Road vignette and road tax: what is changing for your fleet?

Starting May 1, 2027, a digital road vignette will be mandatory in Belgium for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Simultaneously, Flanders plans a reform of the road tax starting in January 2027, based on weight and CO₂. While the broad outlines have been established, the rates and precise modalities are yet to be determined.

What has already been confirmed?

The future road vignette will be entirely digital and linked to the license plate, meaning no sticker needs to be placed on the vehicle's windshield. The vignette can be purchased starting March 1, 2027, and will be mandatory on highways and regional roads from May 1, 2027. Motorcycles, priority vehicles, and heavy trucks already subject to the kilometer charge are exempt. Regarding road tax, Flanders has opted for a simplified tax system for new registrations starting January 1, 2027, primarily based on the vehicle's weight and CO₂ emissions.

What does this mean for fleet managers?

These developments will impact your administrative processes and potentially the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of your vehicles. Consequently, the introduction of the vignette adds a new administrative obligation, both within your organization and for your leasing partners.

Electric vehicles require extra attention. They are generally heavier than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles, mainly due to the weight of the battery. If weight plays a significant role in the calculation of the road tax, this could have implications for electric vehicles.

We are therefore closely monitoring how electric vehicles will be treated under the new regulations. It is important that the reform does not slow down the electrification of your fleet.

For existing leased vehicles, the current road tax would remain in place. Whether and to what extent the new road vignette will lead to an additional cost for these vehicles remains to be clarified.

Which questions remain unanswered?

The political framework is set, but some uncertainties remain. We are still awaiting the publication of the vignette rates; the exact calculation formula for the road tax and the specific modalities per Region have yet to be determined. Additionally, the final treatment of plug-in hybrid cars, transitional measures, and the precise impact on current leasing contracts must still be confirmed.

How are we supporting you?

Our priority is to make this transition as transparent as possible for you. Therefore, our teams are closely following the further development of the regulations and are preparing our processes and tools for the introduction of the new road vignette.

As soon as the final rules and rates are known, we will inform you of the concrete consequences for your fleet. If necessary, we can support you with personalized analyses and simulations, so that you can assess the potential impact on your budgets and fleet policy in a timely manner.