‘Just like that’ ten fun facts and trivia about cars and driving!
Did you know…?
You don't fundamentally need to have a hazard triangle in your car in the Netherlands? It is indeed mandatory to warn oncoming drivers in good time if your stationary car poses an obstacle. However, you can also do this with your hazard lights. If they aren't functioning? Then a warning triangle is essentially mandatory.
If you live in the Netherlands, are you allowed to have a car with a foreign registration? The car must then be registered in the Netherlands. Furthermore, you will owe BPM and motor vehicle tax ‘as usual’. You may be able to get an exemption from this for short-term use.
The green number plates that you sometimes see are so-called dealer plates. Someone is probably taking the car for a test drive.
Are certain letter combinations on number plates considered undesirable? For example SS (Schutzstaffel, the notorious paramilitary organisation of the Nazis), abbreviations of political parties or of organisations like KKK or NSB.
Does a car first registered in the Netherlands before 1 January 1960 not have to undergo an APK inspection?
Is environmental aspects looked at during the MOT test in addition to safety? This is how exhaust emissions are measured. If a car emits more gases than legally permitted, it will fail the inspection.
It is possible to recover the costs of car damage caused by a poor road surface from the road authority – usually the municipality, province, or Rijkswaterstaat. Your claim for damages has a chance of success if the condition of the road surface has been bad for a long time and could, in fact, have been repaired long ago.
Children up to 1.35 metres must be transported in an approved car seat. Which car seat is suitable for your child depends, amongst other things, on the child's age, height, and weight.
If you don't go on holiday with your motorhome for a long time, it's better to have the licence plate suspended. You will then not pay motor vehicle tax during the time you are not using the camper, and you will not need to insure the vehicle. The vehicle also does not need to be subjected to an MOT test.
If you make modifications to your vehicle, you may need to inform the RDW. For instance, when you have your car resprayed in a different colour, have your car's engine remapped, or fit a different exhaust. An additional inspection may be necessary. You will have to pay for the (re)inspection yourself.
Do you know any interesting facts that our followers might not be aware of? Leave a comment below!
