Why are CARS so EXPENSIVE in The Netherlands?? | An American Expat Perspective (4K)

Cars are expensive in the Netherlands, and here are the reasons why.
I'm an American expat who has been living in the Amsterdam, NL for the past 2 years. I'm a car guy and I'm going to explain some of the costs associated with owning a car in The Netherlands, and why it's so expensive.
Thanks for watching! Please consider subscribing if you like what you see.
Here is my previous video on owning a car in Amsterdam:
• WHY I own a car in the...
Here is my other previous video on pickup trucks in NL:
• WHY are there SO MANY ...
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:20 - Recap of my last video
01:25 - Car ownership costs are lower in the US
01:54 - BTW (VAT) Tax
02:16 - BPM Tax
04:38 - Pickup trucks may be exempt
04:50 - Cost of Fuel
06:20 - Why electric cars are cheaper in NL
07:10 - MRB (Road Tax)
08:00 - Parking and Amsterdam parking permit
09:09 - Other costs (Maintenance, Winter tires, etc.)
09:40 - APK (annual inspection)
10:05 - Closing
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#expat #AmericanInEurope #Amsterdam #drivingvideo
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[@Kerleem]

A couple of additional things I didn't mention in the video: -BPM: The full BPM mentioned is for new vehicles. The BPM of a vehicle goes down as it gets older (e.g. for used cars). Also, importing a vehicle from somewhere like Germany, you still have to pay NL BPM costs. -MRB (Road tax): Electric vehicles currently *do not* pay road tax (until 2024), to encourage more electric vehicle adoption in NL. Let me know what you think below!

[@erkkavilhunen7852]

BPM style tax in Finland and Denmark is something else. In Finland it is both price and CO2 based. In base model BMW 118i it starts at little over 3 000 euros and in M5 its over 70 000 euros. By adding expensive equipment it is possible to get it over 100 000 euros for fully loaded M5. Denmark is even worse. For really expensive cars much much worse. Thing is that remaining BPM should be possible to get back when car is exported out. I don't know any EU country where that is fully possible. Some return it in some cases but none do it like it should be done to have fully free movement single market over entire EU.

[@BrianDavidCrane]

Great video and notes, thanks!

[@marcusfranconium3392]

Electric cars not happening the power grid is at its max . and no more room for loading stations.

[@robhofkes3221]

When you buy a 2nd hands car you don't pay BPM. So thst will save some costs

[@Kerleem]

@@robhofkes3221 you do but not full BPM… it depreciates with the car value.

[@p.j.dejong5059]

Road tax on personal vehicles depends on: -the province you live in -the type of fuel, gasoline is cheaper than diesel -the weight of the car in steps of 100kg.

[@Kayshots]

Wrong. Diesel is cheaper

[@p.j.dejong5059]

@@Kayshots The fuel itself is cheaper, but I am writing about the road tax, which is more expensive. This is resulting in a threshold, where above a certain amout of km's the overall running costs of a diesel car is cheaper.

[@YouHaventSeenMeRight]

The reason the road tax is variable per province is because the road tax is actually a combination of the actual road tax (which is the same everywhere and goes to the national government) and the so called "provinciale opcenten", a per province added on charge whose revenue goes to the provincial governments and which level is set by the provinces themselves. The "opcenten" are nomally meant for maintaining the provincial roads (as the roads are split into country level roads, mainly the highways and freeways, provincial level roads, the stuff that connects towns and cities that aren't highways and freeways and local roads (the stuff in towns and cities themselves, that the local governments have to pay for). Of course there is no rule that says that the "opcenten" have to be used for road building and maintenance, so the provinces do inflate the costs quite a bit. If you look at the division of road tax versus "opcenten" you'll see that the "opcenten" themselves are between two to three times the amount of the road tax!

[@dutchyjhome]

The bottom line is that the Dutch government has a discouragement policy with regard to the ownership and use of cars in general. If it is up to the Dutch government, we all travel by public transport and hardly anyone has a car anymore. Because one cannot forbid owning a car, one has opted for a financial discouragement policy with the aim of having as few cars as possible (on the road). 2. that it is driven as little as possible. 3. That there are as few relatively large cars as possible that consume relatively more fuel and that put a heavier burden on the roads due to their great weight. The freedom of choice is still there, but you are severely financially punished for owning and driving a car. To a greater or lesser extent, this also applies to owning a motorcycle, although owning and riding a motorcycle often costs much less money. The focus of the Dutch government is now on zero CO2 emissions. All vehicles that do not emit CO2 are now being encouraged to purchase and own them, on the understanding that these cars will soon also be taxed. It is of course an illusion that an electric car is free of carbon footprint. In fact, an electric car has such a gigantic carbon footprint at the time of its production that it is technically better to drive around in a Diesel Hummer for the rest of your life. However, the politicians prefer not to look further than strictly necessary and only claim the success of Zero emissions from the emissions of electric vehicles and they prefer to forget the enormous carbon footprint of manufacturing and dismantling at the end of the life cycle of an electric vehicle. Because this suits the politicians better, it is annoying to be confronted with this and so this inconvenient truth is best kept silent. We're all waiting for Synthetic E-Fuel (under development by Porsche) or Hydrogen as a substitute for the current fossil fuels for all current cars that take fossil fuels now, so we can skip the electric car mistake which run on electric power made by Cole power stations and Nuclear power stations. So how clean is an electric car to begin with...?

