Road tax and insurance: what do you pay per month?
You pay road tax and car insurance whether your car sits still or is driven daily. Yet the bill varies enormously from person to person, because weight, fuel type, province, cover level and no-claims years all play a part. Find your own situation below and see which fixed monthly cost goes with it.
12 August 2026 · 5 min read
Which situation do you recognise?
Three common profiles, with the combined fixed monthly cost for road tax and insurance.
The Light Petrol Driver
Compact car such as a Polo or Yaris, third-party or third-party+
€60 – €110 /mo
The cheapest combination: low weight keeps both tax and premium down.
The Mid-size Driver
Golf or Focus, often with limited comprehensive cover
€95 – €155 /mo
Your cover level and no-claims years make the biggest difference here.
The Heavy or Diesel Driver
SUV, Passat or a heavier diesel car
€145 – €230 /mo
Weight and fuel type hit road tax hard.
Fixed monthly costs for road tax and car insurance
You pay these two costs regardless of how much you drive. Together they form the hard floor of your car budget. A monthly cost calculation for your car shows how these fixed costs add up.
| Cost item per month | Compact care.g. Polo / Yaris | Mid-size care.g. Golf / Focus | Large car / SUVe.g. Passat / CX-5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total fixed monthly cost (indicative) | €60 – €110 /mnd | €95 – €155 /mnd | €145 – €230 /mnd |
| Road tax (motor vehicle tax) | €25 – €45 /mo | €45 – €70 /mo | €75 – €120 /mo |
| Car insurance (third-party / third-party, fire & theft) | €35 – €65 /mo | €50 – €85 /mo | €70 – €110 /mo |
What determines your road tax per month?
Weight of the car
The heavier the vehicle, the more road tax you pay. A light city car falls into the lowest bracket, while a heavy SUV or estate can quickly cost tens of euros more per month.
Fuel type
Petrol cars generally pay less than comparable diesel cars. Electric cars are currently partly exempt, but the rules will change in the coming years.
Province
Road tax varies by province. Provinces with more roads and maintenance costs levy a higher rate than those with lower infrastructure costs.
What determines your car insurance premium?
Cover level
Third-party cover is the cheapest and mandatory. Third-party, fire and theft also covers theft, window damage and break-ins. Fully comprehensive is the most expensive, but covers damage to your own car.
No-claims years
The more no-claims years you have, the bigger your discount. New drivers pay the full price, while experienced drivers with decades behind the wheel pay considerably less.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you pay road tax monthly?
- Road tax is deducted quarterly by default. Paying monthly isn't directly possible through the Dutch Tax Authority, but you can set aside an amount yourself each month so the quarterly bill never comes as a surprise.
- What's the cheapest option for fixed monthly costs?
- The lowest fixed monthly costs come from a light petrol car, third-party insurance and plenty of no-claims years. Choose a car in a low road tax bracket and compare insurance premiums to keep costs down.