Van Gils Automotive

What Van Gils Automotive does

Van Gils Automotive (legal entity: Autodemontagebedrijf Th. Van Gils BV) is a Dutch family-owned automotive dismantling and used auto parts business founded in 1970, headquartered in Nootdorp. The company operates a fully transactional e-commerce platform at vangilsautomotive.nl, selling 90,000+ used OEM parts across 60+ automotive brands from a single warehouse, with TecDoc-integrated part search by license plate, brand, or model, and same-day shipping for orders placed before 15:00. It complements the webshop with marketplace listings on eBay and Onderdelenlijn and a physical counter at Nootdorp for pickup.

The company purchases total-loss, damaged, and end-of-life vehicles from private individuals, insurance companies, leasing firms, and municipalities, then extracts usable parts for resale and routes the remaining hulk through the ARN recycling chain (demounting, shredding at HKS Moerdijk, and post-shredder technology at ARN Tiel), achieving up to 98.7% recyclability. It holds KZD***, KZD-E, RDW, ARN, STIBA, VbV, KIWA, and SBB certifications, and is registered as a WebwinkelKeur-trusted shop with a 9.4 customer rating across 108 verified reviews. Parts come with a 6-12 month warranty, and the company issues official RDW deregistration certificates (vrijwaringsbewijs) and demolition declarations.

The revenue model is pure transactional: per-unit pricing on used parts, transaction fees for vehicle disposal and documentation, and field-based vehicle intake with free pickup in the service area. Customers span private individuals (B2C) and professional garages, body shops, and mechanics (B2B), with secondary supply-side relationships with insurers, leasing companies, and municipalities. The company is privately held, with no disclosed external funding or parent company, and operates as a social enterprise employing people in vulnerable labor market positions through SBB-recognized training pathways.

Name

Van Gils Automotive

Legal name

Autodemontagebedrijf Th. Van Gils BV

Website

https://vangilsautomotive.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Van Gils Automotive is a Dutch family-owned auto dismantler selling 90,000+ used OEM parts across 60+ brands via e-commerce, serving private vehicle owners, professional garages, insurers, leasing companies, and municipalities throughout the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Used Auto Parts Retail and Vehicle Dismantling

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Parts (Used) Merchant Wholesalers (42314)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Used Auto Parts Recovery & Resale (Salvage/Yard Parts, Rebuilders) (EUAIAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Dismantling & Depollution (Fluids, Batteries, Airbags) (EUAIAJAC), End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling, Dismantling & Parts Recovery (TLABAKAI), Salvage, Total Loss & Insurance Auction Services (TLABAKAH)

Keywords

• Used auto parts
• Vehicle dismantling
• Auto recycling
• End-of-life vehicles
• OEM second-hand parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Nootdorp

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Used Auto Parts Sales: One-time transaction sales of OEM used auto parts from a catalogue of 90,000+ parts across 60+ automotive brands. Parts are sold individually via the e-commerce webshop, priced per unit, with same-day shipping for orders placed before 15:00. Revenue is generated per transaction with no recurring subscription component.
2. Vehicle Purchase and Resale (Auto Inkoop/Verkoop): Van Gils Automotive purchases total loss, damage, and scrap vehicles from private individuals, insurance companies, garages, leasing companies, and municipalities, then resells functional parts and recycles remaining materials.
3. Vehicle Disposal and Documentation Services: As an RDW-recognized demolition company, Van Gils issues official RDW deregistration certificates (vrijwaringsbewijs) and Certificate of Destruction for foreign vehicles, generating fees for administrative processing of end-of-life vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Van Gils Automotive dismantles end-of-life, damaged, and total-loss vehicles at its Nootdorp facility and resells more than 90,000 recovered OEM used auto parts across 60+ brands (Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Opel, Ford, etc.) through its e-commerce webshop to private owners and professional garages. The company also purchases vehicles from individuals, insurers, leasing companies, garages, and municipalities, and issues RDW-recognized demolition certificates and vrijwaringsbewijzen, routing residual materials through the ARN recycling chain for up to 98.7% recovery.

