APK – MOT

A.P.K. (MOT test) stands for “General Periodic Inspection.” The A.P.K. is a legally required inspection in Europe aimed at promoting road safety and protecting the environment. Once your car has passed the inspection, you will receive an inspection report. If your car has passed the inspection, you do not need to carry this inspection report with you in the car.

To complete the A.P.K., all components must be inspected. These components include:

• Brakes.
• Suspension.
• Lighting.
• Springs.
• Steering.
• Tires.
• Bodywork.
• Emissions.
• Vehicle registration documents and license plates.
• Mileage.

Only if your car passes the inspection on all points will you receive an inspection report stating that the car has passed the inspection.

You can have your car inspected up to two months before the next APK expiration date. The previous expiration date will then be extended by one or two years, depending on the current inspection frequency.

The table below shows when which types of cars with which types of engines must be inspected.

Two months of standing on public roads

Due to unavoidable circumstances, a car may not be approved for the APK on time. In that case, the vehicle may remain on public roads for up to two months after the expiration date without the RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) conducting a registration check. After this period, the vehicle must be approved for the APK or the validity of the registration must be suspended. In the latter case, the car may not be parked on public roads.