Belgium Toll: Regulations and Fees

In general, passenger cars in Belgium are not subject to tolls; however, tolls are mandatory for lorries. Therefore, tolls are collected for vehicles with a permissible total weight of over 3.5 tons on motorways and in tunnels. Campervans and buses are usually exempt from tolls. To track the distance travelled and to calculate the toll fee, Belgium relies on a kilometre-based toll system with an On-Board Unit (OBU) for vehicles. There are various payment options.

Toll roads

Belgium does not impose a general toll for passenger cars on roads and motorways, therefore, private vehicles (cars, campervans, buses, motorcycles, etc.) are not required to pay tolls. Motorway fees primarily apply to lorries with a total weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes, making Belgium an exclusive lorry toll country. Only the use of the Liefkenshoek Tunnel near Antwerp incurs costs for passenger transport, which vary based on the vehicle size and payment method.

Liefkenshoek-Tunnel

The listed prices were taken from the official website of the tunnel provider and are valid as of 2024. There is a possibility that prices may change. For current information and prices, we recommend visiting the official websites of the Liefkenshoek-Tunnel.

Toll charges and payment

Toll charges

Belgium is among the European countries that impose comparatively high toll fees. However, the tariff depends on various factors such as vehicle type, weight, emission class, and distance travelled. 

On-Board-Unit (OBU)

To drive in the three Belgian regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and the capital, it is mandatory to install an On-Board Unit (OBU). The OBU allows for precise route tracking through satellite signals and ensures automatic billing of toll fees. To use the OBU, registration with Satellic is required. There are various options to purchase and recharge a Satellic OBU, including online, at service points in Belgium, or representatives in the home country. Payment options are diverse and include credit cards, bank transfers, and direct debit.

Viapass system for lorries

The recording and billing of toll fees for lorries with a permissible total weight of over 3.5 tonnes are carried out through the Viapass system, operated by the Belgian regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels.

Does Belgium have a vignette?

Like France, Belgium has abolished the use of vignettes on motorways and instead implements electronic tolling for lorries. This places Belgium among the list of European countries that have abandoned the vignette system. Until April 2016, Belgium was one of the Eurovignette countries in which heavy goods vehicles had to purchase a vignette to use motorways and toll roads in the respective countries. Today, only Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden remain Eurovignette countries.

How are tolls controlled in Belgium?

In Belgium, various types of checks are conducted to ensure that all vehicles are equipped with a functioning On-Board Unit (OBU). The proper use of the OBU is monitored by 40 police officers. Additionally, there are 22 mobile cameras that change their location every four hours. In addition, the license plates of lorry drivers are monitored by 40 permanently installed control bridges equipped with cameras that calculate the permissible total weight of the lorry.

Fines

If you do not pay the Belgian toll, you risk a fine of € 1.000 (about £ 875). Normally, authorities grant you a three-hour deadline to obtain an OBU box and register after the fine is imposed. However, if you miss this deadline and still do not pay, another fine of € 1.000 (about £ 875) may be imposed.

Who is exempt from a vignette?

In Belgium, car drivers only have to pay tolls in the Liefkenshoek Tunnel. Otherwise, there are no tolls for using highways. Campervans, buses, and vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tons are also exempt from tolls. Special exemption requests can also be submitted by the following vehicles:

• Medical services
• Police
• Fire department
• Forestry or agriculture

However, these vehicles must meet specific requirements and obtain approval from Belgian authorities. It is important to note that exemptions apply only to highways and not to toll roads or tunnels.

Tolls in neighbouring countries

The following neighbouring countries of Belgium also have compulsory tolls to finance and maintain their motorways:

• France
• Germany
• Netherland