AUTO RECYCLING RESULTS

Recycling fee for cars

The recycling fee is a one-off amount that is added to the purchase price of a new passenger car or light commercial vehicle. From 1 January 2024, this fee has been set at €20,- (including VAT). The money that is collected goes towards responsible and high-value car recycling.

The recycling fee is payable on all cars that are registered in the Netherlands. In addition to new cars, this now includes all cars that are imported from outside the Netherlands and then registered in the Netherlands for the first time.

Here you will find an overview of the recycling contribution from the years 1995 to 2023: Recycling Contributions 1995-2023.

Who has to pay the recycling fee?

When someone buys a new car, the importer collects the recycling fee when the car is first registered.

When applying for a license plate for a parallel-imported new or used car, the applicant pays the recycling contribution through the RDW.

That is the organization responsible for the registration of motor vehicles in the Netherlands. The recycling contributions are then transferred to the Auto Recycling Foundation, of which ARN is a part.

If a car has been delivered in the Netherlands, then exported, and later re-imported to the Netherlands, there may be a right to a refund of the recycling contribution that was paid.

More information and the online application form can be found here: Recycling Contribution Refund Scheme

What happens to the recycling fees?

The recycling fees enable ARN, along with its more-than 300 partners in the recycling chain, to recycle end-of-life vehicles to a high standard. 

Thanks to the efforts of car-dismantling companies, shredder companies and recycling companies, a recycling performance of more than 98% has been realised in recent years.

Together we will make something beautiful

To bring consumers and professionals up to speed on changes to the recycling fee, in 2021 the campaign “Samen maken we er iets moois van“ (Making the most of it, together) was launched. 

In addition to ARN and the RDW, BOVAG, RAI Vereniging and Stiba are also partners in this campaign. 

Science journalist and presenter Anna Gimbrère and presenter Rob Kamphues are campaign ambassadors.

Together we will make something beautiful

Welcome at ARN!

Join our nationwide network of 238 ARN chain partners and enjoy many benefits immediately.

Find a collection point

Drop off your end-of-life vehicle free-of-charge to a car-dismantling company near you. It will be recycled in an environmentally responsible manner, along with its starter batteries and drive batteries.
Return your car