1 July will be accompanied by radical changes in the mobility of Flanders. The adjustments affect both car owners and public transport users, and truck drivers must also take the new regulations into account.
As of July 1, several changes will be implemented that affect the mobility of citizens in Flanders. These include an increase in the road tax, changes in public transport, the tax deductibility of company cars and new rates for the kilometer charge for trucks.
traffic tax
The road tax in Flanders will increase by 1 percent from 5,2 July, which is the result of the annual indexation. This is a smaller increase than last year, when the increase was 8,97 percent. Fully electric and hydrogen-powered cars remain exempt from road tax, and the tax for old-timers (vehicles that were put into service at least 30 years ago) remains unchanged at €99,99. In addition, the tax on entry into service (BIV) also rises by 5,2 percent due to the annual indexation.
Public transport company De Lijn is also undergoing major changes with the roll-out of basic accessibility, with the focus on optimizing public transport routes. It is essential for travelers to monitor the changes to their itineraries and plan for any changes to their daily commute.
Public transport is also undergoing changes. On 1 July, the first major phase of the roll-out of basic accessibility, also known as 'Hoppin', will start at the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. This can lead to the elimination, relocation or renaming of stops, changes in frequencies and new line numbers. The new system of basic accessibility is aimed at making public transport more efficient, with a focus on layers and the train network as the backbone. It is expected that about 40 percent of the travel routes will be adjusted.
commercial vehicles
With regard to company cars, the phasing out of the tax deductibility for new company cars with a combustion engine will start from 1 July. Only company cars without CO₂ emissions (electric or hydrogen) remain 100 percent deductible until January 1, 2027. After December 31, 2025, there will no longer be any tax deduction for cars that run on fossil fuels. In addition, the CO₂ solidarity contribution will be increased for company cars purchased after 1 July 2023.
In addition, new rates for the kilometer charge for trucks will come into effect on 1 July. An index adjustment is being made in Flanders and Brussels, while in Wallonia some rates are going up and others are going down. For example, the rates in Flanders and Brussels will rise by 6 to 7 percent. In Wallonia, the rates were already indexed in January, and other adjustments will now follow.