[@Kerleem]

Generally I agree with you, but Engineering Explained has done a deep dive breakdown on the carbon footprint of gasoline and electric cars (including production carbon footprint). It was surprising that production for EVs was so high, but over the course of the lifetime (at least based on his rough calculations), EVs still have a smaller carbon footprint. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmOsfHaao9-fa80 Don't get me wrong though, I'm not ready to give up on ICE cars!

[@dutchyjhome]

@@Kerleem With the strict condition that electric vehicles only run on "clean" and "green" electricity; yes then maybe. However, it is a bitter truth that 1. Our electrical network is not prepared for the massive use of electrical vehicles 2. So power is still generated by extremely polluting plants that these electrical cars use 3. That the total carbon footprint from manufacturing up to and including the demolition of electric vehicles are not yet in proportion to the use of a comparable ICE vehicles 4. That the tube vision of the politicians with regard to electric vehicles is seen as an easy way to score with the public, which is kept somewhat stupid regarding the actual carbon footprint of electrical vehicles. and to top it off: 5. Apart from the developments imposed by our government on the car industry that have led to the current stock of electrical vehicles... there are much better alternatives (E-Fuel and Hydrogen as fuel) and so real sustainable alternatives available that are now in full development. Our government's core vision, however, is entirely focused on electric driving but they're not focused at alternatives that can even become available for the current fleet without modifications (E-fuel) and can even use hydrogen as fuel with some modifications. Producing new vehicles, especially those that use raw materials that are (already) becoming rare (electric vehicles), can by no means be called sustainable. Let the current and existing fleet of vehicles with combustion engines continue to drive, but then on an E-Fuel or hydrogen; that is sustainable!

[@MaxM-qd2fo]

stupid policy, they just cows for commuting

[@dutchyjhome]

@@MaxM-qd2fo All the means to an end, as politicians like to say. They've got only one mission and that's emission, here in The Netherlands. You can produce as many heavily polluting electric cars anywhere in the world, just not in The Netherlands, but our government supports you financially when you purchase an electric car. This is how (local) politics worx. Our government wants you to commute in the smallest eco friendly car you can find and then you are a good citizen. You are bearably being financial punished. If you want some comfort and a bigger car, you start to be naughty and so you will financially be punished by high purchase prices, which are over the top being taxed and you'll be taxed every month because you use the road, and of course you will be taxed severely when you fill your batteries, you naughty civilian! So yes, we do have a financial punishing system, where you'll get punished for purchasing a car, owning a car and when you are taking in energy. The punishing system here seems to work, since alotta e-cars are being bought, leased and share-owned... while alotta true gear heads rather would die than have an dildo on wheels.

[@MrPrajitura]

@Chris67 I'm sorry, I'm trying to hold my hysterical laughter at the idea that current EVs would last 10 years. it's the throwaway era for cars also dude. I remember reading something about a Tesla having to drive at least 300k miles to offset the carbon footprint, yet Tesla advises changing the battery pack after 5 years tops . EVs in their current form are such a hoax it's infuriating.

[@pokemonfreaky100]

A BMW is not considered a cheap car here haha

[@elizabethzombo4782]

Thank you!

[@Noi5ee]

I mean the current 1 series is not much of a BMW (In fact I have read that it is based on a KIA platform?)

[@adewouters]

@@Noi5ee it wears the BMW logo, that's what makes the price, isn't it ? ;-)

[@stefanfalldorf6573]

@@Noi5ee it has nothing to do with Kia. It's based on the UKL2 plattform, a front wheel drive plattform, first time used for BMW badged vehicles but already used by Mini which is owned by BMW.

[@owenmclain3327]

Breaks down like a cheap car .

[@milomhoek]

Were I live, in Portugal, it's the same situation. For example, the cars in Spain (Portugal's neighbouring country) are cheaper just like in Germany. Both countries have big car manufactures so they pressure them to lower the taxes

[@Wijnamar]

Great video, well explained. I think Amsterdam might be the worst place in the whole of the Netherlands to own a car. I live in Drenthe and the mrb and gas prices are lower than in Amsterdam (randstad).

[@aidanlutz8106]

Exactly, because you generally don’t need a car.

[@CoasterTopia]

This video is useful even for me, a Dutchie haha

[@enricoself2256]

Typically, car ownership costs are higher in countries with no cars manufacturers. Small countries like netherlands, belgium, denmark has very high ownership cost because their economy is marginally linked to cars. It is different in country like Germany, France, Italy, ... cars manufacturers make a significant percentage of national GDP and hence car ownership is less taxed. Netherlands is also peculiar due to their double standards: they do not like cars polluting their air (right) but they welcome other big cars manufacturers to establish their fiscal residence in the Netherlands due their almost "tax haven" status for big corporations. Money for selling cars in other countries is fine, but cars on their roads are not.

