Brussels is a city that in recent years has made a clear commitment to reduce the use of private cars by offering its citizens numerous alternatives for urban travel.
In this section, you will find all the information about the different mobility options in Brussels, and we are sure you will find one that suits your needs.
Not forgetting the private car and the administrative formalities required to be able to drive your car in Brussels with complete tranquility.
In Brussels, the municipalities are in charge of the parking policy on their territory. With 19 different municipalities, there are also 19 different parking regulations. Whenever you park a car in Brussels, there are three options:
If you are a resident of a Brussels municipality, you can request a resident’s card (or 'municipal parking permit’). This card allows you to park in your own street and also for the most part in your entire neighbourhood (or several neighbourhoods within the municipality).
Each family can request one resident’s card for a small fee or even free of charge. You will have to pay for a second card (for a second vehicle). Submit an application for a resident’s card to your municipal administration. Bring your ID card, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. In a few municipalities, the card can be renewed on the Internet.
Nearly everywhere in the Brussels-Capital Region, you will have to pay to park your car on public roads. This discourages people to travel by car within the city. You can find parking terminals in many locations. The fees and the hours vary from one municipality to another and sometimes even from street to street.
Most municipalities also have blue zones (mostly in and around shopping streets) for short-term parking (maximum 2 hours) where you are to place a blue parking disc behind the windscreen. These discs are sold in supermarkets for less than 5 euros.
The Brussels-Capital Region has also seven car parks intended to become Park & Ride (P+R) car parks, where residents, commuters and visitors (shoppers, tourists, etc.) can leave their cars and complete their journey to the center of Brussels by choosing public transport.
Would you like to know more about the parking policy in your municipality ? Go take a look at your municipality’s website. It is nonetheless not easy to know in which municipality you are located. Various long roads in the Brussels-Capital Region run through various municipalities and drivers often have to be both municipal geography and parking regulations experts.
There are, in addition, various public paid car parks in the capital. Motorists are electronically guided from the circular road (road around the historic center of Brussels) to these car parks. With an electronic arrow system you can see how many spaces are still available. Private companies manage these car parks.
The most polluting vehicles are now banned from the LEZ (low emission zone) in Brussels-Capital Region in order to improve the quality of air. This regulation, which came into effect on 1st January 2018, concerns cars, certain vans, buses and coaches whether they are registered in Belgium or abroad.
How do you identify the LEZ area ?
The entire territory of the Brussels-Capital Region is affected by the LEZ, i.e. the 19 municipalities. The Ring Road and certain roads providing access to transit car parks are not affected.
All entries to the LEZ area in Brussels are identified by specific road signs, which show that you are entering or leaving the low emission zone. Cameras have been set up just after the road signs to check that vehicles comply with the new access criteria.
Vehicles registered in Belgium
To be driven in the LEZ area, Belgian-registered vehicles must comply with LEZ access criteria.
These criteria are based on the vehicle category, its fuel type and its Euro norm. The higher a vehicle Euro norm, the lower its emissions.
The Euro norm is usually indicated on the registration certificate of every vehicle. If this is not the case, the date of its first registration is determinant.
For example, a car registered between 1/07/1992 and 31/12/1996 will be considered to be “Euro 1”.
The LEZ targets particularly old diesel vehicles, because they emit more pollutants which are harmful to air quality and health. Gas-powered vehicles (CNG and LPG) are treated as petrol vehicles.
Please note that as from 1st January 2019, certain petrol vehicles will also be affected by the LEZ.
To find the date until which your vehicle is allowed to be driven in the Brussels LEZ area, use the following simulation tool.
The penalty for driving a non-compliant vehicle in the Brussels low emission zone is a €350 fine!
What about vehicles registered abroad ?
To facilitate checking at LEZ entry points, these vehicles must be registered before entering Brussels. This registration can only be made via an electronic form.
This registration request is free of charge and simple to make (vehicle number plate, fuel type, details of person making the request, etc.).
If this procedure is not followed, the driver is liable to receive a €150 fine!
Foreign vehicle registration is valid for 3 years, on condition that the number plate is not changed.
What if your vehicle does not meet LEZ requirments ?
If you are about to buy a new car. New cars are in principle Euro 6 compliant and therefore may enter the LEZ. As a general rule, it is advisable to buy vehicles which pollute the least such as electric, natural gas, hydrogen or even petrol vehicles. Diesel vehicles emit more pollutants on average than petrol vehicles (nitrogen oxides in particular). Do not hesitate to ask your dealer for advice on the best choice for your budget, or use the simulator to find out the date until which the vehicle will be able to operate within the LEZ.
All those domiciled in the Brussels-Capital Region who return their vehicle number plate and have their vehicle scrapped, will under certain conditions be eligible for a Bruxell’AIR subsidy: a mobility package covering various travel modalities including public transport pass, Cambio Start subscription, bicycle subsidy, and more.
Full details available on environment.brussels