Guide
Odometer check with NAP judgment
Odometers can be tampered with; registered history less easily. The NAP judgment in RDW is therefore a core field on every used buy.
What is the NAP odometer judgment?
Nationale Auto Pas (NAP) collects odometer readings recorded at inspections and certain registrations. The judgment — typically logical vs illogical — says whether the current reading fits prior measurements. Auto Consul shows this judgment in your plate dossier from RDW Open Data.
‘Logical’ does not mean ‘low miles’ or ‘well maintained’. It mainly means: no obvious break in km history in the records. ‘Illogical’ is a heavy signal; treat it as a stop or a demand for conclusive proof.
Ad versus register
Note advertised mileage and compare with the dossier and the dash at viewing. Gaps need explanation. Dashboard photos can be outdated; trust what you see live plus NAP.
- NAP illogical → do not shrug it off
- Miles do not match wear → dig deeper
- Import: ask separately for foreign history
Run an odometer check
Start the plate check on Auto Consul and open the odometer/NAP block. Combine with APK check and recalls. That stops you buying on a low-miles claim alone. For wider purchase steps: see used-car check and the FAQ.
Still unsure after a green NAP? Fair: oil changes, timing belt, battery or bodywork sit outside this judgment. Use NAP as a fraud filter, not a quality seal.
Tampering, import and evidence
Odometer fraud is less often invisible than before thanks to NAP, but it has not vanished. Risk rises with import history gaps, quick flips, and ads where miles and condition do not match. An odometer check is then not nitpicking — it is basic care. If unsure, ask for inspection reports, invoices with mileage notes, or a second opinion.
Note: logical NAP does not protect against ‘honest’ high miles with deferred maintenance. Conversely a young low-mile car can have hard city use (clutch, brakes). Always combine odometer with a test drive and, for larger sums, an inspection. The dossier tells the km story; the driveway tells the wear.
Auto Consul surfaces the NAP judgment beside APK and recalls so you need not stack three sites. Use that speed to drop more cars digitally — and only view serious candidates in person. That is the payoff of a good odometer check in 2026: fewer kilometres in someone else’s car, more certainty in yours.
How to translate miles into maintenance expectations
Low miles sound attractive, but standing still can cause issues (brakes, tyres, battery, seeping lines). High motorway miles with a thick service book are sometimes healthier than ‘garage queen’ claims without proof. An odometer check says whether the reading fits; you judge whether usage matches condition. Ask about commuting, holidays, and whether the car stood outside.
Do a simple sum: km per year since first registration. Extremely low or high is not a disqualification, but a talking point. Tie that to NAP judgment and invoices. Mileage becomes a evidenced story instead of a marketing number in bold ad type.
If the judgment is illogical, do not enter a negotiation on ‘an explanation will follow’. Let proof come first. There are enough other used cars. Auto Consul shows the judgment quickly so you take that exit early — that is the whole point of a free odometer check.
In short
Always run an odometer check via the NAP judgment in RDW before taking a used car seriously. Compare ad, dashboard and dossier. Walk away from illogical readings without hard proof. Use Auto Consul to see this beside APK and recalls in one screen — fast, free on open data, and meant to make your test drives count.