[@Kerleem]

I mean, I kind of get it. But yes, you are right. The automotive manufacturers do influence the laws in their respective countries.

[@erhanercan491]

As a fellow American expat who just moved to Eindhoven a few weeks ago, this is very helpful. I just hate (and have always hated) the idea of throwing money on a lease but a different country different situation, so I get it. I am curious to see the potential savings of bringing a car from another country like Germany or Belgium (despite still having to pay some of these taxes). Thanks and good luck!

[@Kerleem]

If you are thinking about importing, there's a company that can handle it all for you. I haven't used them so I can't speak firsthand, but I have heard from others: www.dasimport.nl/

[@dream4playz]

I always buy my vehicles second hand. You can get a decent car for about €2000 and as long as it still has a valid inspection, the car is generally fine. Ik koop mijn voertuigen altijd tweedehands. Je kunt voor €2000 een degelijke auto kopen en als de APK er nog op zit, is hij meestal in orde.

[@williamgeardener2509]

Importing cars can give you a marginal saving on your purchase, but recent research showed that a lot of cars that were imported had some tampering with the mileage. Imagine paying €10 000 for a car that's advertised with 50 000 KM and you find out it really has more than 500 000 on the tachometer.

[@stevejohnson1685]

Kerleem - you're working for the wrong company. While I was on a work assignment in the Netherlands, my company "lent" me a car, and a gas card, and arranged for a parking space at my apartment. It was a Peugeot 307 (this was a while ago), a decent car. I really appreciated it! The Netherlands achieved its desired outcome for you: a small car, not occupying much real estate when parked, not consuming a huge amount of gas, ... But, I also bought an Omafeits ("granny bike"), a NS.NL train card, and wound up using only one tank of gas in the last 3 months I was there.

[@Kerleem]

Yes, true

[@K.Krigsforbryter]

In Norway we have 25% sales taxes and little higher BPM (47.153€) on the M5 you was showing. We have aprox. same prices on fuel too.Realy fun to see the difference

[@Kerleem]

Wow, yeah, I know Norway is really pushing for EV adoption and there's really high EV adoption there. I get it now!

[@moneymakermike6189]

And you have double the GDP per capita ...

[@tdrxy]

That s disgusting

[@Zelielz1]

As a car enthusiast, this kills me. I'm moving to Utrecht and already suffering it.

[@Kerleem]

Where are you moving from? Yeah, it's quite sad just how expensive they are compared to Germany for example.

[@Zelielz1]

@@Kerleem Sweden, which is already a not so good place to own a car. But the road tax is anual and the city tax is digital and automatic. Used car prices are generally good and most are well taken care of.

[@singham1708]

Are the expenses in Utrecht same as Amsterdam?

[@Kerleem]

@@singham1708 I’m not sure but the main difference would be for parking. Most of the other expenses are applicable regardless of location. Road tax varies by province but it’s almost the same in most provinces

[@MiChAeLoKGB]

My country, Slovakia, has a Registration tax you have to pay based on your engine performance in kW. Its nowhere near the crazy numbers Netherlands has with BPM, but still. For 80kW and below its 33 €, but goes up to 3900 € for engines above 254 kW. The price goes down the older the car is, but the first registration is always at full price, even if the car is 15 years old (so you still have to pay it for imported cars). The coefficient is 1.00 (full tax) for first registration, 0.82 (82%) for any other registration within first year (after first one of course) and goes down to 0.06 after 16 years. But the way its worded, it seems like its actually not the age of the vehicle, but how many years passed since it's first registration.... So I guess if you import 10 year old car and sell it as 20 year old car, buyer will have to pay registration tax as if its only 10 years old... And there is also up to 50% TAX incentive for Electric, Hybrid, CNG, LPG or Hydrogen cars.

[@Kerleem]

Wow yes that’s similar but still cheaper than NL. Interesting! Thanks for sharing

[@xanderduh5577]

On Indonesia the taxes like tripled the actual price, for example an Aventador SV cost 1.5 million dollars on Indonesia when in the US it's only cost around half of million dollars

[@Joe3D]

That would make sense if you purchase the car for 2 people, it's like an apartment and everything else.

[@srewbigdata7832]

MRB is based on the weight of the car... the heavier the car, the more expensive. Makes sense, as the higher the weight of a car, the higher the damage to the road.

[@carlosmarkiet5391]

and where in the Netherlands you live. f.i. Noord-Branbant is duurder dan Noord-Holland

[@toomasargel8503]

In Estonia was July of 2022 2,19 euro/ 1 liter = 8,69 USD/US.gallon . Now 1,89 euro/L.

