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Answers to the questions business owners ask us.

Practical articles on accounting, staff and tax. Backed by sources and written for business owners.

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Driving a car from stock: when do you pay the benefit in kind?

A car from your trade stock may only go on the road on trade plates for business use, never privately. If you also use a stock car privately, you add 22% of the list price to your profit per car and pro rata, unless you stay under 500 private kilometres a year per car. For a margin scheme car you also pay 1.5% VAT.

22 October 20268 min read

Financial insight

What do electric cars mean for a garage's business model?

A fully electric car cost an average of € 294 a year in servicing and repair in 2025, a car with a combustion engine € 779. More than 1 in 5 passenger cars already has an electric motor. A garage earns less per car, but tyres, air conditioning, high-voltage work and battery checks remain.

22 October 20267 min read

HR and payroll

What does your first mechanic cost?

If your garage takes on a mechanic, the collective agreement for the motor vehicle and two-wheeler sector applies, which has been declared generally binding, even if you are not a BOVAG member. You pay at least the agreement wage, 8% holiday allowance, pension contributions to PMT and 0.95% to the social fund. A work-based apprentice is another route, with a subsidy.

22 October 20267 min read

Business advice

Which approvals does a garage need?

You may start a garage without a trade diploma. If you want to carry out MOT tests, you need an RDW approval with a certificate of conduct and a qualified inspector. For air conditioning work a training certificate is required from 1 January 2027, and you may only work on a high-voltage system when it is de-energised.

22 October 20268 min read

Business advice

Does the manufacturer's warranty end if an independent garage does the servicing?

A manufacturer may not void the warranty because an independent garage does the servicing, or because no branded parts were used. This follows from the European competition rules, which have been extended to 31 May 2028. If a defect is caused by servicing that was not done properly or by low-quality parts, the manufacturer may refuse the claim.

22 October 20267 min read

Business advice

Can you keep a car if the customer does not pay?

A garage may keep a car until the bill for the repair has been paid. This is called the right of retention and is set out in the Dutch Civil Code. The right ends as soon as the car is back with the customer or the owner. For an old bill or storage charges you set yourself it is not certain.

22 October 20268 min read

Business advice

Can a garage charge more than was agreed?

A garage may exceed an estimate by at most 10%, unless it warned the customer as early as possible. It may only charge for extra work if it pointed out the price increase to the customer in time. With a fixed price the customer pays the agreed amount.

22 October 20268 min read

Financial insight

What should a garage charge per hour?

A garage's hourly rate follows from three figures: the profit you need, the cost of the workshop and the number of hours you actually invoice. In a worked example with 1,260 billable hours the minimum is €77.24 per hour excl. VAT. Independent garages charge about €85, the dealer more than €100.

22 October 20268 min read

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