Export plates in Europe: temporary plates country by country
Export plates across Europe compared: German, Dutch and Luxembourg export plates, transit plates, validity, insurance, tests and when a truck is cheaper.
· 8 min read
Export plates are temporary registrations that let a car leave its country on its own wheels after it has been sold abroad. Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg all issue them, with validity from 14 days to a year, and all require insurance; Germany and the Netherlands also require a valid roadworthiness test. For one car over a short distance they are often cheaper than a truck; for several cars or long routes, the truck wins.
Why export plates exist
When a car is sold to a buyer in another country, its domestic registration usually ends: the seller cancels it, or the buyer cannot keep the seller's plates. Without valid registration and insurance, the car cannot legally be driven on public roads anywhere. Export plates bridge that gap. They register the car temporarily, often to the foreign buyer, for the journey out of the country.
Each country runs its own scheme, so the rules differ on who may apply, how long the plates last and what checks the car needs.
Which European countries issue export or transit plates?
Most EU countries offer some form of temporary plate for vehicles leaving the country. The best documented schemes for dealers are:
| Country | Plate | Validity | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Ausfuhrkennzeichen (export plate, red field with expiry date) | Tied to the insurance period, at most one year | Insurance valid abroad, HU valid until the plate expires |
| Germany | Kurzzeitkennzeichen (short-term plate, yellow field) | Up to five days | Designed for trips within Germany; fee €13.10 plus plates and insurance |
| Netherlands | Exportkenteken (existing number on white plates with black characters) | 14 days, but not longer than the APK | Car reported for export at the RDW (€12) or a recognised export company; insurance and valid APK |
| Netherlands | Transitokenteken (transit plate) | 14 days, valid in every country | For vehicles without Dutch registration passing through; non-residents can apply |
| Luxembourg | Export plates via SNCA | Until the end of the third month after the month of issue | Non-residents; insurer authorised in Luxembourg; about €173 including a €100 refundable deposit |
| Belgium | Transit plate | Limited period | Issued by the federal registration service; insurance required |
| Italy | EE plates for export | Limited period | Used for vehicles leaving Italy; check current rules |
| Poland | Temporary registration with temporary plates | Short period | Can be issued for taking a car abroad; check current rules |
For Belgium, Italy and Poland we give only the outline, because the details change and the official pages are not always available in English. Ask the seller or a local registration agent for the current procedure before travelling.
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Request accessGerman export plates: the most common route
German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) are issued under § 45 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) for vehicles that will be permanently exported. Conditions include proof of liability insurance valid for the journey and a general inspection (HU) valid until the registration ends. The registration lasts as long as the insurance, at most one year, and the plate shows the expiry date in a red field.
German short-term plates (Kurzzeitkennzeichen) under § 42 FZV are cheaper but last at most five days and are intended for use in Germany. For driving abroad, the export plate is the correct choice. Full details are in our guide to German export plates.
Dutch export and transit plates
The Netherlands offers two different temporary plates, and dealers often confuse them.
Export plates are for cars registered in the Netherlands that are leaving. According to the RDW, the car is first reported for export at an RDW station, an RDW counter or a recognised export company; the RDW charges €12. The owner then receives an indemnity certificate, the registration card with a corner cut off and the export certificate (kentekenbewijs deel II). After export, the car may be driven on Dutch roads for 14 more days on export plates: the existing registration number on white plates with black characters, which you may even make yourself. Cars need insurance and a valid APK, and the plates are not valid beyond the APK expiry date.
The RDW advises that the foreign buyer exports the car in their own name, so their details appear on the export certificate and responsibility passes to them. If the Dutch seller does the export, the seller stays responsible until the car is registered abroad.
Transit plates (transitokenteken) are for vehicles with no Dutch registration that need to travel through or out of the Netherlands, for example a car bought from a foreign owner who left it there. Non-residents can apply. The car is inspected at an RDW station, the plate is valid for 14 days from issue and in every country, and costs include €24.70 for the registration and €58.50 for identification of a vehicle up to 3,500 kg, plus an APK check if there is no valid foreign test.
How long are temporary export plates valid?
Validity ranges from five days to one year:
- Germany: export plates up to one year (linked to insurance); short-term plates up to five days.
- Netherlands: 14 days for both export and transit plates, and export plates no longer than the APK.
- Luxembourg: until the end of the third month after the month of issue, renewable but not extendable.
Plan the trip with a buffer. A car that breaks down on the last day of validity becomes unregistered at midnight.
Does a car on export plates need insurance and a roadworthiness test?
Insurance is always required, and in Germany and the Netherlands a valid roadworthiness test is too. Check two points with the insurer:
- Territorial cover: the policy must cover every country you drive through, not only the issuing country.
- Period: the cover must run until you reach your destination, ideally until the car is registered at home.
If the car has no valid test, it cannot get German or Dutch export plates. Your options are then a truck or a transit plate after inspection. Our article on the roadworthiness test for imported cars explains how tests transfer between countries.
Can a foreign dealer apply for export plates himself?
Usually yes, because export plates are designed for foreign buyers. Luxembourg explicitly issues them to anyone living outside the country, and garages may apply on the buyer's behalf. The Dutch transit plate is open to non-residents, who give a Dutch address such as that of the transport company. In Germany, foreign buyers regularly obtain export plates at the registration office, often with the help of the selling dealer or a registration service that knows the local office.
Bring identity documents, the purchase contract, both parts of the registration certificate where the country issues two, proof of insurance or an insurance confirmation number, and proof of a valid test.
Export plates or truck: which is cheaper?
Driving on export plates is cheaper for one car over a few hundred kilometres; a truck is cheaper for several cars or long distances. Compare the full cost:
| Cost item | Export plates | Truck |
|---|---|---|
| Plates and registration | Fees, plates, often a day at the office | None |
| Insurance | Short-term policy | Carrier's liability, plus your cargo cover |
| Driver | Your time or a driver, plus travel to the car | Included |
| Fuel, tolls, vignettes | Yes | Included in the price |
| Wear and risk | Kilometres, stone chips, breakdown, fines | Transport damage risk, CMR liability |
For an overview of truck prices and how to cut cost per car, read our guide to car transport in Europe. Whichever you choose, put the cost into the purchase calculation. MyCarDealer includes transport in its margin calculation for every car; dealers can request access.
Frequently asked questions
Which European countries issue export or transit plates?
Germany (Ausfuhrkennzeichen), the Netherlands (export plates and transit plates), Luxembourg (SNCA export plates), Belgium (transit plates), Italy (EE plates) and Poland (temporary registration), among others. Conditions and validity differ by country.
How long are temporary export plates valid?
German export plates last as long as the insurance, up to one year. Dutch export and transit plates last 14 days, and Dutch export plates no longer than the APK. Luxembourg export plates run until the end of the third month after issue.
Does a car on export plates need insurance and a roadworthiness test?
It always needs insurance covering every country on the route. German export plates need an HU valid until the plates expire, and Dutch export plates need a valid APK.
Can a foreign dealer apply for export plates himself?
In most cases yes. Luxembourg issues export plates to non-residents, the Dutch transit plate is open to non-residents, and foreign buyers commonly obtain German export plates at the registration office, often with help from the selling dealer.
Is it cheaper to drive a car home on export plates or use a truck?
For a single car over a short distance, export plates are often cheaper. For several cars, long routes or cars without a valid test, a truck is usually cheaper and safer.