Duties Taxes and Vat

Have you always wanted to own a classic car, but your dream car can only be found abroad? No worries, we are here to help! A car is considered a classic when it is at least 30 years old and in its original condition.

Did you know that many people consider a classic car a valuable possession? The number of classic cars in the Netherlands has grown by more than a quarter in just five years!

If you also plan toimport a classic car, it is important to know the costs and procedures involved. Our experts are happy to help you get started so you can enjoy your new classic car as soon as possible!

Importing a Classic Car from the USA or Canada

The United States and Canada are popular countries to import classic cars from due to the wide availability of vehicles, relatively low prices, and vehicle condition. Especially in the warmer and drier areas of West America, it rains and snows relatively little, and for cars, that is, of course, an ideal climate!

Besides the USA and Canada, SCL Rotterdam can also assist with importing classic cars from many other countries. Depending on the car you are looking for, it might be worth investigating in which country you can find your dream car.

When you import a classic car from abroad, you will inevitably encounter foreign laws and regulations and additional costs such as import duties and VAT, transport costs, and registration fees.

Our staff can tell you exactly what to expect for each country and calculate the total costs. SCL Rotterdam has extensive knowledge and experience in importing, and we can assist you throughout the entire import process. We ensure that all necessary documents are arranged and that the vehicle passes customs without any issues and, if desired, is delivered to your driveway.

Example Calculation: Import Duties and VAT on a 1982 Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Suppose you have purchased a beautiful 1982 Mercedes-Benz 500SL in the United States for USD 29,500 and you want to know how much import duties and VAT you need to pay when importing it to the Netherlands. Here’s a step-by-step explanation:

Purchase Value of the Car: USD$ 29,500 We convert this to euros. Suppose the exchange rate is 1 USD = 0.90 EUR. So, the purchase value in euros is: 29,500 x 0.90 = €26,550.00
Transportation Costs: €3,200.00 These are the costs for transport and insurance to Rotterdam.
Total Value for VAT Calculation: Purchase value in euros + transportation costs = €26,550.00 + €3,200.00 = €29,750.00
Import Duties: 0% Since it is an original vintage car (older than 30 years), no import duties are applicable.
VAT: 9% VAT is calculated on the total value for VAT calculation.

VAT = 9% of €29,750.00 = 0.09 x €29,750.00 = €2,677.50

When the car arrives in the Netherlands, you need to pay €2,677.50 in VAT.

Import Duties on Classic Car Imports from Outside the EU:

In many cases, you do not have to pay import duties when importing a genuine classic car! Importing a classic car is often much cheaper than importing a regular car.

However, there are a few important things to keep in mind: A car is only considered a classic by customs if it is at least 30 years old on the date of import. Additionally, the car must be in original condition. This latter point often leads to some discussion: When is a car considered original, and who decides this?

Over the years, SCL Rotterdam has imported thousands of classic cars, and our experts are happy to advise you on the dos and don'ts! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We are undoubtedly just as enthusiastic about your dream car as you are, and there's a good chance we have imported the model before and can give you some tips!

VAT on Classic Car Imports from Outside the EU:

When you import a classic car from outside the EU, you always have to consider VAT. For original classic cars older than 30 years, the VAT rate is 9% in the Netherlands. The VAT is calculated on the purchase value of the car plus the transport costs.

Within SCL Rotterdam, we have a department with customs experts who will ensure that the correct rates are calculated, so you never pay too much! Are you importing a car to a country other than the Netherlands, such as Belgium or Germany? A lower VAT rate may apply. Our experts are happy to tell you more about this.

Importing a Classic Car from within the EU

When you want to import a classic car from a country within the EU, fewer rules and formalities apply than when importing from outside the EU. However, you still need to consider certain matters, such as registering the car with a Dutch license plate and, of course, transporting it to the Netherlands.

It is still important that the documents are in order and handled correctly so that the car can be driven on the road in the Netherlands without any problems. For example, there must always be an original registration certificate, which is a requirement of the RDW. SCL Rotterdam is an RDW-recognized company and can easily help you obtain a Dutch license plate. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!