Legal assistance with car fines in the Netherlands

Questioner

I am an international student in Holland from another EU country. I bought a car one year ago and sold it in my home country few days later with a selling contract, but as it came out, the car was registered many months later. I got four fines in total for no APK/Insurance, but as I changed my living place, all the fines and documents related, came to my old address. By now I am told that I am too late for claiming anything. I am a student and cannot see a possibility to pay the whole sum as it will continue to grow up to 20 times the original sum. I have selling contract, an invoice that proves the car being in another country right after buying and a room rental contract. Is there any possibility to reduce the sum or request the cancellation of the fines as the car was officially not mine anymore.

Lawyer

I am sorry but if you have indeed sold a car with a Dutch registration in another EU country without either changing the registration to one of that country (new plates) and sending the RVW a proof of that or changing the ownership of the Dutch registration (which is impossible outside The Netherlands) you do have a serious financial problem. Your sales contract is of no value in this case nor is the fact that you or the car were outside The Netherlands. Furthermore if the car is still registered in The Netherlands, you are still liable for the assurance, the APK and the fines of the new owner. You may ask the RVW in a recommended letter for clemency, but it is known that they have a very strict policy in this affairs, so I can not give you much hope.