Belgium LEZ Fines 2026: Foreign Drivers Face €150-350

A foreign-registered car has to sign up — free, and separately — in both of Belgium’s low-emission registers, because Brussels-Capital keeps its own list at lez.brussels while Antwerp and Ghent sit under the Flemish system at lez.vlaanderen.be and the two databases never speak; driving in unregistered costs €150 to €350. Since 1 January 2026 Brussels has required Euro 6 for diesel and Euro 3 for petrol, with fines of €350 from 1 July 2026, while Flanders accepts Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 petrol and sells a €35 day pass up to 8 times a year.

Your case: Whether you need one registration or two depends on which cities your itinerary touches — driving in Belgium covers the wider rules a foreign plate is judged by once you are past the zone signs.

The two systems — and why that’s the trap

Belgium’s LEZ enforcement is split by region:

• Brussels-Capital — register at lez.brussels before you drive in.
• Flanders (Antwerp and Ghent) — register at lez.vlaanderen.be.

There is no shared database. A driver who registered for Antwerp and then drives into Brussels a day later is treated as unregistered in Brussels and can be fined. This single fact is the most common way foreign visitors get caught.

Brussels — Euro 6 diesel from 2026

From 1 January 2026, Brussels tightened its rule: diesel cars must be Euro 6 (Euro 5 is no longer allowed) and petrol cars at least Euro 3. Fines for non-compliant vehicles begin from 1 July 2026, set at €350 — the price of the annual pass the city introduced. Electric and hydrogen cars are exempt but foreign vehicles still register once (free) at lez.brussels. Full details on our Brussels LEZ page.

Antwerp & Ghent — Flanders rules and the €35 day pass

In Flanders the minimum is Euro 5 diesel / Euro 2 petrol. Registration at lez.vlaanderen.be is free for compliant vehicles. If your car doesn’t qualify, a €35 day pass lets you enter — but only a maximum of 8 times per year. Drive in unregistered or non-compliant and the fine is €150–350. See the Antwerp and Ghent pages for zone boundaries and hours.

Wallonia (Liège, Charleroi) — planned, check before you rely on it

Wallonia has repeatedly announced and postponed its own low-emission zones for cities like Liège and Charleroi. Treat these as planned rather than firmly in force and confirm the current status on the regional site before travelling — the timetable has moved more than once.

How to avoid the fine

1. Check your car’s Euro class first — it’s on your registration document, or use our checker.
2. Register in both systems if your route crosses regions — lez.brussels and lez.vlaanderen.be. It’s free and takes minutes.
3. Planning a wider trip? Plan My Drive shows every country’s emission, vignette and winter-tyre rules for your exact car in one place.

Sources: City of Brussels — LEZ · lez.brussels · lez.vlaanderen.be. Rules change — confirm on the official sites before travelling.