Dutch License Plate Lookup — Free RDW Kenteken Check
Enter any Dutch “kenteken” (license plate) to get the official vehicle record straight from the RDW — make, model, APK (MOT) expiry, CO₂, mass, colour, and full registration history. 100% free, no account, no paywall.
How it works
This lookup queries the RDW Open Data API— the Dutch government's official vehicle registry. Results are cached for 30 days to stay fast and to respect RDW's rate limits, but can be refreshed at any time.
RDW publishes vehicle data but not owner information. You cannot get the owner's name, address, or phone number from this page or any free service.
What you get
Identification
Make, trade name, body type, EU category, variant & execution codes, type approval number.
Engine & dimensions
Cylinders, displacement (cc), wheelbase, length, width, kerb weight, max mass, braked & unbraked towing weights.
Registration
First registration, first NL registration, APK expiry, colour, insurance status, export status, open-recall flag.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Dutch kenteken?
A kenteken is the official Dutch vehicle registration plate. Every registered vehicle in the Netherlands has a unique 6-character plate issued by the RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer) — the Dutch government vehicle registry.
Is this service free?
Yes. This lookup is fully free and uses the official RDW Open Data API directly. No registration, no paywall, no commercial resale of your query. Results come straight from the authoritative Dutch registry.
What data can I see?
You'll see make, trade name, body type, EU category, cylinders, displacement, doors, seats, kerb weight, max mass, max towing weight, wheelbase, primary and secondary colour, first registration date, APK (MOT) expiry, registration status (active / exported / scrapped), and whether there's an open recall. Owner info is NOT in the public RDW dataset — RDW removes it for privacy.
Does it work for scrapped or exported vehicles?
Yes. RDW keeps historical records even for vehicles that are no longer on the road — deregistered, scrapped, or exported. This is especially useful when checking a salvage-yard vehicle or a car you are considering importing.
Can I look up a foreign (non-Dutch) plate?
No. RDW only holds data for vehicles registered in the Netherlands. For vehicles registered in other countries you'll need their national registry (e.g. DVLA for the UK, KBA for Germany). If you have the VIN, our free VIN decoder may still work — it uses NHTSA data that covers most US/Canadian vehicles globally.
What if the plate is not found?
RDW returns no data for plates that have never been registered in the Netherlands, or for very recent plates not yet in the open-data snapshot. Double-check you entered all 6 characters exactly as they appear on the plate.
Have a VIN instead?
Our VIN decoder covers US and global vehicles via NHTSA, plus built-in chassis decoders for 10+ Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Data source: RDW Open Data — dataset m9d7-ebf2. RDW is not affiliated with this site.