Dutch number plate lookup (RDW)

Dutch number plate lookup

Every car registered in the Netherlands has its technical data published by the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority, as open data. Enter a Dutch number plate in our calculator and it prefills some of the car's details; add the mileage and anything missing, confirm the CO₂ value and its test cycle on the certificate of conformity, and you see the cost of importing that car.

Updated 31 Oct 2026 Sources checked 31 Oct 2026 2 min read

How it works

Open the Portugal import cost calculator and type the Dutch number plate in the box at the top.
The calculator looks the plate up in the RDW open data and prefills: first registration, fuel, CO₂ (with its test cycle) and engine size. The source country is set to the Netherlands.
Add the asking price, the seller’s VAT status, the mileage and anything the register did not fill in, and the landed cost appears: price, ISV, transport and registration fees.

Always compare the filled-in values with the certificate of conformity before you rely on them: the ISV is assessed on the documents you submit, not on our lookup.

What the RDW open data contains

The RDW publishes two datasets that the lookup reads, linked by the plate (kenteken):

Field	Meaning
merk, handelsbenaming	Make and commercial model name, as reported by the manufacturer
datum_eerste_toelating	First registration anywhere
datum_eerste_tenaamstelling_in_nederland	First registration to a holder in the Netherlands
cilinderinhoud	Engine size in cm³
brandstof_omschrijving	Fuel or energy source (a car can have more than one)
emissie_co2_gecombineerd_wltp	Combined CO₂ on the WLTP cycle
co2_uitstoot_gecombineerd	Older combined CO₂ field
vervaldatum_apk	When the APK roadworthiness inspection expires
catalogusprijs, bruto_bpm	List price and gross BPM recorded at registration (not today’s value or the refundable BPM)
tellerstandoordeel	Mileage verdict

The lookup prefills the CO₂ value it finds: the WLTP value where the register has one, otherwise the older combined field. That older field does not by itself prove the value is NEDC, and plug-in hybrids also have weighted values, so confirm the CO₂ value and its test cycle against the certificate of conformity.

What it does not show

The owner. Personal data is not public.
Stolen or missing status. Not in the open data.
Mileage readings. Only the verdict: logisch (readings go up), onlogisch (a lower reading was recorded later, which can mean tampering or an input error) or geen oordeel (not enough data).
Damage history and the market value. For the asking prices of comparable cars, see our price pages.

Dutch number plates

Dutch passenger-car plates have six characters in groups, such as two letters, two digits and two digits. The RDW has issued them in series over the years: LL-DD-DD, DD-DD-LL, DD-LL-DD, LL-DD-LL, LL-LL-DD, DD-LL-LL, DD-LLL-D, D-LLL-DD, LL-DDD-L, L-DDD-LL and LLL-DD-L (L a letter, D a digit). Modern series use no vowels and no C or Q. You can type the plate with or without dashes.

From the plate to Portuguese registration

The lookup answers “what will this car cost me in Portugal?”. The guide to importing a car from the Netherlands covers the rest: the Dutch export at the RDW, the BPM refund and the Portuguese DAV.

EuroCarIndex is an independent service. You can also consult the official RDW kentekencheck.

Frequently asked questions

Is the lookup free?

Yes. It uses the public Dutch vehicle data, and the RDW's own kentekencheck is free too.

Can I see who owns the car?

No. Owner details are not public in the Netherlands; the RDW cites privacy law, and the open data contains no personal information.

Does it show the mileage history?

No. The RDW publishes a mileage verdict (logisch, onlogisch or geen oordeel), visible in its free kentekencheck, not the readings. The registered holder can request the RDW vehicle report and share it with you.

Can I check whether the car is stolen?

Not through the open data: the RDW states that stolen or missing status is not offered there.

The plate is not found. Why?

Check that it is a Dutch plate with 6 letters and digits, typed without mistakes. If the RDW open data has no record for it, fill in the calculator by hand from the certificate of conformity.

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