Registration of vehicles in the Belgian environmental zones LEZ
In order to enter the Belgian environmental zones (LEZ Low Emission Zone), a registration is necessary. This has the purpose to check whether the EURO emission standard (and, if applicable, the date of first registration) is permitted to enter the zone concerned.
However, this does not apply to Belgian and Dutch vehicles. These are exempt from the obligation of registration, since they are already registered via national databases.
Each municipality/city has different regulations and, for this reason, the registration is carried out separately. If, after the registration for a specific LEZ, a vehicle does not meet the EURO emission standards and, therefore, is not permitted to enter the zone, it is still possible to purchase an additional environmental ticket under certain conditions.
The registration of a vehicle is only valid for a certain period of time in a LEZ. The vehicle must be then re-registered. The re-registration of the vehicle (depending on the type of engine and the periods of time) is differently regulated in each LEZ which is clearly explained on our website.
Depending on the LEZ, the entry conditions will be tightened every year or every 3-4 years. This means that the requirements for the EURO emission standards will increase and, subsequently, the vehicle will need to be re-registered, and an environmental ticket might be purchased.
For the same EURO classes, the Registry-Sticker systematises different rules and environmental tickets in different LEZ
Due to the diverse regulations and specifications for the EURO emission standards in the respective city/municipality and their LEZ, different entry restrictions for different vehicle types can be applied to the multiple LEZ zones in Belgium.
For foreign vehicles it is very difficult to comply with all these regulations, as the registration is carried out separately for each city and LEZ and it cannot be transferred. However, in case of non-compliance, they would most likely face high fines.
The Registry-Sticker has been implemented by Green-Zones in order to have a better understanding of the various regulations and to provide a systematic and comparable overview of the vehicles and EURO emission standards (with or without environmental ticket) permitted to enter the environmental zones over different periods of time.
Thanks to its registration class (2, 3 or 4), colour (violet, orange, red), validity period (date of first entry and last exit) and city name of the respective LEZ, the Registry-Sticker can systematically display the entry to a LEZ: who, when, where and for how long?
The different Registry-Stickers corresponding to the EURO emission standards are listed in a table for each LEZ, such as Antwerp or Brussels.
The Registry-Sticker is sent to the customer by Green-Zones as proof of his registration and purchase of the environmental ticket (if required). There is no obligation of placing it on the vehicle. However, it is recommended to store it in the vehicle as it contains important information, as the validity of the sticker can last up to 5 years.
The Registry-Sticker is not an official Belgian badge
The Registry-Sticker is not an official Belgian badge, but a registration tool developed by the service provider Green-Zones aiming at showing a simplified overview of the complex Belgian LEZ zones and their different regulations. In addition, the sticker has no legal meaning and, therefore, it must not be attached to the windshield. In any case, the Registry-Sticker is a proof of the legally required vehicle registration carried out by Green-Zones, which shows the city, the period of time and, if applicable, the EURO class and the type of vehicle.
The registration classes
A registration class results from a registration of a vehicle for an entry to a LEZ.
A distinction is made as to whether it is a registered entry which requires the purchase of an additional environmental ticket or not. An environmental ticket can be purchased for an additional charge and either be issued for different periods of time or only for one day. This results in:
- Registration class 4: registration of the entry only
- Registration class 3: registration of the entry with an environmental ticket over different periods of time
- Registration class 2: registration of the entry with a daily environmental ticket
Confirmation of registration
The processing time of a registration lasts between 2 and 10 days. An entry to a LEZ without a confirmation of the registration is likely to result in a fine and is at your own risk.
Please note, in particular, that also vehicles with a disabled parking permit have to be registered and that an environmental ticket, under no circumstances, replaces a park ticket and has to be purchased on the spot.