Preparing a car for sale takes less effort than most sellers expect, as long as the work is done in a sensible order. Start with the documents, because a missing one can stop a sale after the price is agreed. Then clean the car, gather keys and records, remove your personal data and decide which repairs are worth paying for. This post gives that order. The papers themselves are explained in the guide on documents you need to sell your car.
Step 1: check the documents first
The RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority, tells sellers to check before they sell that the registration document is complete and valid, and that the registration code (tenaamstellingscode) matches the registration card (kentekencard). If a document is missing, request a new one first. This is set out on the RDW page about selling a car.
Gather these before anything else:
- the registration card, or the paper registration documents for an older car
- the complete registration code, which has two parts (part 1 on the document you received when you bought the car, part 2 with the card)
- the latest APK report
- the service booklet and garage invoices
The RDW describes how the card and code work on its page about the registration certificate. If the card or the code is lost, a replacement has to be ordered, and delivery takes time, so do this before you advertise.
Step 2: a vehicle report for the mileage
As the owner or holder you can request an RDW vehicle report for free. It shows the registered odometer readings and the RDW’s judgment on them, and the RDW notes that a buyer can ask the seller for it. Details are on the RDW page about odometer readings. Having the report ready answers one of the first questions a buyer asks. If a reading in the register looks wrong, correct it before you list the car.
Step 3: clean the car properly
A clean car is cheap to produce and changes the first impression. Do the inside first, then the outside.
- Empty every compartment, the boot and the space under the seats.
- Vacuum the seats, mats and boot, and wipe the dashboard and door panels.
- Clean the glass inside and out.
- Wash the car by hand, and clean the wheels and the door shuts.
- Remove stickers and car park cards that you will not need.
Use a normal cleaner. Strong fresheners hide smells only for a short time and buyers recognise them. If a stain or smell remains, mention it honestly.
Step 4: keys, manuals and extras
Find both keys and any remotes, the owner’s manual and everything that came with the car. If you have winter wheels, a roof box mount, a charging cable or a spare wheel, put them together so you can show them. A missing second key pulls an offer down, as our post on what lowers the value of a car explains.
Step 5: remove your personal data
Modern cars store more about you than most owners realise. Before the handover:
- delete saved addresses, such as your home, from the navigation
- remove paired phones and clear the contacts and call lists from the infotainment system
- sign out of any manufacturer app and remove the car from your account
- take out parking passes, toll tags and charging cards
- check the glovebox for papers with your details
Look in the car manual or ask a garage for the factory reset of your model.
Step 6: photos
Take photos after cleaning, in daylight and with the car parked in an uncluttered place. Which views a buyer expects is covered in photos that help you sell.
What is not worth paying for
Repairs rarely return their cost at the sale. A buyer or a buyer service will price in the fault, and a cheap fix may not change the offer. Spending a lot on large repairs, new tyres or a full respray before you know what an offer looks like is risky. Get an offer first, then decide whether a repair changes the result.
The same goes for a fresh APK. A valid APK helps, but if the car is due for expensive work, a test could cost you money and give you a list of faults you then have to disclose. Ask yourself what it would change before you book it.
Frequently asked questions
Which documents do I need to sell my car in the Netherlands?
You need the registration card and the complete registration code, or the paper documents for an older car. Give the buyer the latest APK report too. The guide on documents explains each one.
Should I repair small dents before selling?
Check what a repair costs against what it changes in the offer. A small tidy repair can help, but buyers price in damage and a large repair rarely pays for itself.
Do I need a new APK before selling?
No. A car without a valid APK can be sold, although it may not be driven on public roads until it passes. Our post on what to do when your APK has expired covers this.
Do I need to wipe the car’s infotainment system?
Yes. Navigation history, contacts and paired phones stay in the system, and the next owner can see them.
Can I sell the car before I have found the registration code?
It will hold up the sale, because the buyer cannot register the car without the complete code. Request a new code first.
Once the car is clean and the papers are in one folder, send us the details and we come back with an offer. Nothing binds you until you accept.
