1Road tax 2026 at a glance
2What the amount depends on
| Effect | |
|---|---|
| Weight (empty weight) | Heavier car, higher tax, in steps of 100 kg |
| Fuel | Diesel pays most (plus a soot surcharge for older diesels), petrol least, LPG in between |
| Province | Each province adds its own surcharge (opcenten); the difference can be over €100 a year |
| Electric | Taxed by weight like a petrol car, then the discount |
3Electric cars: the discount is shrinking
| Discount on road tax | |
|---|---|
| 2024 | No road tax at all |
| 2025 | 75% |
| 2026 | 30% |
| 2027 | 30% |
| 2028 | 30% |
| 2029 | 25% |
| 2030 | None, full rate |
Electric cars are heavy because of their battery, so without the discount they would pay more than a similar petrol car. The discount is meant to bridge that until 2030.
4Hybrids, vans and classic cars
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Plug-in hybrid (1–50 g CO2/km) | Full rate; the 25% discount of 2025 has ended |
| Regular hybrid | Same as petrol |
| Electric delivery van | Full rate; the discount ended after 2025 |
| Car 40 years or older | Exempt |
5How and when you pay
- 1Automatically
From the day the car is registered in your name; you get an assessment without applying.
- 2Per period
Every three months, or monthly by direct debit.
- 3Selling the car
Tax stops on the day the registration moves to the buyer; too much paid is refunded.
- 4Not using the car
Take it off the road with a schorsing at the RDW to stop paying; a parked car on the street still pays.
6Lease and company cars
For a lease or company car the lease company or employer pays the road tax; it is in the lease price. What you pay yourself is the bijtelling on your salary.
7Common questions
Is wegenbelasting the same as motorrijtuigenbelasting?
Yes, wegenbelasting is the everyday name.
I just moved here with my car. When do I start paying?
Once the car has Dutch plates in your name. Until then you must not drive it here long on foreign plates.
Why did my electric car's road tax go up so much in 2026?
The discount fell from 75% to 30%, so you now pay 70% of the full rate instead of 25%.
Do I pay road tax on a car I do not drive?
Yes, as long as it is registered and not taken off the road (geschorst).
Sources
This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.
- Motorrijtuigenbelasting berekenen (in Dutch)
- Veranderingen motorrijtuigenbelasting (in Dutch)
Ready to run your own numbers?
Importing a car: BPM and road tax