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Comment by spockz | Hacker News Reader

In the Netherlands vehicles are taxed at sale, before VAT so VAT is also payed over this tax, based on emissions. Then there is a quarterly tax based on the weight of the car. Currently zero emission cars get a 100% discount on the latter and hybrid get 50% discount. Diesels cost about triple.

Cars in NL are way more expensive then in the neighbouring countries.

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I doubt it will stay this way for long, considering Wilders will be in power soon…

What stops someone from buying their car in a neighboring country?

I'd guess same as across states in the US, registration?

Not across the states. Across the border. What stops people in US to buy and drive car from Mexico?

Huh, you can't even buy in US a decent new European car if someone decided not to sell the model through the dealership. Wait 25 years and only then you can import and register it.

import tax, probably.

You need to import it and register it in order to drive it, and then you'll be paying that tax same as when bought from a Dutch shop.

The tax does decay for second hand cars, so there's a big market for foreign newtimers.

https://expatinfoholland.nl/help-guides/transport-mobility/b...

They'd still be taxed, unless they lived in the foreign EU country for 12 months and bought the car and owned it for 6 months.

I suppose the EU is a customs union, but "some restrictions apply".

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