Not all forklifts need to be registered. However, if the forklift enters public roads (or will be introduced in the future) and the following conditions are met, registration with the RDW is necessary in 2021:
• Forklift is wider than 1.3 meters
• Forklift is narrower than 1.3 meters and has an interchangeable trailed attachment at the front
• Forklift narrower than 1.3 meters pulling a trailer.
For more information about registering your (construction) vehicles, trailers or limited speed motor vehicles (MMBS), see Registreren (land)bouwvoertuigen en MMBS | RDW | RDW
Public road
The following criteria are used for the definition of a public road:
• A road is public if a vehicle can enter it, regardless of whether it is allowed to enter it. There is a case law that a frozen river is a public road. The vehicle can get there, even though it is not intended.
• A road is public if it is not supervised. There must be some form of (automated) surveillance to prevent unwanted vehicles from entering the site. A case law shows that parking lots at Schiphol, where a ticket can be purchased from a machine, is insufficiently supervised. A barrier with supervision or a system with passes is considered sufficient supervision.
A road is therefore not public if both criteria (vehicle cannot enter AND supervision) are met.