Belgium to Introduce Road Vignette for All Drivers from May 2027

Belgium is set to introduce a mandatory digital road vignette for all drivers, both citizens and foreigners, starting May 1, 2027. This significant policy shift, awaiting final approval from the federal government, aims to ensure that all road users contribute to the upkeep of the country's infrastructure. While the initial impetus was to make foreign drivers pay for road usage, European Union regulations prevent such a discriminatory approach, necessitating that Belgian drivers also purchase the vignette.

The plan, which has been on the Flemish government's agenda, faces its biggest hurdle in the reform of the annual road tax, which is intrinsically linked to the new vignette system. Flanders and Wallonia have long advocated for this measure, while Brussels had initially favored a city toll. However, with the formation of a new Brussels government, the city toll idea has been temporarily shelved.

“

If everything is approved, then from May 1, 2027, both foreigners and Belgians will need a digital vignette.

The vignette will apply to all motorways, ring roads, and other regional roads across Belgium, specifically covering all main roads in Flanders and Wallonia where speeds of 70 km/h or more are permitted. Local, short-distance travel might be exempt, but the system will not apply to trucks, which will continue to use the existing kilometer-based toll system. Details for motorcyclists are still unclear.

Drivers will have options to purchase the digital vignette for various durations: one day, 10 days, one to three months, or a full year. Purchases will be made online via a website or app, directly linked to the vehicle's license plate. The cost structure is designed to incentivize lower emissions. Electric vehicles (zero emissions) will pay 90 euros annually, standard vehicles (Euronorm 4 or higher) will pay 100 euros, and the most polluting vehicles will face the highest charge of 125 euros. Flemish Minister of Finance Ben Weyts has linked the vignette directly to reforms in the annual road tax to prevent an overall increase in costs for Flemish residents, though the exact compensation mechanism remains vague.

“

Weyts emphasizes that nothing is set in stone yet. We have to wait and see what that compensation for the Flemish people will look like.