©Ernest Ojeh via Unsplash
Starting May 1, 2027, Belgium will introduce a digital road vignette for passenger cars weighing up to 3.5 metric tons. Both Belgian and foreign drivers will need this vignette to drive on highways and regional roads. After all, the EU does not permit a system that applies only to foreigners.
The plan is the result of an agreement between Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. For a long time, Brussels favored a city toll, but has set that option aside for now. Flanders and Wallonia have long wanted foreign drivers to contribute to road maintenance costs as well. The vignette will be digital and linked to the license plate. Anyone wishing to drive on Belgian major roads can purchase a vignette valid for one day, ten days, one month, two months, or a full year. Purchases can be made online or in person, for example at gas stations. The price depends on the vehicle’s emissions. For an annual vignette, the rate is 90 euros for electric vehicles, 100 euros for most cars, and 125 euros for the most polluting vehicles.
The introduction of this system goes hand in hand with a reform of the vehicle tax in Flanders. The tax will be simplified and will henceforth depend primarily on the vehicle’s weight and CO2 emissions. According to Flemish Minister Ben Weyts, this should keep the transition affordable and ensure that a large proportion of drivers do not pay more than they do today.
Enforcement will be carried out via ANPR cameras, mobile checks, and targeted enforcement. Anyone driving on the affected roads without a vignette risks a fine of 70 euros, which can rise to 210 euros for repeat offenses. However, there will first be a two-month grace period; fines would therefore not be issued until July 2027. Revenue from the system is expected to be around 200 million euros annually. Flanders would receive approximately 130 million euros of that amount, and Wallonia about 50 million.
©Ernest Ojeh via Unsplash