What happens if I do not use a parking disc in a blue zone or do not pay for paid parking?
In short
A parking disc is compulsory in a blue zone, and the time limit is usually 2 hours. Many municipalities charge a parking fee (retributie) instead of issuing a fine. If you do not pay, extra costs are added and the debt can be passed on for enforcement.
Video transcript
You parked in a blue zone. You forgot to put out your parking disc. It depends: A parking disc is compulsory in a blue zone. Usually on working days 9:00–18:00, max. 2 hours. The right way: Put the disc behind the windscreen and set your arrival time correctly. Move the car when time is up. Outcome: Parking without disc: Parking charge, e.g. 30 €; If you don't pay: Reminder + collection fees; Changing the disc time: 1st-degree offence.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- In a blue zone (blauwe zone / zone bleue), put the parking disc (parkeerschijf / disque de stationnement) on the inside of the windscreen and set it to your arrival time.
- Unless the sign says otherwise, the disc is compulsory on working days from 9:00 to 18:00, and you may park for at most 2 hours.
- When your time is up, move your vehicle. Changing the time on the disc afterwards is forbidden.
- In a paid zone, pay at the machine, by app or in another way the municipality offers. If the parking machine is out of order, use your parking disc.
- If you break the rules, most municipalities leave a payment notice (retributie / redevance) on the windscreen. The amount and the payment deadline vary from one municipality to another.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- In most places this is not a fine but a fixed parking charge set by the municipality (retributie / redevance). Example: Putte (Flanders), 30 € in 2026. If you do not pay, reminder, enforcement and interest costs can be added. Changing the time on the disc is a 1st-degree offence.
Legal basis:KB 9.3.2014, art. 2 §1 k) + Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §2Retributiereglement Putte, art. 3
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence. An unpaid parking charge can be recovered like any other debt through a bailiff (gerechtsdeurwaarder / huissier de justice).
Legal basis:parking.brussels – The recovery process
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- In Brussels, administrative costs are added after the second reminder; then the file goes to a bailiff
Legal basis:parking.brussels – The recovery process
- The registered keeper pays the charge; even if someone else was using the car, the notice is sent to you
Legal basis:Retributiereglement Putte, art. 2
- You can contest the notice; it explains how. In Brussels, according to parking.brussels, paying on time does not take away your right to contest it.
Legal basis:parking.brussels – Parking fee FAQ
Why does this rule exist?
Blue zones and paid parking stop the same vehicle from taking up a space all day. That way everyone coming to the shops, the doctor's or their home can find a space.
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
- 12 / 12 statements in an official source
- Checked: 13.10.2026
- Last checked
- 13.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 12 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Park diski ön camın içine konur
Verkeersreglement art. 27.1.1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Disk iş günleri 9–18 arası, en fazla 2 saat; tabela aksini söylemiyorsa
Verkeersreglement art. 27.1.2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Süre sonunda araç yeri terk etmeli; disk değiştirilemez
Verkeersreglement art. 27.1.2 en 27.1.3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Park makinesi bozuksa park diski kullanılır
Verkeersreglement art. 27.3.1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Belediye kural ihlalinde retributie alır; cama bildirim bırakılır
Gemeente Putte, retributiereglement parkeren (GR 20.11.2025), art. 1 en 5 - Found in an official source
Putte: 30 € (2026)
Retributiereglement Putte, art. 3 - Found in an official source
Ödenmezse hatırlatma/icra masrafı ve gecikme faizi
Retributiereglement Putte, art. 5 - Found in an official source
Disk saatini değiştirmek 1. derece / GAS 1. kategori
KB 9.3.2014, art. 2 §1 k) + Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §2 - Found in an official source
Ödenmeyen ücret icra memuru ile tahsil edilir
parking.brussels – The recovery process - Found in an official source
Brüksel: ikinci hatırlatmada idari masraf
parking.brussels – The recovery process - Found in an official source
Ücreti araç sahibi öder
Retributiereglement Putte, art. 2 - Corrected according to the source
Brüksel: zamanında ödeme itirazı engellemez
parking.brussels – Parking fee FAQ
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?