The three Belgian regions have reached an agreement. On Friday 10 July, in Brussels, the Walloon Minister of Mobility François Desquesnes and the Flemish Minister of the Budget Ben Weyts presented, as reported by VRT NWS, the cooperation agreement between Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region on a digital road toll which, from 1 May 2027, will make the use of the country’s motorways and regional roads payable. No Brussels representative showed up at the press conference, an absence that the local press did not fail to notice, given the particular relevance of urban mobility for the capital.
Who will have to pay the toll
The system will cover all vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, registered in Belgium or abroad. To date, Belgian motorways are free, an exception in Europe compared to countries like Italy or France, where the network is granted to private operators. The hypothesis of a toll had been discussed for over twenty years, without ever reaching a shared decision between the Regions.
How much will it cost, based on emissions
The annual cost will vary based on the level of emissions of the vehicle: 90 euros for a zero-emission car, 100 euros for vehicles that comply with the Euro 4 standard or higher (the majority of the fleet in circulation), up to 125 euros for Euro 0-3 cars, as specified by Avenir. Shorter formulas are also available (one day, ten days, one month, etc.) with rates proportional to the issue band. Prices will not be indexed for the current parliamentary term and a two-month grace period has been announced after coming into force. Excluded from the provision are motorcycles, similar vehicles, trucks (already subject to the kilometer tax), tractors, buses, emergency vehicles and people with disabilities.
Controls and sanctions
The checks will be entrusted to the competent Regions and will be carried out with cameras, responsible for reading the license plates (we remind you that the digital pass must be associated with your license plate to pass the checks). Vehicles without these will be sanctioned with a fine of 70 euros.
