Netherlands EV 2026: 100 km/h by Day, EVs Pay 70% Road Tax
Electric Vehicle Driving Guide
The Netherlands is the easiest country in Europe to drive electric and one of the least generous about it in 2026. The EU Alternative Fuels Observatory counts 13.16% of the light-duty fleet as alternative-fuelled in 2025, the highest of the big western markets, but a Dutch-registered EV now pays 70% of the normal road tax, a €687 BPM base amount at purchase and a company-car addition of 22% less 4 points on the first €30,000. For a visitor the rule that bites is simpler: 100 km/h on motorways between 06:00 and 19:00.
Charging Infrastructure
| Alternative-fuelled share of light-duty fleet (2025) | 13.16% (EU Alternative Fuels Observatory) |
| Fast charging | Dense along the motorway network; Fastned, Shell Recharge, Allego, Ionity |
| Motorway limit | 100 km/h 06:00 to 19:00; 120/130 at night where signed |
| Vehicles over 3,500 kg | 80 km/h everywhere |
| EV readiness | 5/5 |
Connector Types
- CCS2 for DC fast charging
- Type 2 for AC charging
Dutch kerbside charging is built around untethered Type 2 posts; without your own cable the country’s biggest asset is out of reach.
Charging Networks
- Fastned
- Shell Recharge
- Allego
- Ionity
- Tesla Supercharger
What a Dutch-Registered EV Pays in 2026
| Tax | 2026 rule |
|---|---|
| Road tax (MRB) | 70% of the normal rate in 2026, 2027 and 2028; 75% in 2029 (Wet MRB art. 23b) |
| Purchase tax (BPM) | Nil rate ended 1 January 2025; table starts at €687 for 0 to 77 g CO2/km (Wet BPM art. 9) |
| Company-car addition (bijtelling) | 22%, reduced by 4 points on value up to a €1,200 cap, i.e. the first €30,000 (Wet IB 2001 art. 3.20) |
None of this touches a foreign-registered car passing through.
Speed Limits
| Road type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Urban | 50 km/h |
| Rural roads | 80 km/h |
| Motorways, 06:00 to 19:00 | 100 km/h |
| Motorways at night, where signed | 120 or 130 km/h |
Range Tips
- Flat terrain, short distances and the daytime 100 km/h limit make this the country where an EV’s official range is closest to reality
- Charge at the destination rather than on the motorway when you can; kerbside AC is everywhere
Practical Tips for EV Drivers
- Plan the long legs around fast chargers and treat the rest as destination charging at the hotel or apartment
- Charge to about 80% on the road; the last fifth of the battery takes disproportionately long on a DC charger
- Pre-condition the cabin and battery while still plugged in on cold mornings
- Keep at least one roaming card and one app ready: contactless bank cards are common on new DC sites, older AC posts still expect a card or an app
- Carry your own Type 2 cable; many kerbside AC points are untethered
Sources
- Wet op de motorrijtuigenbelasting 1994, art. 23b (wetten.overheid.nl)
- Wet op de belasting van personenauto’s en motorrijwielen 1992, art. 9 and 9b
- Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001, art. 3.20
- Speed limits: RVV 1990 art. 22, via site data
- European Alternative Fuels Observatory, Netherlands
More Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not any more. Under article 23b of the motor vehicle tax act, a car driven only by electricity or hydrogen pays 70% of the normal MRB in 2026, 2027 and 2028, rising to 75% in 2029. This concerns Dutch-registered cars; a visitor's car is taxed at home.
Yes, since 1 January 2025. The nil rate for zero-emission cars expired on that date, and the BPM table now starts at €687 for a car emitting 0 to 77 g CO2/km (2026 tariff).
The standard addition to taxable income is 22% of the car's value. For a car with 0 g CO2/km it is reduced by 4 percentage points, capped at €1,200, which means the discount covers the first €30,000 of value. Hydrogen and solar-panel cars get the reduction on the full value.
100 km/h between 06:00 and 19:00 on motorways, 120 or 130 km/h at night where signed. Vehicles over 3,500 kg, motorhomes included, are limited to 80 km/h everywhere. Open roads are 80, towns 50.
CCS2 for DC fast charging and Type 2 for AC. Almost all kerbside posts are untethered, so bring a Type 2 cable.