Belgium — driver's guide

Verified links and explanations for drivers: insurance, service, registration, motorway vignette, low-emission zone, accident help.

Motorway vignette

Official information

Motorway vignette

Belgium has no vignette and no road toll for passenger cars — the motorways are free. The only charging system, Viapass, applies to trucks over 3.5 t. Important: some websites sell a fake "Belgian vignette" — no such thing exists, so buy nothing. The real obligation for drivers is low-emission zone (LEZ) registration in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent.

Who it applies to: Cars — Belgium has no vignette; motorways are free. · Verified: 17.07.2026

Low-emission zone

Official sale

Low-emission zone registration

Belgium has three low-emission-zone cities but only two registration systems: Brussels (lez.brussels) and Flanders (www.vlaanderen.be/lez), which covers both Antwerp and Ghent. A foreign-plated car must register BEFORE entering the zone; registration is free and stays valid for 5 years in Brussels and 3 years in Flanders. Important: registering in Flanders (Antwerp/Ghent) does NOT cover Brussels — for a trip through both Brussels and Flanders you need both registrations. Non-compliant vehicles can buy a 35 EUR day pass. Enforcement is by camera; fines are 350 EUR in Brussels and 150 EUR in Antwerp or Ghent. Wallonia has no LEZ yet.

Who it applies to: Foreign-plated cars entering the LEZ of Brussels, Antwerp or Ghent. · Exceptions: Netherlands-registered vehicles are recognised automatically and need no registration. · Verified: 17.07.2026

Go to the official purchase ↗ · Brussels-Capital Region (lez.brussels) / Flanders (www.vlaanderen.be/lez)

Accident help

Official information

Emergency numbers

In Belgium call 112 for ambulance or fire brigade and 101 for the police. In an accident with injuries, call 112 and stay at the scene.

Who it applies to: Any driver in an emergency in Belgium. · Verified: 17.07.2026

Open the official source ↗ · EU / BE

Insurance

Official information

Compulsory motor liability insurance

Third-party motor liability insurance is compulsory for every registered vehicle in Belgium. The official guarantee body is the FCGB-BGWF, the Belgian common guarantee fund and green-card bureau, which compensates victims of uninsured or unidentified vehicles.

Who it applies to: Every registered vehicle must carry compulsory liability. · Verified: 17.07.2026

Open the official source ↗ · Fonds Commun de Garantie Belge / Belgisch Gemeenschappelijk Waarborgfonds (FCGB-BGWF)

Service

Official information

Service / repair

Vehicle servicing and repair in Belgium is a commercial matter, not a state obligation — there is no official government portal for it. Use your car brand's official dealer or service locator to find a workshop.

Who it applies to: Commercial, not a state duty. · Verified: 17.07.2026

Registration

Official information

Vehicle registration

Vehicle registration in Belgium is handled by the DIV (Vehicle Registration Service). Important: Belgium splits duties across federal and regional bodies — registration, the regional vehicle tax, the technical inspection and insurance are separate obligations handled by different authorities, so no single portal covers everything.

Who it applies to: Owners registering/transferring a vehicle. · Verified: 17.07.2026

Open the official source ↗ · DIV (Vehicle Registration Service) via belgium.be