Belgium is introducing a road vignette for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes from 1 May 2027. It is a single system covering the entire country. Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region have agreed on a unified solution. The vignette is mandatory on Belgian motorways and regional roads. Local and municipal roads are not included in the system.
The road vignette is fully digital and linked to the vehicle's licence plate. You will therefore not receive a physical sticker for your windscreen. After payment, the vehicle is entered into an electronic register, and the vignette's validity is checked by cameras that recognise licence plates.
Validity periods of the Belgian vignette
- 1 day – for a single transit or a short there-and-back trip.
- 10 days – for a short holiday, a weekend trip or a business journey.
- 1 month – for a longer stay or repeated trips within a single month.
- 2 months – for seasonal travel, a longer work posting or the summer holidays.
- 1 year – for regular commuters and anyone crossing Belgium repeatedly.
For each period the price differs according to the vehicle's emission category. Sales open on 1 March 2027 and the obligation begins on 1 May 2027. We will publish the exact prices as soon as the Belgian regions confirm them.
Who needs a vignette
The road vignette applies to motor vehicles with at least four wheels and a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. The main factors are therefore the type and weight of the vehicle, not the country of registration.
- Passenger cars, vans, SUVs and motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes – a vignette is required when using toll roads.
- Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes – a vignette is also required, but zero-emission vehicles are expected to qualify for the lowest rate.
- Motorcycles, buses, coaches and tractors – are not covered by the road vignette system.
- Goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes – remain subject to the separate Viapass distance-based toll system.
Trailers and caravans towed by a vehicle do not require separate registration. Exemptions are also planned for certain public service and emergency vehicles, as well as for people with disabilities. The exact scope of these exemptions will depend on the final legislation.
Where the vignette applies
The vignette is mandatory on Belgian motorways and regional roads in all three regions. A single vignette covers the entire network, so it does not matter which region you travel through.
- Flanders – motorways and regional roads throughout the region.
- Wallonia – motorways and regional roads throughout the region.
- Brussels-Capital Region – motorways and regional roads within the region.
- Local and municipal roads – outside the system; no vignette is needed on them.
If you are driving through Belgium, heading to the coast or travelling between major cities, you will probably use motorways or regional roads. Taking detours along local roads is generally not worthwhile, as they tend to be slower, pass through towns and villages, and often have lower speed limits.
Mandatory vehicle equipment in Belgium
In Belgium, it is important to distinguish between equipment required for all drivers and equipment required only for vehicles registered in Belgium. This distinction is particularly important for foreign drivers.
Overview of the required equipment:
- Warning triangle – mandatory for cars, including foreign-registered vehicles. In the event of a breakdown or accident, it must be placed where other drivers can see it in good time. On motorways, it must be placed at least 100 metres behind the vehicle.
- High-visibility vest – the driver must wear it when leaving a broken-down vehicle on a motorway or expressway in a location where stopping is prohibited. We recommend keeping it easily accessible inside the vehicle.
- First-aid kit – mandatory for vehicles registered in Belgium. Foreign-registered vehicles are not required to carry one under Belgian regulations.
- Fire extinguisher – mandatory for vehicles registered in Belgium. This requirement does not apply to ordinary foreign-registered passenger cars.
Although foreign-registered vehicles are not required to carry a first-aid kit or fire extinguisher under Belgian regulations, we recommend having both. Before travelling, also check the rules of the countries you will drive through, as mandatory equipment requirements may differ.
Practical tips for Belgium
- Buy your vignette in advance. Sales begin on 1 March 2027, two months before the system launches. You can therefore purchase your vignette before your trip.
- The road vignette is fully digital. It is linked to the vehicle's licence plate. When purchasing, carefully check both the licence plate number and the country of registration.
- Check your vehicle's Euro emission standard. It affects the vignette price. You can find this information in your vehicle documents or verify it before purchasing.
Speed limits in Belgium
- Flanders – generally 50 km/h in built-up areas and 70 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Wallonia – generally 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Brussels-Capital Region – the speed limit is 30 km/h in most areas. Higher speeds, usually 50 or 70 km/h, are permitted only on designated main roads.
The speed limit on Belgian motorways is 120 km/h in all regions, unless road signs indicate otherwise. Speed limits outside built-up areas vary between regions, so pay particular attention to road signs when travelling between Flanders and Wallonia.
Speed is monitored by fixed and mobile speed cameras, as well as average speed checks on certain road sections. Foreign drivers can also be fined, and fines may be enforced even after they return home.