[@Roel_Scoot]

The taxes on private automobiles and the fuel is not high enough to pay for the costs of the needed infrastructure and the health and environmental problems they bring with them. There is someone who says that electrical vehicels are underestimated for their co2 footprint, but that is also true for the internal combustion cars, and even more so!

[@Kerleem]

Show me the data

[@Roel_Scoot]

@@Kerleem According to the Dutch Ministery of Infrastructure and Watermanagement (Google: KiM+rapport+Nederlandse+overheidsuitgaven+en+-inkomsten+verkeer+en+vervoer_pdfA) Taxes: € 17,000,000,000.--- Expenditures: € 12,000,000,000.--- Saldo +€ 5,000,000,000.--- According to the SWOV (Governmental Foundation Scientific Research Traffic Safety) Traffic accidents € 15 - € 36,000,000,000.--- Ebvironmental damage €7,300,000,000.--- Economic damage (files, delays) €3,5 - 4,500,000,000.---

[@dbvida]

Thanks for the video! I am an American expat currently living in Vietnam and I am a classic car enthusiast that wants to relocate to Europe. In your opinion, what country in Schengen EU would be the best to live that has the best cost of ownership and great roads?

[@Kerleem]

Hard to say, probably Germany or France. The Netherlands is one of the most expensive.

[@therealdutchidiot]

In many cases APK is free as long as you order additional maintenance along with it. So I tyoically just plan the yearly maintenance at the same time.

[@Kerleem]

Good idea!

[@james.strong]

We just drive a car that costs £6000 but it’s second hand here in the UK.

[@dream4playz]

I live in Sittard (Limburg) and I can just park my car in front of my house for free. I think these parking permits are just for the big cities like Amsterdam. Ik woon in Sittard (Limburg) en ik kan mijn auto gewoon gratis voor mijn huis parkeren. Ik denk dat parkeervergunningen vooral in de grote steden voorkomen, zoals Amsterdam.

[@Kerleem]

Some other big cities in NL have street parking permits as well, they’re just usually cheaper and don’t have a wait time. But yeah it’s not everywhere

[@ritzevespa]

In Sittard is way to small, people have 3 cars and there is room for one little smart, It sucks ass Nuth beter 😏😏 whaha 😜

[@philliesphan334]

When I first looked into moving out of the US when I was in high school the prices of cars are what discouraged me from wanting to move out. How do you manage to be a car enthusiast moving to a country that car ownership is more expensive?

[@Kerleem]

I touched on it a little bit in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYDFlWmsa7hqp8k It's tough, but you have to adapt to what you can afford. That being said, I have had way more and better driving experiences here (autobahns, a race track, and BMW M experience) which makes up it a bit.

[@philliesphan334]

@@Kerleem do you think the remedy to being a car enthusiast there is to buy a cheaper model or buying an older car that's roadworthy?

[@Kerleem]

@@philliesphan334 that certainly does help. And even importing a lightly used car from Germany is another option to get a better car for cheaper. Of course it comes with risks but it can be worth it. Sometimes I wonder If I should have done this myself 😅

[@philliesphan334]

@@Kerleem speaking of risk with does the Netherlands mandating roadworthy inspections make buying a used car there less risky?

[@Kerleem]

I think that helps for mandatory safety items, but not every potential issue that a car can have.

[@jorismak]

road tax: weight, type of fuel and the province ('state') where the car is registered. Diesel's pay _a lot_ more (3x? 4x?). But the fuel is cheaper. So there is a tipping point where a diesel is worth it. Also the reason why most company cars / vans are diesels. About parking: Welcome in a crowded country :P. Most people I know that have a car in Amsterdam park it outside the city lines, and take the tram / public-transit to 'go drive their car'. Even smaller cities - if you live in the city center - you are lucky to park your car in a free-parking-zone that is like 10 minutes walking or less from your home.

[@williamgeardener2509]

Road tax for Diesel cars can be €700 per year more than for petrol cars. Talking about the same brand, same type. Petrol car Road tax per year = €504 Diesel car Road tax per year = €1296

[@MyValki]

I feel the price of cars is deserving of the impact they have in the Netherlands.

[@AnagramGinger]

Someone has to fund our bicycle infrastructure. Not me of course, I don't own a car.

[@tr33c21]

@@AnagramGinger I own a car and drive a company car in the netherlands. But I gladly pay for good roads and cycle infrastructure. Means less cars overall.

[@aaronanthonymoat]

Ireland has Vehicle Registration Tax, it works on a similar principle but is so much more expensive. I'm thinking of moving to Arnhem, would I need a car or can I get by with a bike?

[@Kerleem]

Depends on your situation, commute, and where you live. NL has really good public transportation so if you live in or close to the city, you probably don't need one.

[@toomasargel8503]

07:33 road tax is in Estonia only cargo trucks what total weight get more then 6 tons / 14,000 lbs.

[@mLyonJE]

1. What are the roads like compared to the US, as a driver? Both in terms of traffic and particularly the quality of the highway itself? 2. Is there no "annual inspection for roadworthiness" in the US then? (It seemed like that was the implication.)

