From 1 January 2021, lorries with a maximum permissible mass (GVM) of more than 3,5 tonnes and trailer-towing vehicles of category N1 with body code BC must pay kilometer charge when driving in Belgium with a V-professional plate, a Z-dealer plate or a UA -national plate. On public roads, they must drive with an On Board Unit (OBU) switched on. Lorries and semi-trailer vehicles with a Y-test drive plate are excluded from the kilometer charge, provided that very specific conditions are met.
On January 1, the amended legislation on Belgian commercial - the so-called green - number plates will enter into force. Four new license plates will be introduced that will replace the current ZZ test drive plates and Z dealer plates: a professional plate, a dealer plate, a test drive plate and a national plate. The four plates have a white background and a moss green letter-number combination.
Important for owners of trucks with a GVW of more than 3,5 tonnes and trailer-towing vehicles of category N1 with body code BC is the impact of the new regulation on the kilometer charge for trucks. From 1 January, only trucks with a test drive plate will not be subject to the kilometer charge. Trucks with one of the other three number plates will always have to have an activated OBU on board on Belgian roads.
Only the test drive plate falls outside the scope of the kilometer charge
The new test drive plate will be valid for one year, from January 1 to December 31. It is intended for test drives with a view to European or national approval of vehicles, systems, components and technical units of vehicles. The plate starts with a Y, followed by three letters and three numbers. Only manufacturers, research centers of higher education institutions, organizers of test drives with autonomous vehicles and companies that carry out tests on components or systems will be able to request the test drive plate.
Trucks with a test drive plate are not allowed to transport a load. Only then will lorries and semi-trailer vehicles with a test drive plate not be subject to the kilometer charge. Owners can report its use to the region where the vehicle is registered. The computerized declaration form is on https://www.viapass.be/proefrit
Professional plates, dealer plates and national plates
Like the new test drive plate, the professional, dealer and national number plates have a white background and moss green letter-number combination.
A professional plate (example: V-AAA-001) is intended for bodybuilders and vehicle repairers. They can use the number plate for a maximum of five - not necessarily consecutive - days per year for one vehicle, for example to have it inspected after a repair. The record is valid for one year, until December 31st.
A dealer plaque (example: Z-AAA-001) is intended for vehicle wholesalers and retailers. They can use the license plate for the promotion and sale of vehicles. This record is also valid for one year, until December 31st.
The national plate (example: UA-21-AAA) will be valid for twenty consecutive calendar days. Natural or legal persons can use these to deliver a vehicle or drive it to the technical inspection.
Lorries and semi-trailer vehicles with a professional, dealer or national number plate must have an activated OBU on board from 1 January 2021 on Belgian roads.
Control and fines
The kilometer charge control services of the three regions will closely monitor the correct use of number plates. In the event of non-compliance, the usual fines of 100, 500, 800 or 1.000 euros apply, depending on the seriousness of the violation. Viapass reports this on them website.
Also read: Minister of Nieuwenhuizen hands over license plate
