Belgium plans mandatory vignette from 2027
Anyone driving to or through Belgium by car can so far use the motorways largely without a vignette requirement. That could change: The three regions of the country – Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels – have agreed on a road toll for light vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. The plan is to introduce a digital Belgian vignette from May 2027. Whether you're coming from Belgium or from abroad is not supposed to make a difference. All vehicles in this weight class are meant to contribute to the upkeep of the roads.
On the weight limit: The Belgian information refers to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. According to the available reports, this means the usual limit for light vehicles, comparable to the gross vehicle weight (GVW).
Important note in advance: The plans are a political agreement between the regions, but they are not yet legally finalised. Further approvals are still required, including at European level. It's therefore worth getting an overview now for your trip planning, even though you don't need to buy a Belgian vignette yet.
What Belgium is planning and from when
Until now, many travellers have been able to cross Belgium as a transit country without an additional motorway charge. From 2027, that's set to change. The digital vignette is meant to be linked to the licence plate and purchased online or at petrol stations. Compliance with the toll obligation is to be monitored via a camera system. According to reports, violations could incur fines of around 70 euros.
Wallonia's Minister for Infrastructure and Mobility, François Desquesnes, justified the measure by saying that everyone who uses the roads should make a fair contribution towards their upkeep. Flemish Finance Minister Ben Weyts pointed out that drivers from Flanders also pay charges in other European countries. Among other things, the vignette system in Austria was cited as a comparison.
Planned prices and validity periods
According to the information available, the annual vignette is expected to cost between 90 and 125 euros. The exact amount depends on the vehicle model and its emissions. For emission-free vehicles such as electric cars, around 90 euros a year is mentioned. Older models with higher emissions under the Euro 0 to Euro 3 emission standards are expected to cost up to 125 euros per year.
In addition to the annual vignette, shorter validity periods are planned. Mentioned are a 24-hour option, a ten-day vignette, as well as one- or two-month options. This is particularly interesting for holidaymakers and travellers passing through from Germany who are only briefly crossing Belgium or staying in the country for just a few days.
Whether the final prices and validity periods will be adopted exactly as described still depends on further political and legal steps. For planning purposes, treat the prices and start date as the current state of planning and check the official information shortly before your trip.
Who does the planned vignette apply to?
The rule is aimed at light vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. The official Belgian wording refers to cars, combination vehicles and vans below this limit. There is no separate figure like the Austrian technically permissible gross weight (tzGm). In practice, it's the familiar threshold for light vehicles, which comes close to the gross vehicle weight. Whether motorcycles are included is inconsistent across reports. In some cases, motorcycles are said to be exempt. So check the final scope before the rules come into force.
Foreign licence plates are meant to be affected just as much as Belgian ones. For German holidaymakers, this means: anyone driving on Belgian motorways to France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, or back to Germany from 2027 onwards should factor the vignette requirement into their travel cost calculations. For heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, Belgium already has a different system in place: the distance-based heavy goods vehicle charge. The new vignette is intended to specifically cover the light vehicles that have so far often travelled without their own road usage charge.
Politically, the toll is also partly justified on the grounds that users from abroad in particular should contribute more towards the costs. At the same time, there are discussions in Belgium about relieving domestic drivers via other taxes or the vehicle tax. This is precisely where things become legally sensitive.
EU law and the experience with the German car toll
The Belgian plans must be confirmed by the European authorities. The European Union prohibits unequal treatment based on nationality. Germany had already tried to introduce a similar system and relieve German vehicle owners via the vehicle tax. In 2019, the European Court of Justice ruled this discriminatory, because the economic burden fell, in effect, primarily on owners and drivers of vehicles registered in other member states.
Whether Belgium can implement the planned vignette in a way that remains compatible with EU law therefore remains uncertain. For travellers, this means: expect an introduction from 2027, but keep an eye on the final design and the legal approval status.
What this means for your trip planning
If you use Belgium as a transit country, from the planned start date you should check which validity period suits your route. For a short crossing, a 24-hour or ten-day vignette may be sufficient. For longer stays or repeated trips within the same period, a monthly or annual vignette may make more sense. You will likely need to buy the vignette online before entering the country, and make sure that the licence plate and validity period are entered correctly. For trips continuing on to Austria or Switzerland, the toll systems there remain unchanged and follow their own rules.
Neighbouring countries have different toll rules
In Austria, vehicles up to 3.5 t technically permissible gross weight (excluding occupants, field F.1) require a valid vignette on motorways and expressways. If the technically permissible gross weight exceeds 3.5 t, the vignette requirement no longer applies, and the distance-based toll with a GO-Box applies instead. In addition, a route toll or special toll applies on certain sections, for example at tunnels such as the Brenner or the Tauern, as well as on alpine roads. The vignette does not cover these sections. You can find details in our guide to toll in Austria, vehicle classes and route toll and special toll. For Austria, you can conveniently purchase the 10-day vignette flat rate online with us.
In Switzerland, on the other hand, different rules apply than in Belgium and Austria. There, the gross vehicle weight (GVW) including occupants is decisive. For vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW, there is an annual vignette; shorter validity periods as in Belgium or Austria are not available in Switzerland. If the GVW exceeds 3.5 t, the vignette no longer applies, and the heavy vehicle charge applies instead. In addition, special tolls may apply on certain tunnels and alpine roads. You can find an overview in our guide to toll in Switzerland and to vehicle classes.
With our route planner, you can see before you set off which toll products your planned route requires. Especially for transit trips through several countries, it's worth checking early.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!
Even with a possible vignette requirement, Belgium remains an important transit country in Western Europe. Anyone who keeps an eye on the planned introduction from 2027 and checks prices and validity periods before travelling will avoid unnecessary surprises at the border. If you have questions about the vignette and the toll in Austria or Switzerland, you can reach us any time by email.
FAQ: Belgian motorway vignette from 2027
From when is the Belgian vignette expected to apply?
The launch is planned for May 2027. However, the plans of the three regions still need further confirmation, including at European level.
Which vehicles does the planned toll apply to?
Light vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. In the Belgian information, this limit is stated without reference to the Austrian technically permissible gross weight. It refers to a threshold comparable to the gross vehicle weight. Domestic and foreign licence plates are meant to be affected equally.
How much does the annual vignette cost?
According to the current state of planning, between 90 and 125 euros per year, depending on the vehicle model and emissions. Emission-free vehicles are expected to be at the lower end, older vehicles with higher emissions at the upper end.
Are there short validity periods for holidaymakers?
Yes. Mentioned are 24 hours, ten days, as well as one or two months. The final products may still change.
What happens without a valid vignette?
According to reports, monitoring is to be carried out via a camera system. Fines of around 70 euros are mentioned for violations.
Is the introduction already certain?
Not yet final. There is an agreement among the Belgian regions, but further approvals and compatibility with EU law are still pending. Check the current status before your trip in 2027.
