Flemish Region

The ecoscore is used as a criterion for several measures:

Since 2020, the taxis services need to meet requirements based on Ecoscore to be granted the permit to work. If the ecoscore is above a specific value, you can also obtain a reduced fee.

In 2021, the Flemish Government updated circular on the purchase or rent of vehicles came into force. Updates have been made from 2020, including adjusting the minimum ecoscore to reach per vehicle class and a simplified categorisation of vehicles. From 2021 on, only BEV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid and CNG vehicles cars can be purchased. The same will come into force in 2023 for light commercial vehicles. In this case, the minimum ecoscore is separated between diesel for specific categories (vans) and other fuels excluding diesel. Such objectives are aligned with the goal of the Flemish region to reduce the emissions from public services' vehicles to 40% by 2030.

The annual road tax and the registration tax (before entering the circulation) take into account the CO2 emissions, the Euro standard, the fuel, and the car's age in the calculation. BEV and Hydrogen vehicles have been exempted from both taxes since 2020 for both owned and leased cars. 

 

Reference and useful links: 

Traffic taxes: Verkeersbelastingen | Vlaanderen.be

You can use this website Vlaams Belastingsportaal (fenb.be) or this app to simulate the amount of the registration tax. 

Particulate filter bonus

The Flemish government offers a monetary bonus to vehicle owners who install a half-open particulate filter in an existing older diesel car or diesel van of environmental class Euro 3 and Euro 4. It is up to 600 € and corresponds to the total installation cost of the filter. The garage that operates the vehicle can also receive a bonus.

Incentives for companies 

A company can be eligible for the Ecology premium+ when investing in more environmentally friendly technologies, including cleaner vehicles. It concerns, for instance, hydrogen vehicles or CNG light-commercial vehicles. More info : Ecologiepremie+ | Vlaanderen.be

Antwerp and Ghent are Flemish cities with a low-emission zone (LEZ). Both cities offer the possibility for unauthorized vehicles to enter the LEZ by purchasing a day pass.

The admission requirements are defined by fuel and euro norm:

For Euro 4 diesel vehicles, it is possible to buy an allowance to access the LEZ.

Mobility action plan 

The mobility action plan consists of the roadmap to reduce CO2 emissions from services vehicles of the Flemish government by 40% by 2024. It sets 4 sub-objectives for entities from the federal government to be achieved in that context. One of these objectives is based on ecoscore. Indeed, entities must reach an average ecoscore of 73 or more for passenger cars and 70 for passenger cars and vans combined at the end of 2024.

Climate Plan 2021-2030 

The general objective for Flanders within the Belgium Climate Plan is to reduce GHG emissions from road transport by at least 27% by 2030 (on 2005 levels). Such a goal requires drastic mitigation measures. The strategy of the Flemish government is divided into three main aspects to be tackled at the same time:

-          Demand for mobility management

-          Sustainable mobility development 

-          Plan to decarbonate the vehicle fleet 

Intermediate goals are also set up and aligned with the general objective. It includes measures such as starting 2030, 50% of new passenger cars will be ZEV, and all will be LEV, or only ZEV will be allowed in the urban centers starting 2025.

Mobility vision for 2040 

A goal for 2050 is to reach climate neutrality for transport. Therefore, the Region has set up a mobility vision towards 2040 aligned with the target of zero-emissions transport. It explains on a high level the view of the region on the state of mobility that should be achieved by 2040. It should be used as guidelines for further measures towards sustainable mobility.