Belgium Road Vignette (Toll Vignette)
Are you driving a car, van, or camper on Belgian regional and motorways? From 1 May 2027, you'll likely need a digital road vignette. This vignette is required for both Belgian and foreign drivers and is linked to your number plate. On this page, you'll find the current information on prices, rules, and when you can purchase the vignette.
The sale of the Belgian road vignette is expected to start on 1 March 2027, and it will be mandatory from 1 May 2027. All prices, dates, and rules on this page are from the draft cooperation agreement and are subject to final approval by the Flemish Parliament. We will keep this page updated as more information becomes available.
What is the Belgian road vignette?
The road vignette - also known as a toll vignette - will be your mandatory pass for Belgian regional and motorways. It's entirely digital, so there's nothing to stick on your windscreen or place in your car. The vignette is linked to your vehicle's number plate, with checks carried out automatically by smart cameras above and along the roads. If you only drive on local roads, you won't need a vignette.
There will be no physical sticker. You register your number plate online, and checks are done via automatic number plate recognition. The taxpayer is the person in whose name the number plate is registered.
Who needs the road vignette?
The vignette is mandatory for anyone using a motor vehicle with at least four wheels and a maximum authorised mass (MTM) up to 3.5 tonnes on Belgian regional and motorways. This includes cars, vans, and campers up to 3.5 tonnes. The requirement applies not only to Belgians but also explicitly to foreign (occasional) road users.
- Applicable to cars, vans, and campers up to 3.5 tonnes.
- Applies to regional and motorways, not local roads.
- Mandatory for both Belgian and foreign drivers.
- The price depends on the Euro standard (emissions) of your vehicle.
How much will the road vignette cost?
The cost depends on two factors: the Euro standard of your vehicle and the period you choose. You can opt for a vignette valid for 1 day, 10 days, 1 month, 2 months, or a whole year. The cleaner your vehicle, the cheaper the vignette: an electric (emission-free) car is the most economical, while an older, polluting car is the most expensive. Below are the expected rates.
| Validity | Euro standard 0 to 3 | Euro standard 4 and above | Emission-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | € 11,25 | € 9 | € 8,10 |
| 10 days | € 15 | € 12 | € 10,80 |
| 1 month | € 23,75 | € 19 | € 17,10 |
| 2 months | € 37,50 | € 30 | € 27 |
| 1 year | € 125 | € 100 | € 90 |
The mentioned rates are from the draft cooperation agreement and are subject to final approval. Various news reports mention slightly different amounts (like €11.30 for 1 day or €23.80 for 1 month); we adhere to the official figures from Vlaanderen.be.
European regulations require countries to offer short-term vignettes (like a 1-day or 10-day vignette) to ensure tourists are not unfairly burdened. If your trip exceeds the vignette's duration, remember you might need a new vignette for your return journey.
Fine for driving without a vignette
Driving on Belgian regional or motorways without a valid vignette risks a fine. The checks are fully automated via cameras, so if your number plate isn't registered, the fine will arrive automatically.
Under current plans, the fine for a first offence is €70. A second offence will cost €140, and subsequent offences €210. Driving without a vignette can quickly become more expensive than the vignette itself.
Practical: how does it work?
The road vignette is managed entirely digitally. Key practical points are:
- The vignette is digital - there's nothing to stick on or place inside your vehicle.
- The vignette is linked to your vehicle's number plate.
- You purchase it online, via the official website or an authorised partner organisation.
- Purchases are expected to be available from 1 March 2027.
- The vignette becomes mandatory from 1 May 2027.
The Flemish Tax Service has launched an official online calculator to help you work out the cost. This is the only official and reliable tool. Be cautious of other unofficial calculators - their accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Why is Belgium introducing a road vignette?
The regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels are jointly introducing the road vignette. They've long been frustrated that foreign drivers use the Belgian road network without contributing financially. The vignette aims to change this. Authorities estimate the toll vignette will generate around 200 million euros annually, which Belgium plans to use to improve the country's roads.
Criticism and debate surrounding the plan
The plan is controversial in the Netherlands. Although Belgian drivers will also need to purchase the vignette, they are expected to be reimbursed through a reduction in their road tax. The ANWB sees this as discrimination against foreign road users and has opposed the plan. There is also resistance in the Dutch Parliament.
Critics point to Germany's toll plans (the Pkw-Maut), which were rejected by the European Court of Justice in 2019 partly because compensation for local residents was seen as discriminatory. However, Belgium is confident that the new law is legally sound. Whether Dutch opposition will delay or alter the plans remains to be seen.
What does this mean for Dutch drivers?
Planning a day of shopping in Antwerp or Ghent, or travelling through to France via Liège, Antwerp, or Brussels? In practice, you'll need the road vignette. While you could theoretically avoid regional and motorways by taking local roads, this is almost impossible near major cities. Currently, there are no exceptions for cross-border workers or residents.
Planning to drive in Belgium regularly or for an extended period? Choose a vignette duration that suits your trip. A 10-day vignette might expire during a longer holiday, meaning you'll need a new one for the return journey.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Belgian Road Vignette
According to current plans, the road vignette will become mandatory from 1 May 2027. Sales are expected to start on 1 March 2027. These dates are subject to final approval.
Yes. The vignette explicitly applies to foreign drivers. If you're driving a car, van, or camper up to 3.5 tonnes on Belgian regional or motorways, you will need a vignette.
No. The Belgian road vignette is entirely digital and linked to your licence plate. There's nothing to stick on; checks are conducted automatically via cameras.
The cost depends on your vehicle's Euro standard and the selected period. A day vignette is expected to cost between €8.10 (emission-free) and €11.25 (older vehicles). An annual vignette ranges from €90 (emission-free) to €125 (older vehicles). See the full price table above.
You need the vignette on Belgian regional and motorways. Regional roads connect towns and cities, similar to Dutch N-roads. If you only drive on local roads, you don't need a vignette.
Currently, the fine is €70 for a first offence, €140 for a second, and €210 thereafter. Checks are automated, so if you're not registered, the fine will be sent to you automatically.
The vignette will be available online through the official website and authorised partners. Sales are expected to start on 1st March 2027. It's not available for purchase yet.
Currently, no exemptions have been announced for cross-border workers or residents. Anyone crossing the border regularly is expected to need a valid vignette.
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