[@Kerleem]

1. I don’t “commute” by car much, so I can’t speak to the day to day car traffic. From what traffic I have seen in NL, it’s less than some US cities but still exists. Road quality is amazing, probably the best in Europe. 2. It varies state by state, but not every state has safety inspections (many do not). My home state of Florida did not have it so it would not be unheard of to see a car falling apart driving down the road

[@mLyonJE]

@@Kerleem Yes, I think this is the thing with NL car costs -- it's the cost of high quality roads, and also the holistic approach to an integrated transport network of all modes, leads to lower levels of traffic despite being the most densely populated country in Europe. So I think these are good things. There's an environmental agenda as well -- and of course some of the taxes and costs are controversial because of the agenda being pursued! It's surprising that annual safety inspections aren't standard "everywhere" -- I had always assumed they would be! I live and I learn :) Thank you for all the insights!

[@toomasargel8503]

In Estonia is VAT 20 % but average bruto salary by month is 1743 euros / 1900 USD. /21.000 euros per Year.

[@Kerleem]

wow!

[@toomasargel8503]

09:52 inspection cost is small in Estonia .passanger car 50 -60 euros

[@Kayshots]

In the Netherlands it is very common to buy a used car, Usually their 2 to 4 years old. These get sold the most because they are barely driven. Low milage but already the 50% value is off.

[@Kerleem]

Yes, that's a smart decision too!

[@Zelielz1]

What website would you recommend?

[@Kerleem]

@@Zelielz1 try autoscout24.com or www.gaspedaal.nl/

[@klauskillski3881]

@2:06 4 Citroën DS nice

[@fast.biking_freddy]

Yeah i was wondering what it's like owning a classic car in the Netherlands

[@adewouters]

@@fast.biking_freddy I think the "oldies" (more than 25 or 30 years old) pay less taxes, but of course they still need to pass the controls so they cost more in maintenance.

[@nuno6899]

@@adewouters actually, oldies are quite cheap in the Netherlands. Cars older than 40 years don't have to pay road taxes, the maintenance check isn't obligatory and the insurance is cheaper. The only real costs are fuel, and repairing your oldie when it breaks ;)

[@erigabu]

not 4, 5 in total, a little later have another (black one) inside in the left parking lot

[@greycats99]

Good video. In my opinion you took very lightly the Road Tax when discussing it. It is EXTORSIONATE if you own a Diesel car. The most Expensive in the World. I moved to the NL a few years ago and brought with me my (Diesel) car, as I could not afford to sell it to buy a new one here. Once I've imported it I started to pay something around 480 euros per quarter (1.920 euros per year!!!) in Road Tax alone. I thought that was absolutely atrocious and something you don't see in any other Country in Europe for sure. Luckily I did not have a Diesel SUV otherwise the yearly equivalent would have been more than 3k Euros!

[@Kerleem]

True, it is higher for diesel, I guess because of the CO2 emissions. I think Diesels are dying out a bit (except for commercial/heavy vehicles) because of environmental concerns. NL is just pushing ahead with trying to discourage the use privately.

[@MaxM-qd2fo]

ridiculous policy in NL... the high tax is pushing people just drive crap cars.. and the f..king sky high traffic fine

[@Philjae]

I live in Rotterdam. Since i saw the BPM price for my car. I wrapped up my owning car plan :D I understand CO2 emission standard is important especially these days... but this Tax is too much .. Otherwise i should take only public transportation.. that's pity

[@Kerleem]

I know, I guess that's the point

[@ChaufMT]

I always get fuel in Belgium and that saves me over €500 a year. Would I use public transport, I would spent more money.

[@Kerleem]

Lucky you! You must live near the border. I did fuel up in Belgium the last time I was in Maastricht. Saved a lot of money 😊

[@ChaufMT]

@@Kerleem yes in Maastricht. In a straight line 900m. Indeed lucky

[@liubin7395]

@@Kerleem next time try Luxembourg if you pass there

[@Mrsdstry]

Cheapest cars are in Turkiye you should def check out the car market there

[@Kerleem]

I bet!

[@henribil9633]

About mrb for electric vehicles right now they dont have to pay the because the government wants to stimulate electric driving. But this will end in 2024 otherwise they would miss out on money for the road network. About apk, if you purchase a new car the apk will last 3/4 years after those years you'll need the inspection and then you have to come back for it every 2 years.

[@HuugTheSeal]

Depends on whether it is a gasoline / diesel engine. Gasoline engines need to get a new APK every year after 5 years. Diesel every 2 years after I believe 3/4 years

[@Twiggy163]

At a certain age it switched to a yearly checkup. My car is 13 years old and required a yearly APK. My motorcycle is also 13 years old, but they dont require a check.

[@singham1708]

Very precisely put...

[@123italiano321]

It is so weird to see an American talk and drive on the twisty roads of the Netherlands... So un natural!

[@JeffreyBNL]

I drive a jaguar X type and it's quite expensive for daily driving

[@Kerleem]

Oh wow, yeah I can imagine!

