If you are planning to move to Belgium or already live in the country but have bought a car abroad, this guide is for you.
This article provides a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to register your car in Belgium.
When do you need a vehicle registration in Belgium?
In Belgium, you will find the registration certificate written as Certificat d'immatriculation (CIM) or Kentekenbewijs.
You'll need to register your car, or any vehicle, in various situations:
- It is essential to have a registration certificate to drive in Belgium.
- If you are planning to import your vehicle to drive it for a long period of time.
- If you are selling or transferring ownership of your vehicle.
- You may also need a registration certificate requested by law enforcement for routine checks, traffic offences or accidents.
There are several exceptions to registering your vehicle, such as driving for a short period of time in the country or working for a foreign employer and the vehicle is in their name, among others.
How to register a car in Belgium
Have you bought a car abroad and want to import it into Belgium? Then you will need to follow these steps before registering it:
Take out insurance for the vehicle
This will be the first step you will need to take. Before importing your vehicle to Belgium, it is essential that you have already taken out liability insurance.
Declare your vehicle at the customs office
Upon arrival, you must go to the customs office to declare your vehicle.
The documents you will need are
- Invoice of purchase
- Original registration certificate
- Any other documents that you consider important, in case there are any errors in the above documents.
Whether or not to pay VAT
If your vehicle is new, you will have to pay VAT at customs.
‘If the foreign seller nevertheless insists that you pay local VAT, tell him you will only do so if he writes down his promise to refund the local VAT as soon as you have proven that you have paid VAT in your home country’ as recommended by the European Consumer Centre Belgium.
Your vehicle is considered new if it was delivered within 6 months of registration or if it has less than 6000 km.
In case the vehicle is second-hand:
- If the seller is a private individual, you will not pay VAT.
- If the seller is a professional, you will pay VAT in the country where you bought it.
It is considered ‘second hand’ when the delivery took place 6 months after registration or the vehicle has travelled more than 6000 km.
Technical inspection of the vehicle
Your vehicle must pass a roadworthiness test on arrival in Belgium. You will need to present the following documents:
- Customs sticker e705 (issued at customs offices).
- Foreign registration certificate (commonly called ‘grey card’).
In order for your vehicle to pass inspection it must have its current valid registration, whether it is a foreign, commercial or old registration.
Registration with the DIV
Once you have completed all of the above procedures, which are necessary in the case of importing a vehicle into the country, you will be able to register your vehicle with the Vehicle Registration Department (DIV).
For registration you will be asked to provide several documents:
- Application form for registration, issued by customs or your insurance company.
- Original registration certificate, if the vehicle has been registered before.
What documents do you need?
The documents you need will depend on whether your vehicle has been imported or not, and whether it is new or second hand.
As a summary, these documents are:
- Registration certificate
- Valid identification document
- Insurance policy
- Invoice of purchase of the vehicle
- Original registration certificate, if the vehicle has already been registered before.
- European Certificate of Conformity, an essential document confirming that your vehicle complies with European road traffic standards.
- Foreign registration certificate (‘grey card’)
- Any other documents that you think are relevant and may be helpful in the event of a mishap.
Sometimes, when we buy a second-hand vehicle, we need to issue a new Certificate of Conformity.
This document is essential to ensure that your vehicle complies with European roadworthiness standards and that you can drive it legally.
Helpful Resources:
https://www.belgium.be/en/mobility/vehicle_registration_service
https://mobilit.belgium.be/en/road/registration-and-deregistration
https://www.eccbelgium.be/themes/car/buying-a-car-in-europe/registering-your-car
https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/arrete/2001/07/20/2001014153/justel
