
Yes, online and by 14 days at a time, each time subject to the insurer's approval. An extension costs from €120 per 14 days. The Dutch export registration itself is not extended: on Dutch roads the limit stays at 14 days after deregistration, and never beyond the APK expiry date.
Can I arrange the insurance outside office hours?
Yes, by appointment, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A higher rate may apply outside office hours, and you will always know it beforehand.
Do I need export insurance if the car goes on a trailer?
Usually not for the vehicle that is carried on a trailer or car transporter. The export document is still required.
Sources
- RDW: Exporting a vehicle
- Council of Bureaux: What is the Green Card system?
- Overheid.nl: Wet aansprakelijkheidsverzekering motorrijtuigen
Checked on 30 October 2026