[@computeraddic675]

Typical price off petrol in the Netherlands is now (jan 2-2022) 2 euro per liter.And BPM is for maintaining and expanding the roads!Thats why have such fine roads.And such bad roads in the US!

[@Kerleem]

Yes, but I wish petrol was cheaper :(

[@LP640LP670]

If you find the netherlands car prizes expensive, imagine how expensive singapore is..

[@Kerleem]

Yes, I've heard. Crazy!

[@26jjack]

It’s still cheaper then driving In Singapore.

[@Kerleem]

Oh yeah I hear Singapore is crazy!!

[@ewoutbuhler5217]

Great video, good observations. Many complain about those prices, but if it would be less expensive, the amount of cars would become very problematic. We are a small country and want to keep it liveable. If you want to pay a lot of money you can drive a nice car, it's good that you pay a lot of taxes so "the polluter pays". I like the big Pickup-trucks as you showed in a previous vid but I feel there's hardly a place for them on the NL road system. I think they need to fix the tax evasion loophole with Grijs Kenteken as soon as possible, it simply creates inequality. If you want to drive one, fine, pay the full price. Including full BPM and road tax. If you pay that AND behave in traffic, it's great!

[@Wim-Minnaard]

Regarding the parking permit, I have mine for some 20 years now. Maybe things have changed now but I never applied for one believing that I had to own a car to be able to do so. Turned out not to be the case back then but I applied far too late and then had to wait 5 years. Fortunately I bought my first car on a Saturday and got the parking permit the next Monday:)

[@Kerleem]

Wow, in Amsterdam? Where about? and what car did you get?

[@Wim-Minnaard]

That was Centrum but I have heard of longer waiting lists. Situation was quite funny afterwards. I already knew I was high on the waiting list. I got a phonecall from a friend, hey I got good news, i am fired, got a new job that comes with a car. Do you want to buy my old car and the company computer? I bought both. They car was a 1988 fiat Uno special edition with a 1500 turbo engine, still miss that one, it was never short on power😏

[@singingLeaf123]

Hey Kerleem slightly off topic question. Since you moved from the usa do you have to pay taxes for both netherlands and usa or just netherlands

[@Kerleem]

I’d suggest googling that for more information 😊

[@singingLeaf123]

@@Kerleem ok thanks lol

[@nvr6859]

APK - New car after 4 years, then every 2 years until it is 8 years old, then it needs APK every year.

[@toomasargel8503]

IN Finnland and Norway is more expncive then Netherlands . In Estonia is low salaries that because is here average car age like 18 years. !!!

[@Kerleem]

Yeah true, Finland and Norway are quite expensive for petrol cars

[@Gren83]

Tax on weight, displacement AND emsissions here in Norway. Not many American cars here, at least not new ones ;-)

[@Kerleem]

Makes sense why EVs are so popular there!

[@Gren83]

@@Kerleem Yes, they are heavily subsidized, which is not fair for everyone. Once you get in the rural parts of the country, there is zero infrastructure.

[@Twiggy163]

BPM is controversial in the NL to say the least. Its also part of the reason the average age of cars in the Netherlands is quite a bit higher than surrounding nations: fewer people can afford a new one. This in turn causes fewer cleaner cars on the road and more pollution. Its very backwards.

[@Kerleem]

You've said it perfectly. It makes no sense, it just penalizes new car purchases. You can buy an older, 'dirty' used car and pay less BPM (if any) than a new (and likely safer) Hybrid...

[@ian184]

Everything in NL is extorsion, unless you inherited dutch farming money or some other commodity here there is no reason to live in NL. The quality of life is also poor due to expenses and everyone is miserable

[@Kerleem]

Well your comment is a bit extreme and I think it’s all relative but to each his own.

[@tr33c21]

Newer electric vehicles also pay for BPM

[@Kerleem]

I don't think so. I think they are going to be charged road tax (MRB) soon.

[@tr33c21]

@@KerleemI realized my mistake, you're correct. But it may change in 2024.

[@liubin7395]

I earn a great package but I still cannot save even one cent here in Netherlands! The tax is so crazy here! I own a Volvo V40 for my family car, and I spent a lot on it! I don’t really understand how the people with low income can survive in this country

[@Kerleem]

it is expensive!

[@spillinout]

Most of them don’t drive vehicles

[@williamgeardener2509]

People with low income don't buy cars they can't afford to drive. They also don't spend money they can't miss on a car they can't afford. If you can't save money while, as you claim, "earn a great package", you're doing a lot of things very wrong.

[@Aussieadam78]

Nice video G'day from Adelaide Australia Hup Ajax

[@astromec6303]

Huh? Petrol below 2€ per littre in France? Where? Sign me up! 😂 Actually I would argue that Paris is the least car friendly (and for cycling it’s better but still has room for improvement) city in the world. Petrol there costs on average 2.5€/L and insurance is very expensive there. Then u also need to find a parking and once u do it’s super tight and expensive. Also from what I heard, it’s difficult to drive there (narrow roads, complicated one way systems, non intuitive intersections or road priorities sometimes, traffic lights hidden by parked trucks, ppl driving crazily etc).

