From 1 September, a lot will change in Flanders, with new rules and tariff adjustments that will have an impact on drivers, commuters and companies.
These changes are the result of policy decisions and adjustments to existing measures aimed at both improving mobility and promoting sustainability. One of the notable changes is the reintroduction of the fine for motorists who present their vehicle too late for the car inspection. Since June last year, this fine has been temporarily abolished due to the long waiting times at the inspection centers, caused by a shortage of inspectors and the impact of the pandemic.
Now that waiting times are under control again, thanks to increased capacity and new measures, the fine is being reintroduced. Anyone who has their vehicle inspected less than a month late will have to pay 1 euros from 9,80 September. However, this fine can increase to a maximum of 35 euros if the inspection is more than six months late. The Department of Mobility and Public Works emphasises that this measure is necessary to respect the inspection deadlines and to guarantee road safety.
charging stations
There are also important changes in the area of tax benefits. The tax benefit for private individuals who install a charging station for an electric car at home will expire after 31 August. Until that date, expenses for the installation of such a charging station were still eligible for a tax reduction, which amounted to 15 percent this year. This measure was introduced by the federal government in 2021 as part of a broader strategy to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. In recent years, the tax benefit has been gradually phased out to encourage citizens to invest in charging stations more quickly. For companies, the increased cost deduction of 150 percent for charging stations will also expire on 31 August, which is part of a strategy to green the vehicle fleet and support the transition to electric vehicles.
The tax benefit for private individuals who install a charging station for an electric car at home will expire after August 31.
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn is also making adjustments to its services, which will take effect from 2 September. These changes, which will be implemented in all Flemish provinces except Limburg, are partly a follow-up to adjustments that were implemented on 1 July. In Antwerp and the Kempen, some journeys on four lines will not run until the end of the year. However, this will only happen on routes with many buses, with the aim of making the service more reliable. Important lines and school trips will remain unaffected, De Lijn emphasises. Changes will also be implemented in West Flanders and East Flanders, with a new line being introduced between Aalter, Ursel and Eeklo. In Flemish Brabant, some journeys will be temporarily cancelled in the regions of Leuven and the Flemish periphery, here too these are lines with a high frequency.
STIB
In Brussels, the public transport company MIVB is indexing its fares, which means that prices for various transport options are increasing. A single journey will cost 1 euros from 2,20 September, while a day ticket will cost 8 euros, an increase of 50 euro cents. Prices for airport transport and the Brupass options, which are also valid on NMBS, De Lijn and TEC in Brussels, are also being increased. For example, the price of a ten-journey card will increase from 16,80 euros to 18 euros, and the annual pass will increase from 499 to 520 euros. However, preferential rates, such as the 12-euro passes for young people and seniors, are not indexed, so these rates will remain the same.
This series of changes shows that Flanders continues to adapt to changing circumstances in the field of mobility and sustainability. The reintroduction of the fine for late car inspections and the abolition of tax benefits for charging stations reflect a policy that focuses on enforcement on the one hand and on stimulating timely investments in sustainable technologies on the other. The adjustments in public transport also underline the ongoing efforts to optimise the offer and make it more reliable for travellers.
