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Why a pickup from America?
In America the pickup is the best-selling vehicle. That means the choice is huge and prices are lower than in Europe. You will find everything there, from a clean, low-mileage RAM 1500 to a classic Chevrolet C10 or Ford F-100. We find the pickup for you, inspect it on site, collect it and ship it to Rotterdam.
Which American pickup trucks are there and where are they built?
Since 1 July 2026, where a pickup was built makes a big difference to the import duty. A few well-known models:
- RAM 1500: built in the USA (Michigan).
- RAM 2500 and 3500 (Heavy Duty): built in Mexico.
- Ford F-150 and Super Duty: built in the USA.
- Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra: built in the USA, but also in Mexico and Canada. Here you have to check each truck.
- Toyota Tundra: built in the USA (Texas). The Tacoma comes from Mexico.
- Jeep Gladiator: built in the USA (Ohio).
Check the first character of the VIN: a 1, 4 or 5 means built in the USA, a 2 is Canada and a 3 is Mexico. That quickly tells you whether a pickup may qualify for 0% import duty.
Import duty and VAT on an American pickup
Was the pickup built in the USA and shipped directly from the USA? Then since 1 July 2026 you pay 0% EU import duty, provided you can prove the US origin. This applies throughout the EU. If it was built in Mexico or Canada, the normal rate applies in practice: 22% for a pickup classified as a goods vehicle with a large engine, 10% with a small engine or as a passenger car. A 0% preference under CETA (Canada) or the EU-Mexico agreement is only possible with proof of origin and direct transport, which is rare for a used truck bought in the USA.
In the Netherlands you pay 21% VAT on the customs value plus the duty. A classic pickup aged 30 years or older in original condition can be imported as a collector’s item: 0% import duty and, in the Netherlands, 9% VAT, wherever it was built. Read all about it in import duty from the USA in 2026.
Netherlands: yellow or grey plate?
In the Netherlands this is the biggest decision for a modern pickup, because it determines the BPM (the Dutch registration tax) and the road tax.
- Yellow plate (passenger car): BPM is calculated on CO2 emissions. On a young V8 that can add up quickly, even after depreciation. If the pickup is 25 years or older, there is no BPM.
- Grey plate (commercial vehicle): a double-cab pickup with an open load bed can be registered as a commercial vehicle in the Netherlands if it meets the layout requirements. A key requirement is a load space at least 1.50 metres long. For a used commercial vehicle with a first registration date no later than 31 December 2024 that is more than 5 years old, there is no BPM.
Which route is best for your pickup depends on the model, its age and whether you are a business owner. Have it calculated in advance.
Watch the weight and your driving licence
A standard pickup such as a RAM 1500, Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado 1500 usually has a maximum permitted mass of up to 3,500 kg, so you can drive it on a standard car licence (category B). Only Heavy Duty versions above 3,500 kg, such as some RAM 2500 and 3500 models or a Ford F-250, need at least a C1 licence. So check the maximum permitted mass of the specific truck before you choose.
Inspection by the RDW in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, a pickup from America is inspected individually by the RDW. Small modifications are often needed, such as amber rear indicators instead of red ones, and a speedometer or display in kilometres. After that you file the BPM return and receive your Dutch registration.
A classic American pickup: C10, F-100 and more
A classic American pickup is often the most tax-efficient choice. If it is 30 years or older and original, you pay 0% import duty and, in the Netherlands, 9% VAT. There is no Dutch BPM. And with a first registration date before 1988 there is no Dutch road tax either. See the Chevrolet C10 and our other stock under classic cars from America.
How it works with Harley's Enzo
- You tell us which pickup you are looking for: model, year, budget.
- We search in America and inspect the pickup ourselves on site, with photos and video.
- You receive the paperwork, such as the title and the Carfax report, and an all-in calculation.
- We collect the pickup and ship it to Rotterdam.
Read more about the whole process under importing a car from the USA.