[@Kerleem]

Fuel is not over 2EUR/L in France....

[@astromec6303]

@@Kerleem Depends where. But it’s recently that the price increased. If u go to the supermarket u may find cheaper fuel (like 1.8€). If u go on the highway u can find fuel for sometimes more than 2.5€. Ppl r complaining about it (among other things).

[@AlexeyShevchenko]

2.35 EUR as of march 21 per liter

[@Kerleem]

Oh yeah don’t remind me 🥲🤣😭

[@carlosmarkiet5391]

Before all taxes even German cars are cheaper in the Netherlands

[@Kerleem]

You mean imported cars from Germany? Or German brands?

[@DrDaisky]

Prices on fuel now 2.30€ 😂

[@Kerleem]

I know. It’s even worse 😔🥲😭

[@arshatali5259]

SIngapore: Am i a Joke to you?

[@Kerleem]

Yeah Singapore is next level.

[@ritzevespa]

I have to import cars from Germany, otherwise I'll have to drive a 850kg shitbox 😬 Just got my 230 Kompressor 😂

[@Kerleem]

haha yes, are you in NL?

[@MaxM-qd2fo]

importing cars from Germany would be cheaper?

[@fadednono]

Wegenbelasting naait je wel hard

[@Kerleem]

Zeker

[@wojciechpiosik302]

New bmw 3 is 11 k more expensive in NL then in Germany of Belgium

[@Kerleem]

yes, exactly :(

[@greycats99]

That's exactly right! And it makes no sense as Germans are way less taxed compared to the Residents in NL. I mean, we're not talking peanuts here, it's thousands of Euros that the Dutch government steals from the People!

[@dannybenit9126]

get a pickup with a truck license plate it cost less then a car plate xd

[@Kerleem]

Haha I know! I did a video on that

[@RealConstructor]

That’s not going to happen in The Netherlands. The number plate is issued by the state (RDW) along with the car registration certificate. That certificate states the chassis number of the car. Having wrong number plates on a car is an offense in the second degree. You must appear before the police court and you get a fine of 160 to 2000 euros (normal fine but multiplied by 8) a driving ban from 8 days to 5 years and a probation of 3 years. On top of that you have to pay the court costs. Changing number plates isn’t as simple in The Netherlands and you risk a lot. Don’t fool with Belastingdienst (Tax office), CJIB (state collection agency) and RDW (motor vehicle registration agency), they will find you. Just like the IRS in the States will find you, eventually.

[@bokajgrummel6813]

Germany has a tax similar to bpm... you just don't pay it when buying the car

[@Kerleem]

How does it work? And what is the cost?

[@bokajgrummel6813]

@@Kerleem The cost is dependent on the replacement of your engine and how much CO2 it produces.. After registering your car, you pay it annually

[@Kerleem]

@@bokajgrummel6813 what is it called in German? I’d love to look it up

[@bokajgrummel6813]

@@Kerleem Kraftfahrzeugsteuer or KFZ-Steuer

[@Kerleem]

@@bokajgrummel6813 from what I could find online, it's still not as expensive as BPM in NL.

[@MrPrajitura]

you forgot to mention the 'eigen risico' when it comes to car insurance. I was shocked to discover you have to pay monthly premium for full risk insurance but if your car gets damaged by another party you still have to pay with your own money for repairs....this country is a joke.

[@Kerleem]

Oh yeah

[@processor8267]

Lol, you have no idea about Turkey :D This feels cheap for us.

[@Kerleem]

Lol really? That's crazy!

[@processor8267]

@@Kerleem If you want to buy 1 car you spend 4 car equivalent of money. We have a tax of another tax :D This shit is crazy.

[@Hugobros3]

What about used cars ? We european love our old shitboxes

[@adewouters]

And I thought it was expensive to own a car in Belgium... We have similar taxes but not that high. We also have recurrent costs like the yearly inspection, etc. Funnily, I hate to drive in the Netherlands, it's traffic jams everywhere all the time! No wonder why TomTom is one of the best GPS system :)

[@Murkelsable]

The thing is, the majority of people don't NEED their own cars here. There's incredible bicycle and public transport infrastructure, many car sharing or rental options, or as you said, company cars. Owning a car is overall a privilege in this country, not a necessity. Making it more expensive to buy or own is not a bad thing. If it were cheap to buy and own a car, either new or second hand (because even second hand cars cost quite a bit more to own than some other countries) more people would buy, own and drive their cars. And that will have a negative effect on pollution and increase the amount of cars on the road which in turn increases the amount of time stuck in traffic. Everything about this, from the BPM to the high gas prices is to discourage people from owning their own cars. My job is about 4-5 kilometers away from my home and I have the option to go by bike or public transport. Both of which are probably about the same travel time as with a car if not even faster (bicycle I can take a direct route, with a car I can't, and busses get priority at traffic lights and have bus lanes). For most people living and working in the cities, this is much of the same. And when I used to live outside the city, I could just take the train. It also gives more incentive to choose an electric vehicle when buying new. Especially in a country as small as ours, range anxiety shouldn't really be a big deal for most. With older cars being banned from some cities already, I'm sure we're going to see a lot more electric vehicles here soon. I'd rather have this, where people have to pay for the privilege of having their own car, over some American hellscape of a car-centric city.

