How Dutch road tax works
In the Netherlands, road tax is officially called motorrijtuigenbelasting (MRB). You pay it for every vehicle registered in your name, whether you drive it or not, unless you suspend the registration with the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority). If you move to the Netherlands and register a car, the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) sends you the assessment automatically. For a passenger car the tax has two parts:
- National part (rijksdeel). A fixed amount per weight class set in article 23 of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act 1994, plus a fuel surcharge for diesel, LPG and other fuels. Petrol and electric cars have no surcharge.
- Provincial surcharge (opcenten). Each of the twelve provinces adds a percentage of a fixed base amount per weight class. In 2026 it ranges from 82.1% in Noord-Holland to 104.4% in Zuid-Holland.
road tax per quarter = national rate + fuel surcharge + (provincial base × provincial percentage ÷ 100)
The Tax Administration rounds the quarterly total down to whole euros. Fully electric and hydrogen cars pay 70% of the total in 2026 (a 30% discount).
Weight: massa rijklaar since 1 July 2026
Until 1 July 2026 the tax was based on the empty weight (eigen massa). Since then it uses the massa rijklaar, the weight shown on the registration certificate and in the RDW register, which includes a driver and fuel (about 100 kg more). The rate tables shifted by 100 kg at the same time, so the amount stayed the same for almost everyone. The weight is rounded to the nearest 100 kg, with 50 kg rounded down: 1,250 kg counts as 1,200 kg, and 1,251 kg as 1,300 kg.
Examples
- Petrol car, 1,100 kg, Noord-Holland: national rate €81.51 + 82.1% of €45.81 (= €37.61) = €119.12, so €119 per quarter or €476 a year.
- Petrol car, 1,400 kg, Zuid-Holland: €133.32 + 104.4% × €80.85 = €217 per quarter.
- Electric car, 1,800 kg, Noord-Holland: €307.13 at the full rate, €214 per quarter after the 30% discount.
- Diesel, 1,500 kg, Noord-Holland: €150.59 + diesel surcharge €235.85 + provincial €75.97 = €462 per quarter. Without a factory particulate filter, a 19% surcharge applies to the national part.
Road tax by province (2026, per quarter)
| Province | Surcharge | Petrol 1,300 kg | Electric 2,000 kg | Diesel 1,500 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noord-Holland | 82.1% | €172 | €252 | €462 |
| Overijssel | 82.2% | €172 | €252 | €462 |
| Zeeland | 84.4% | €174 | €255 | €464 |
| Flevoland | 84.7% | €174 | €255 | €464 |
| Utrecht | 86.4% | €175 | €257 | €466 |
| Noord-Brabant | 87.0% | €176 | €257 | €466 |
| Limburg | 88.5% | €177 | €259 | €468 |
| Drenthe | 92.0% | €179 | €263 | €471 |
| Fryslân | 92.1% | €179 | €263 | €471 |
| Groningen | 95.7% | €182 | €266 | €474 |
| Gelderland | 98.3% | €184 | €269 | €477 |
| Zuid-Holland | 104.4% | €188 | €276 | €483 |
Fuel types explained
- Petrol hybrids and plug-in hybrids: the full petrol rate since 2026; the 25% discount for cars up to 50 g/km CO₂ has ended.
- Diesel: a high fuel surcharge, plus 19% extra if the car emits more than 5 mg of particulates per km (no factory filter).
- LPG: a low surcharge for factory-fitted or G3 systems and for CNG/LNG; aftermarket LPG without G3 pays the high rate for "other fuels".
- Electric and hydrogen: 30% discount in 2026, 2027 and 2028, 25% in 2029 and the full rate from 2030.
This calculator covers passenger cars. Vans, motorcycles, motorhomes (half rate) and classic cars follow other rules; cars aged 40 years or more are exempt.
Tips for expats and new residents
- Look up the massa rijklaar of any Dutch-registered car on the RDW website by entering the licence plate.
- Moving to another province changes the amount automatically with your address.
- If you won’t use the car for a while, you can suspend the registration with the RDW and pay no road tax.
- Driving a company car? Check the monthly cost of the taxable benefit with the Dutch company car tax calculator, and your net income with the Dutch take home pay calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is road tax for an electric car in the Netherlands?
In 2026 you pay 70% of the normal rate, including the provincial part. An 1,800 kg electric car costs €214 per quarter in Noord-Holland and €234 in Zuid-Holland.
Where do I find my car’s weight?
On the Dutch registration certificate (kentekenbewijs) and in the public RDW register. Use the massa rijklaar, not the maximum permitted weight.
Do I pay road tax monthly or quarterly?
Quarterly by default. You can choose monthly direct debit instead, which is roughly one third of the quarterly amount each month.
Why is road tax different in each province?
Provinces add their own surcharge on top of the national rate and set the percentage themselves, up to a legal maximum.
Is this the exact amount I will pay?
The calculator uses the official rates and rounding rules, but special cases such as suspension, motorhomes or weight corrections are not included. The assessment from the Tax Administration is always decisive.
When do the rates change?
The national rate is indexed every 1 January and provinces can change their surcharge at the same time. We update the rate file every year; the date checked is shown in the “Source” box.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-06. Results are estimates for information only.