Blog
Guides and data on buying, checking and protecting a car in Europe — theft statistics, buyer checks and prevention.
CarTrace is launching: everything is free until 1 January 2027
To celebrate our launch, the complete CarCheck report, a free PDF report every month, comparisons of up to ten cars and stolen-car listings are free until 1 January 2027. No card, no trial that turns into a bill.
· 4 min read
Your car's CO2 emissions: what does it really emit, and what does Euro 6 mean?
The CO2 figure in the register comes from a test bench. How to check a car's real CO2 emissions, track them month by month, and what Euro 5, 6 and 7 mean.
· 10 min read
My Garage: everything about your car in one place, and why we built it
APK dates, recalls, value, mileage, services, CO2 and selling have always lived in different places. My Garage puts them on one screen per car, watches them for you and emails you only when something needs doing. Here is every feature, and why it exists.
· 8 min read
How to check a used car: the list from advert to registration
Most of the work happens at your desk, not on the seller's driveway. This is the order in which you check a used car in the Netherlands: plate check, paperwork, viewing, test drive and the transfer at the RDW.
· 10 min read
Low-emission zones in the Netherlands: can your car still enter? (2026)
A Dutch milieuzone is a diesel rule: petrol, hybrid and electric cars are never refused. Here are the zones, the new 2026 sign, the zero-emission zones for vans and trucks, and the dates that matter.
· 8 min read
RDW licence plate check: what you can look up for free, and what you cannot
Every Dutch licence plate is in the RDW register, and much of it is public. Here is what a RDW plate check shows, what stays hidden, and how to get more out of it.
· 7 min read
OVI from the RDW: how to read the Dutch vehicle information system
OVI is the RDW's official vehicle information system. What it is, how to use it, how to read the fields, and what a buyer still wants to put next to it.
· 6 min read
Buying a used electric car in the Netherlands: 12 things to check first (2026)
Buying a used EV in the Netherlands in 2026? Check the battery health, the MRB road-tax discount, the charging power and the RDW history. A full checklist with the current Dutch rules and the traps to avoid.
· 11 min read
Is rapid charging bad for your battery? What the research actually shows
A large-scale study of 12,500 EVs found no measurable effect from rapid charging. Another study found one. Here is what explains the gap, and what it means for the used car in front of you.
· 9 min read
How Relay Attacks Steal Keyless Cars — and How to Stop Them
Most modern car theft doesn't involve a broken window. Here's how a two-person relay attack works, and the cheap measures that defeat it.
· 5 min read
How to Check if a Used Car Is Stolen (Free VIN Check Guide)
Buying a used car in Europe? A five-minute check can save you from losing both the car and your money. Here's exactly what to verify before you pay.
· 5 min read
Car Theft in the Netherlands 2025: The Numbers Behind the Rise
Vehicle theft in the Netherlands climbed to its highest level in six years. Here's what the 2025 figures reveal — the most-targeted models, where the cars go, and how many come back.
· 6 min read