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The kilometer tax rates for trucks will be increased on July 1 in Flanders and Brussels.

From July 1, several changes will take place in the field of mobility in Belgium, especially regarding the kilometer charge for trucks and the car inspection for passenger cars. These measures are intended to improve the sustainability and efficiency of transport and are ongoing Viapass, the public body that coordinates and monitors the kilometer charge, has been announced.

The kilometer charge for trucks in Flanders and Brussels will increase by approximately 1 percent from July 3. This increase is a result of the annual indexation. In Wallonia, the rates were indexed earlier, on January 1. The new rates are automatically updated in the software of the trucks' On-Board Units (OBUs). This means that truck drivers and transport companies must take into account higher costs for using the roads in these regions.

no new roads

It is important to mention that no new roads are being added to the kilometer charging network in Flanders or the Brussels Capital Region. However, in the Walloon Region, part of the N246 in Tubize will no longer be subject to a kilometer charge, which is an exception within these changes.

The kilometer charge applies to all domestic and foreign trucks with a maximum permitted mass (MTM) of more than 3,5 tons. The rate depends on the MTM, the Euro emission standard of the vehicle and the region in which the truck drives. However, there are some exceptions for zero-emission trucks. From July 1, zero-emission trucks will be exempt from kilometer charges in Brussels, a measure introduced to stimulate the greening of logistics transport. In Flanders, this exemption has been in effect since the beginning of 2024, while in Wallonia zero-emission trucks fall into the cheapest category. Despite these exemptions, emission-free trucks must also have an OBU on board to register the kilometers driven.

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traffic tax
Photo: © Pitane Blue - Traffic tax control

From Monday 1 July 2024, new rates for the kilometer charge will apply in Flanders and Brussels. This concerns an index adjustment.

In addition to the changes in the kilometer charge, changes are also being made to the rules for the car inspection of passenger cars. From July 1, most passenger cars will only have to undergo a car inspection every two years, instead of annually. This new measure applies to vehicles that are older than four years and that have driven less than 160.000 kilometers or are less than ten years old. Vehicles that are older or have more kilometers on the odometer must be inspected annually.

In addition, from July 1, passenger cars, light trucks and light trailers may also be inspected outside recognized inspection centers, for example at garages that have installed an inspection line. The inspection must be carried out by inspectors who work at recognized inspection institutions. These changes are intended to reduce pressure on testing centres, reduce waiting times and improve services.

federal

An important change has also been announced at the federal level: from July 1, the federal government will only purchase or lease electric service vehicles. This measure fits within the European ambition to be climate neutral by 2050. Europe has already decided that from 2035 only cars that do not emit CO₂ may be sold. However, the transition to sustainable service vehicles in the federal government will be gradual, with new vehicles that must be sustainable from mid-2024.

The federal government's fleet currently consists of 920 vehicles, excluding police and defense cars. This mainly concerns service vehicles that are used for specific tasks, such as customs or social inspection. Only a small number of employees, namely 170 of the 65.000 civil servants, drive an official car.

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