The word “lease” covers different contracts, and the answer to this question changes with each one. Some people who move to the Netherlands for work drive a leased car, and when the job ends they want to know whether they can sell it. The short answer is that the person who owns the car decides, and with most lease contracts that is the lease company. This article explains how to find out which situation you are in. The documents you need guide describes the registration papers that come into play.
The owner and the holder are two different people
The Dutch registration records two roles. The owner holds the title to the car. The holder is the person or company who has the car in their care and uses it. On the registration card (kentekencard), the holder appears under “name of the holder” and ownership is shown in a separate field. Your contract sets out the legal detail.
With a lease, you are usually the holder and the lease company is the owner. That is why the rules about the registration code (tenaamstellingscode) differ. The RDW states that you will not receive a registration code if a lease or finance company owns the car. The company receives the code instead. The text is on the RDW page about the registration certificate.
Private lease
With private lease you pay a monthly amount for the use of the car. The lease company owns it. You cannot sell a car that you do not own, and without the code the registration cannot be changed anyway, because the code is needed to sell, trade in, suspend, scrap or export a vehicle.
What you can do is end the contract, transfer it to someone else if the contract allows, or buy the car from the lease company if they offer that. All of these are decisions of the lease company, and the contract states the conditions and the cost. Contact them and ask in writing.
Financial lease
Financial lease is a form of financing in which the lease company owns the car during the contract. At the end there can be an option to buy it. Before that point the lease company owns the car, so the same applies: you cannot sell it yourself. If you want to sell the car, ask the lease company whether it will transfer ownership to you after a payment of the remaining amount, and what the amount is. After you own the car, the sale follows the normal route. Our article about selling a car with outstanding finance covers that route.
Company lease
A lease car from your employer belongs to the lease company, and the contract is normally between the lease company and your employer. You are the driver. You cannot sell it, and only the lease company can request a new code. If you are changing jobs or leaving the country, speak to your employer’s fleet or HR department. They will end or transfer the contract.
If you run your own company and the company has the lease, the company is the party to the contract. The same logic applies, and only the lease company can release the car.
How to check your own situation
- Look at your registration card. If you hold the card but never received a registration code, that points to a lease or finance company as owner.
- Read your contract for the words owner, ownership, early termination and purchase option.
- Call the lease company and ask who is registered as the owner, and whether it will release the car.
If the code was lost and you are not the owner, you cannot request a new one. The RDW says that for a leased vehicle only the leasing or financing company can request a new code. See the RDW page about a lost registration code.
What the lease company decides
The requirements differ per contract, so we cannot describe one procedure. The terms on early ending, return of the car, damage and mileage are in the document you signed, and the lease company can explain them.
If you are leaving the Netherlands
If you are moving abroad and have a lease, tell the lease company early. A lease car cannot be sold by you, and it cannot be exported or suspended without the code, so the lease company must be part of every route. The guide on selling before you leave explains the timeline for cars you own.
Where we fit in
We buy cars from owners. If the car is yours, whether you own it outright or after settling a loan or a lease, the sell form is the place to start, and asking carries no obligation. If the car belongs to a lease company, we cannot buy it from you, and the lease company is the party to talk to.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my private lease car?
No, because you do not own it. The lease company owns the car, and it receives the registration code. You can ask the company about ending the contract or buying the car.
Why is there no registration code with my card?
The RDW states that you do not receive a code if a lease or finance company owns the car. The company receives it instead.
Can I request a new registration code for a leased car?
No. For a leased vehicle only the leasing or financing company can request a new code.
Can I sell a car after the lease contract has ended?
Only if the car has become yours, for example through a purchase option. Check the contract and ask the lease company to confirm the transfer of ownership in writing.
Can a company lease car be sold by the driver?
No. The lease company owns the car, and the contract is normally between the lease company and your employer. Speak to your employer.
