Customs handling, by the letter of the law.

You must meet the following criteria: • Be in original condition, without major modifications to the chassis, steering, braking system, engine, etc. • Be at least 30 years old • Be of a model or type that is no longer in production • However, motor vehicles are not considered of historical or ethnographic interest and are excluded from this heading when the competent authorities determine that the vehicles do not illustrate a characteristic step in the development of human achievement or a period in that development. Such vehicles must also possess the required characteristics for inclusion in a collection by: being relatively rare, not normally being used for their original purpose, being the subject of special transactions outside the normal trade in similar utilitarian articles, and having a higher value. This heading also includes as collectibles of historical interest: • Motor vehicles, regardless of year of manufacture, that can be shown to have been used in a historic event • Racing motor vehicles that can be shown to have been exclusively designed, built and used for competitions and have achieved significant sporting success at notable national or international events Parts and accessories: • Parts and accessories of motor vehicles and aircraft are classified under this heading provided they are original pieces that are (in the case of motor vehicles) at least thirty years old or (in the case of aircraft) at least fifty years old and no longer in production. Imitations (replicas) and reproductions are excluded unless they meet the above three criteria.

A T1 is a transit declaration (NCTS) that allows non-EU goods to be moved under customs supervision through the EU without being cleared at the first point of entry. Example: a car lands in Rotterdam but is formally imported in Denmark — the T1 covers the transit segment.

When permanently relocating to the Netherlands from a non-EU country you may, under conditions, import your personal vehicle without import duties or VAT. General requirements: at least 12 months of ownership, the vehicle was used in the previous country of residence, and the relocation is within 12 months of establishing residence in NL. We assess your specific situation.

DMS (Douane Management Systeem) is the digital declaration system of the Dutch customs authority. Almost all import and export declarations run through DMS. As an officially recognised customs office we file declarations on behalf of our clients and monitor processing through to release.

We work with tailored quotes because complexity differs per file — a standard DMS declaration for one vehicle is different from a T1 with multiple stops or a relocation exemption with special documentation. Send us your situation via the contact form and you receive a substantiated quote within one working day.

Yes, individuals can file declarations themselves via DMS, but this requires registration with the Dutch customs authority, knowledge of the correct tariff codes, and accurate calculation of import duties and VAT. An error can result in additional levies, fines or delays at the border. Most clients choose a recognised customs office to eliminate that risk.