Skip to content
BELtogether
EN
TRTürkçeNLNederlandsFRFrançaisENEnglish
REQUIRED Brussels Flanders Wallonia Depends on the municipality

Do I need to register before driving into Brussels or Ghent in a car with foreign number plates?

In short

Yes. Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have a low emission zone (LEZ). A car with foreign plates must be registered (free of charge), even if it meets the standards (Dutch plates excepted). It is best to register before you set off. Entering without registering will get you a fine.

Share on WhatsApp
This rule in 58 seconds
Video transcript

You are driving to Brussels or Ghent in a car with foreign plates. Required: Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have low emission zones. A foreign-plated car must register first, even if it meets the standards (except Dutch plates). The right way: Before you set off, register free on the city's LEZ website. Cameras read number plates. Outcome: Brussels, unregistered: 150 €; Brussels, below standard: 350 €; Ghent: 185 € per day.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • Only vehicles that meet the standards may enter a low emission zone (lage-emissiezone / zone de basses émissions). Cameras read the number plates.
  • Brussels: the zone covers all 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region (except the Ring). A car with foreign plates must be registered, even if it meets the standards. Registration is free; Dutch plates are exempt (their data is retrieved automatically). Entering without registering can lead to a 150 € fine. Since 2026, Euro 5 diesel cars have also been banned.
  • Ghent: cars with foreign plates, except Dutch ones, must be registered. Registration is free; do it no later than the day after you enter the zone. It is best to register before you set off.
  • Antwerp (Antwerpen): cars with foreign plates, except Dutch ones, must be registered (free of charge). Registering in Ghent or Antwerp is valid in both cities. Check the city's LEZ website before you go.
  • Wallonia currently has no region-wide LEZ, but individual cities can introduce their own restrictions. The rules change often.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
Brussels: 350 € for a car that does not meet the standards; 150 € for an unregistered foreign car (even if it meets the standards); no more than one fine every 3 months. Ghent: 185 €, once per day. Antwerp: the city sets the amount.

Legal basis:LEZ Brussels – Praktische infoStad Gent – Een LEZ-boete

Court / prison
No prison sentence. Breaching the LEZ is not a criminal offence; it leads to an administrative fine.

Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §2 (gewestelijke versies: Vlaams, Waals, Brussels Gew…

What really matters: the indirect consequences

Why does this rule exist?

Old diesel and petrol cars emit fine particles and nitrogen dioxide, which harm people breathing city air. The LEZ is there above all to protect children, older people and people with asthma.

Where can you go?

  • Municipal driving licence serviceExchanging a foreign driving licence and other licence matters
  • Free first-line legal adviceIf you have been summoned to the police court (juridische eerstelijnsbijstand / aide juridique de première ligne)
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
13 / 14 statements in an official source
Checked: 23.10.2026
Last checked
23.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 14 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

Related rules

TrafficNot allowed

Can I use a car with expired insurance or an overdue inspection for a short trip?

No. A motor vehicle may only be used on the road if it has compulsory motor insurance. Its inspection certificate must also be valid. Driving without insurance is a criminal offence dealt with by the courts.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 2

I live in Belgium. Can I drive a car with foreign number plates here?

As a rule, no. Anyone entered in the population register in Belgium must register the vehicle they use in Belgium. There are limited exceptions, such as a hire car, a company car, or a car lent to you free of charge for no more than 1 month.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 3

Can I cross a solid (continuous) white line to turn left into a shop or petrol station across the road?

No. A solid white line is not only about overtaking. You must never cross it to turn left, to enter a property across the road or to make a U-turn.Open the rule