Number of vintage cars up by a quarter in last five years

There were 47 thousand more vintage cars registered at the start of 2024 than in 2019. Nearly half of those vintage cars were 40 to 50 years old, while five years ago that share was 63 percent. In particular, the number of cars between 50 and 60 years old has increased in recent years, doubling to 84 thousand over the last five years.

The average vintage car was 53 years old, but the oldest classic car registered dates from 1894. A total of 661 (0.3 percent) cars 100 years old or older were registered.

Volkswagen most common brand, blue most common colour

Volkswagen was the most common brand of vintage car in the Netherlands at the start of 2024, with 32 thousand vehicles. Nearly 15 percent of all vintage cars were Volkswagens. The next most popular brands were Mercedes and Citroën, with 21 thousand and 14 thousand vintage cars, respectively.

Vintage cars come in many different colours. Blue is the most common colour (16.9 percent), closely followed by red (16.5 percent) and green (16.2 percent). The most common colours for cars less than 40 years old are grey, black and white.

Vintage cars drive an average of 1.8 thousand kilometres per year

Around a quarter of vintage cars were uninsured in 2023, and were therefore not allowed on public roads. Those that were allowed on the road drove an average of just under 1.8 thousand kilometres in 2022. The average non-vintage car drove nearly seven times that distance (12.2 thousand kilometres).

Altogether, vintage cars drove around 274 million kilometres in 2022, which represents 0.2 percent of the total distance driven by all Dutch cars. The total distance driven by all Dutch-registered cars combined is about 114.3 billion kilometres.

Ownership of classic cars highest in municipality of Alphen-Chaam

Vintage car ownership is highest in the municipalities of Alphen-Chaam and Opmeer, with about 41 vintage cars per thousand inhabitants. Baarle-Nassau and Nederweert also have a relatively high number of vintage cars.

Vintage car ownership is the lowest in Diemen and Almere, with around four cars per thousand inhabitants.

Transitional arrangement for newer vintage cars

Until 1 January 2014, cars that were 25 years old or more were completely exempt from road tax. The legal position of vintage cars changed on that date, however, and only vintage cars aged 40 years or more were exempt. A transitional arrangement continues to be in place. The transitional arrangement only applies to petrol-driven cars built before 1988 until they reach the age of 40. At the start of 2024, nearly 45 thousand cars were taking advantage of this transitional arrangement.

By 2028, all cars under the transitional arrangement will be 40 years old or older, and the arrangement will therefore expire. The owners of passenger cars produced in 1988 or afterwards will pay regular road tax until then, just like people who own newer vehicles.