Road Vignette from 1 May 2027: What Will Change for Businesses and Motorists?

From 1 May 2027, Belgium will introduce a digital road vignette for the use of motorways and regional roads. After years of discussions, the country’s three Regions have reached an agreement aimed at ensuring that foreign motorists also contribute to the maintenance of Belgium’s road infrastructure.

Who will need to purchase a vignette?

The new scheme applies to all vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes, whether registered in Belgium or abroad.

The announced annual fees are:

• €90 for fully electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles;
• €100 for vehicles meeting the Euro 4 emission standard or higher (the majority of today’s vehicle fleet);
• €125 for older vehicles complying with Euro 0 to Euro 3 standards.

Short-term vignettes valid for 1 day, 10 days, 1 month and 2 months will also be available, mainly for foreign visitors.

Will Belgian motorists pay more?

In principle, no.

The Flemish and Walloon governments have announced that the introduction of the road vignette will be offset by adjustments to vehicle taxation, ensuring that Belgian residents should not face any additional overall tax burden.

However, the practical implementation will vary between the Regions and has not yet been fully finalised. Flanders has already incorporated this compensation into its road tax reform, while Wallonia is still working on the details.

What about light commercial vehicles?

Vans and light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes are also covered by the new system.

For self-employed professionals and businesses, there is good news: when the vehicle is used for business purposes, the cost of the road vignette will generally be tax deductible, in accordance with the standard tax deductibility rules applicable to vehicle expenses.

Heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are not affected, as they are already subject to the Belgian kilometre-based toll system (Viapass).

Classic cars are not exempt

Owners of classic (historic) vehicles will also be required to purchase a road vignette.

Since the pricing is based on emission standards, most classic cars will pay the highest annual fee of €125, even though they are typically driven only occasionally.

This measure has already attracted criticism from classic car associations, which argue that historic vehicles represent only a very small share of total road traffic.

Which vehicles are exempt?

No road vignette will be required for:

• motorcycles;
• heavy goods vehicles already covered by Viapass;
• agricultural tractors;
• coaches and buses;
• emergency service vehicles;
• certain vehicles used by persons with disabilities.

For Belgian businesses, the financial impact is expected to remain limited, thanks to the tax compensation measures announced for Belgian-registered vehicles.

Foreign motorists, occasional visitors and owners of older vehicles, however, will now contribute more directly to the financing of Belgium’s road infrastructure.

As is often the case with tax reforms, several practical details still need to be finalised before the system comes into force on 1 May 2027. Businesses and motorists are therefore advised to follow future legislative developments closely.