Dutch Court Orders Husband to Return Car Ahead of Family’s Morocco Trip
A woman living in the Netherlands wanted to travel to Morocco with her children. But just days before their departure, her husband says he sold their jointly owned car. A Dutch court has ordered him to return the vehicle or face penalties of up to 25,000 euros.
She had planned to drive to Morocco with her children on July 18. But just weeks before their departure, this mother living in the Netherlands was in for an unpleasant surprise: her husband had just registered their Nissan Qashqai in someone else’s name. He says he sold the vehicle. His wife believes the move was simply intended to stop her from going on vacation.
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The case came before the court in The Hague on June 25, 2026. The day before the hearing, the husband had changed the registered owner. His lawyer submitted written arguments a few hours before the hearing, but neither he nor his client appeared before the judge.
The woman disputes the sale. She says the car belongs to the couple and that her husband knew full well about her plans to travel to Morocco. Her lawyer had also contacted her husband’s lawyer by email but received no reply.
The judge orders the car returned
The court found the wife’s account sufficiently convincing. It ruled that the husband could have the vehicle re-registered in his own name before making it available to his wife.
In his ruling of June 26, 2026, the judge ordered him to hand over the Nissan Qashqai, its working keys and all its documents by July 6. Each day of delay could cost him 250 euros, up to a maximum of 25,000 euros.
That deadline gives the mother twelve days to have the car checked and make any necessary repairs before setting off with her children.
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The judge also addressed the documents needed to travel to Morocco. The husband must sign an authorization allowing his wife to enter the kingdom with the car and use it there until August 30. This is an important step given the requirements for vehicles belonging to a third party.
The ruling even provides for a solution if the husband refuses to cooperate: once two working days have passed after the ruling is served, the ruling itself takes the place of his authorization. The two spouses, who were still married at the time of the hearing, must each pay their own legal costs.
