The Dutch Vehicle Authority, RDW, is intensifying its crackdown on fraudulent vehicle inspections. Inspectors involved in malpractice will have their licenses revoked, and there will be increased oversight and mandatory pauses for logging approved vehicles.
According to RDW, the number of illegal inspections has been rising. Some inspectors log vehicles as approved without proper checks, such as on brakes or tires, or even approve them remotely.
Teun Verschuren from RDW emphasized the danger of driving with an illegal inspection and the broader risk to road users. In 2022, four inspectors lost their certification due to misconduct, which increased to 17 in 2023.
Additionally, last year, 350 vehicle inspection certificates were invalidated due to non-compliance. From January 1, 2025, mandatory pauses of one minute for inspection centers and five minutes for individual inspectors will be introduced to prevent rapid sequential approvals.
RDW advises car owners to ensure their chosen garage is certified, as listed on the RDW website. Over 9,500 garages in the Netherlands conduct these inspections, with RDW performing occasional spot checks.
Verschuren warns against using services advertised as “no-fuss inspections” or “inspections without seeing the car,” noting the risk of fraud.
Source: NOS