Product overview

Van Gils Automotive operates as a multi-service automotive company offering used auto parts retail, vehicle purchasing, auto dismantling, and recycling services. The core product is the used auto parts catalog comprising over 90,000 parts across 12 categories (Drivetrain, Accessories, Bodywork, Electrical, Interior, Cooling, Undercarriage, Braking, Exhaust, Safety, Lighting, Engine) for vehicles from Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Opel, Renault, Peugeot, and many other brands. Supporting services include Auto Inname (vehicle buying), Autodemontage (dismantling), Auto Recycling, Occasions (used car sales), and Exclusive Parts (premium tier). The CO2-Calculator tool enables customers to measure environmental impact savings from purchasing used parts. All services are delivered through a professional e-commerce platform with RDW certification and STIBA/KZD quality standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gebruikte Auto-onderdelen (Used Auto Parts) Warranted used OEM auto parts covering 12 categories (Drivetrain, Accessories, Bodywork, Electrical, Interior, Cooling, Undercarriage, Braking, Exhaust, Safety, Lighting, Engine) for 60+ vehicle brands including Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Opel, sold individually through the e-commerce webshop with same-day shipping for orders before 15:00 and a 6-to-12-month warranty.
• Auto Inname / Inkoop (Vehicle Purchase) Service for purchasing total-loss, damaged, end-of-life, and used vehicles from private individuals, garages, insurance companies, leasing companies, and municipalities, with free pickup, immediate payment, and RDW-recognized deregistration certificate (vrijwaringsbewijs) handling.
• Autodemontage (Auto Dismantling) Professional vehicle dismantling service in which usable parts are recovered, inspected, and quality-controlled for resale, contributing to circular-economy goals and supporting the company's own used-parts catalogue.
• Auto Recycling End-of-life vehicle recycling service that channels residual materials through the ARN network (demounting 25%, shredding at HKS Moerdijk 58.6%, post-shredder technology at ARN Tiel 15.2%) to recycle or reuse up to 98.7% of each vehicle.
• Occasions (Used Cars) Pre-owned vehicles available for purchase directly from Van Gils Automotive's inventory, traded in through the Auto Inkoop programme and resold whole to retail and dealer buyers.
• Exclusive Parts Premium tier of used auto parts with enhanced quality specifications, marketed to discerning customers seeking top-grade components beyond the standard inspected and warranted used-parts offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 86% CO2 emissions saved by choosing used parts over new parts
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARN (Auto Recycling Nederland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan Gils Automotive is a member of ARN, which orchestrates sustainable vehicle recycling across the Dutch dismantling industry. Through ARN's chain — demounting (25%), shredding at HKS in Moerdijk (58.6%), and Post-Shredder Technology at ARN Tiel (15.2%) — up to 98.7% of end-of-life vehicles are recycled. ARN grants Van Gils access to its shredder and PST network and enforces product responsibility of manufacturers.
• STIBAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTIBA is the Dutch trade association and interest group for certified vehicle, motorcycle, truck, and related vehicle dismantling companies, active for over 35 years. Van Gils Automotive is a long-standing member, adhering to STIBA's conditions for transparency in buying and selling used parts, quality standards, and environmental compliance. STIBA also developed the CO2 calculator tool in partnership with ARN and RAI Aftermarket.
• KZD (KwaliteitsZorg Demontage)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKZD is an independent certified quality system for the vehicle dismantling industry, developed by STIBA and ARN. Van Gils holds KZD*** (the highest level), KZDPlus, and KZD-E (electric vehicle demountage) certifications, meeting strict requirements for part traceability, quality control, environmental compliance, and safe handling of electric/hybrid vehicles.
• VbV (Verzekeringsbureau Voertuigcriminaliteit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVbV is the organization representing the interests of private individuals, insurers, leasing companies, and car rental companies affected by vehicle-related crime. Van Gils is VbV-certified, enabling it to participate in the trade of total-loss vehicles under Bedrijfsregeling 16 and contributing to fraud prevention in the vehicle supply chain.
• RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RDW is the Dutch vehicle authority responsible for vehicle type approval, technical inspection, and vehicle registration. As an RDW-recognized company, Van Gils is licensed to register vehicles in its business inventory (ORB), deregister vehicles for demolition (ORAD), and issue official RDW deregistration certificates (vrijwaringsbewijs) for vehicles taken out of circulation.
• SBB (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBB oversees and guides companies where students follow internship or work-study trajectories. Van Gils is an SBB-recognized training company accredited for automotive and logistics programs, hosting students who earn certificates and sometimes transition to permanent employment at Van Gils.
• MAEX (Social Handprint)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAEX measures the impact of social initiatives and enterprises and distributes impulses to strengthen these initiatives. Van Gils is affiliated with Social Handprint, which measures and visualizes the company's positive effect on society through inclusive employment and circular economy practices.
• OnderdelenlijnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnderdelenlijn (onderdelenlijn.nl) is a Dutch online marketplace for used auto parts. Van Gils Automotive lists its parts on this platform to reach additional domestic customers beyond its own e-commerce website.
• HKS (Metaalverwerkingsbedrijf Moerdijk)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKS in Moerdijk is the metal processing company that handles the shredding of end-of-life vehicle wrecks from Van Gils Automotive as part of the ARN recycling chain. Shredders at HKS recover iron, copper, and aluminum for secondary use, accounting for 58.6% of the total vehicle recyclability.
• Gemeente Den Haag (Municipality of The Hague)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan Gils Automotive partnered with the Municipality of The Hague to process vehicles under the city's €3,500 scrapping subsidy scheme for old commercial vehicles (diesel/benzine vans). Van Gils handles the demolition and issues the official demontageverklaring required for subsidy applications, while the municipality funds the subsidy directly to applicants.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Visser Auto-onderdelen: Dutch used auto parts supplier with online ordering and dismantling operations. Directly competes with Van Gils for Dutch private and professional garage customers across the same brand portfolio.
• IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions): Salvage auction house specializing in total-loss vehicles sold by insurers, with significant parts-recovery operations. Directly comparable to Van Gils' vehicle purchase and dismantling flow from insurance companies.
• Geerts Auto-onderdelen: Dutch used auto parts dismantler and online seller operating in the same domestic market with overlapping product categories and customer segments. Closest direct geographic peer to Van Gils in the Netherlands.
• RockAuto: Online catalog retailer for automotive parts including recycled and aftermarket components, serving DIY and professional buyers with broad SKU coverage. Comparable e-commerce-driven parts model to Van Gils, though primarily new aftermarket rather than used.
• Copart: Global online salvage vehicle auction company that processes total-loss and end-of-life vehicles, redistributing parts through dealer and consumer channels. Highly comparable to Van Gils' total-loss intake and parts recovery model, though at much larger scale.
• PartSouq: International online retailer of used and aftermarket auto parts with global shipping. Comparable e-commerce distribution model to Van Gils' eBay and Onderdelenlijn channels, but serves Middle East and global buyers primarily.

Broad incumbents

• Bapcor Limited: Australian automotive parts and accessories distributor including a dedicated used/recycled parts business. Comparable business model combining trade and consumer used-parts distribution at scale.
• LKQ Corporation: Global distributor of new and recycled automotive parts with a strong European footprint including the Netherlands. Operates salvage yards and e-commerce channels, overlapping with Van Gils across wholesale used parts and dismantling.
• Brezan Parts Service: Benelux-based automotive parts distributor with broad new-parts inventory and delivery network to professional garages. Adjacent competitor for the B2B garage segment where Van Gils also sells used parts.

Others

• Onderdelenlijn: Dutch online marketplace aggregating used auto parts from multiple Dutch dismantlers including Van Gils. Functions both as a distribution channel and indirect competitor by aggregating peer inventory for the same Dutch customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vangilsauto
• Facebookfacebook.com/VanGilsAutomotive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/van-gils-automotive

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Van Gils Automotive