[@Kerleem]

Fair points. Although many commenters have argued (on different videos) that even in rural parts of NL, they still NEED a car to commute. The BPM tax is flawed as you can buy or import an older (“dirtier”) car with lower (or no) BPM and drive it for cheaper.

[@MrPrajitura]

I moved to NL a year ago. Within a couple of months I had already bought my first car here. After another month I sold it to a bedrijf near Enschede, while I live just outside of Maastricht in the south. The drive to the garage took about 2.5hrs. The trip back by train(s) took 5 hours and I had to take a bus and 5 different trains just to reach Maastricht, as the small town I sold the car in didn't even have a train line. So I'm sorry, but this whole "you don't need cars in NL because of public transit and bikes" is just bull sh*t. Yes, major cities may be well connected, and a train trip can be the same as a drive or even a few minutes shorter, but overall, this whole "no need for cars" is just a myth that keeps getting perpetuated, only to get completely demolished once you actually live in this country.

[@ronhoek69]

From 2030 you may only buy zero emission cars in The Netherlands and a lot of other European countries. So bare in mind your gasoline or diesel car will be soon be a lot less worth because taxes will increase and people are weary of buying those cars. On top of that more and more cities simply won't let you in anymore. Update on gas prices: It's now up to $8,50 per gallon in november 2021 in The Netherlands.

[@Kerleem]

I’ll enjoy my ICE cars till the very end 😎

[@ronhoek69]

@@Kerleem Off course you should enjoy that, I just point to the long term trend. Change is gonna come.

[@frisianmouve]

Cars should be expensive, they're space intensive and polluting

[@Kerleem]

Cool

[@sebastianhuvenaars6537]

Go to any city on Earth, and see how much space is given to the car at the expense of trees, benches, shops, sidewalks, homes, terraces, water, humans, quietness, pleasant smells, playgrounds, etc. The real cost of cars are payed by those who do not own one :-)

[@Kerleem]

sure, that's one way to look at it. but how many possibilities has cars (and vehicles in general) opened up? I think the importance is finding the right balance, which the Netherlands tries to do, which comes at a financial cost to those who choose to own a car.

[@sebastianhuvenaars6537]

@@Kerleem Certainly true!

[@singjazzy6697]

When you buy a car in the Netherlands, you lose the feeling of independence and the charm of this country. You do not need a car. They have trains, Trams, buses and bikes, scooters and a great bicycle path that goes everywhere. Even disabled or seniors can use a scoot-mobile. I regret buying a car here. It changed the whole experience.

[@Kerleem]

I wouldn't say you lose the feeling of independence or charm. In fact, I find the opposite is actually true. I can drive to small, obscure villages that aren't easily accessible by public transport and get a BETTER taste of the culture. If you mean car ownership wasn't a good experience, that's a different story. Of course it's an additional burden, but there are trade-offs with everything in life, and to me (as an enthusiast) it's 100% worth it.

[@GenJouh]

Cars have a huge impact on the environment and you don't necessarily need a car to get around in the Netherlands. A car is a luxury item, and that's why it costs that much. The taxes are well spent on improving infrastructure, subsidizing green energy, etc.

[@Broekmanium]

You do realize not everyone lives in a city, right?

[@therealdutchidiot]

@@JoyNova It's great, but still not a real requirement, even on the outskirts.

[@Zelielz1]

"A car is a luxury item", yes if you tax it like hell making it only affordable for rich people...

[@therealdutchidiot]

@@Zelielz1 No, a car is a luxury item because you don't need one. It makes life easier, that's all.

[@Broekmanium]

@@Zelielz1 Secondhand you can get a good car for 2-3k. Tax + insurance can be as low as 50/month. I don't consider that for rich people. Sure, fuel is somewhat expensive but if you only use the car if really needed, this is easily manageable.

[@haweater1555]

Netherlands looks very flat.

[@Kerleem]

It's super flat 😂

[@RealConstructor]

@@Kerleem No its not. We have dunes, dams, dikes and ramps! LOL.

[@Aelsenaer]

If it was not flat it would not be called "Nether"lands

[@RealConstructor]

@@Aelsenaer Nether/neder doesn’t mean flat, it means low or down.

[@Aelsenaer]

@@RealConstructor yes I know. When it would go up it isn't low or down anymore.

[@samakvan119]

Are you Indian ? you don't look like an American guy.

[@Kerleem]

What does an American guy look like? I’m not Indian

[@MaxM-qd2fo]

the price is insane, such a stupid country, the farmers do not need cars, just the cows...