European Approval On Exhausts

Do You Need an E-Mark?

Last revised: 27 July 2026. This page is general information about Dutch regulations and is not legal advice. Rules and enforcement change over time; if in doubt, check with the RDW or the current text of the legislation.

It is one of the questions we get most often: does my exhaust need an E-mark? A lot of stories circulate about this, and they regularly contradict each other. Below we set out what the law says, what an E-mark does and does not mean, and what that means for the systems we sell.

What is an E-mark, exactly?

A replacement silencer for a motorcycle must hold European type approval. You can recognise this approval by a marking on the silencer: an e or E followed by a country number (e4 for the Netherlands, for example), plus an approval number. The brand and type designation should also be shown on the system.

One thing is important to understand: an approval applies to a specific combination of exhaust and vehicle. The silencer has been tested under one or more particular motorcycles and approved for those. Fit that same silencer to a motorcycle that is not covered by the approval and the e-marking is still there, but the combination falls outside the approval. The paperwork is fine; the application is not.

What it ultimately comes down to: the noise limit

Type approval is one requirement. On top of that, a noise limit applies at all times, regardless of which exhaust is fitted.

Under article 5.4.11 of the Dutch Regeling voertuigen, a motorcycle may not produce more noise at the exhaust outlet than the value recorded for that vehicle in the vehicle register, plus 2 dB(A). That value is often also stamped on the VIN plate on the motorcycle and can be looked up in the RDW vehicle register.

If no dB(A) value has been recorded for your motorcycle — which happens with older machines, classics and imports from outside the EU — a table based on engine displacement applies instead:

RDW table showing the maximum permitted noise level for motorcycles by engine displacement

This cuts both ways. An exhaust with an E-mark is not a free pass: exceed the limit and you are in breach, even with an approved system. It can also go wrong with the original exhaust, for instance if it is worn or corroded through. Conversely, the fact that a system sounds quiet in practice does not make it road legal. And that is where it pinches a little: an Aprilia, for example, may produce 100 dB straight from the factory, while a Transalp XL 600 may only produce 83 dB. It does make you wonder why the Transalp is not allowed to make more noise.

Unnecessary noise is a separate offence

Alongside the noise limit there is article 57 of the Dutch traffic regulations (RVV 1990): drivers of a motor vehicle must not cause unnecessary noise. Revving with the clutch pulled in, or sitting there blipping the throttle in neutral, is therefore an offence even without any measurement being taken. Current fine amounts are published in the Boetebase of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service.

What are the risks?

  • A fine, either for exceeding the noise limit or for causing unnecessary noise.
  • A WOK notice (Wacht Op Keuren, awaiting inspection). Your registration is then temporarily invalidated and the motorcycle must be inspected by the RDW before you can use it on the road again. These really are the exceptions and you would need a great deal of bad luck for this to happen. The good news is that fitting the original exhaust is enough to get the WOK status lifted at the inspection.
  • Trouble abroad. Germany, but above all Austria and Switzerland, demonstrably enforce exhaust noise and system approval more strictly than the Netherlands does. If you ride a non-approved system, bear in mind that you may be challenged on it. Heading off on a trip? Fit the original or an approved system.

Attention to motorcycle noise is increasing in the Netherlands too. Measurements are taken more often and more deliberately than a few years ago, and some routes now carry restrictions for motorcycles because of noise complaints.

Removing the dB killer

An approved silencer is tested with the dB killer in place. Take it out and the system deviates from the condition for which approval was granted, so formally it no longer meets the requirements. The same applies to any other modification to the system. The e-marking stays on the silencer, but at that point it says nothing about the combination as it is actually being ridden on the road.

What does this mean for our exhausts?

We sell two kinds of product, and the distinction matters:

Systems with an E-mark. These hold European type approval for the motorcycles listed in that approval. Always check that your exact model and year fall within it. Use the system as supplied, so with the dB killer fitted. If you are travelling to areas or countries with a maximum permitted noise level, check carefully whether you will be allowed in with your current exhaust.

Exhaust systems without an E-mark, including decats and cat replacements. These products have no type approval and are therefore officially not permitted for use on public roads. Fortunately these rules are not enforced all that strictly: if your sports exhaust has a dB killer fitted, you can use it on public roads here, provided you do not produce too much noise — a form of tolerance in practice. Since this applies to most Dominator exhausts, there is no need to worry about it. And if the exhaust still turns out to be too loud, it can always be quietened down further. Do note: this is no guarantee that you cannot be fined for it. Always make sure the dB killer is fitted; that alone keeps the noise down considerably.

Want to be 100% road legal?

There are two routes:

  1. Choose a system with valid E-type approval for your motorcycle and leave the dB killer in place.
  2. Have the system individually inspected and registered with the RDW. This is possible for systems without type approval, but it is a paid inspection and the outcome is not guaranteed in advance.

Not sure whether a particular system is approved for your motorcycle? Get in touch with your make, model and year and we will look it up for you. We would rather give you a straight answer beforehand than afterwards.

Sources and further reading