Which documents should I ask the foreign seller for?

Ask for the purchase invoice and foreign registration certificate. Preferably, also ask for the European Certificate of Conformity. You must be able to present the original foreign registration certificate for registration in Belgium.

Can my insurer register the car?

An insurer or insurance broker can register an eligible car through WebDIV. Ask whether this is possible for your imported car.

When is the tax on entry into service charged?

In Flanders, the tax on entry into service is automatically charged on the first tax assessment notice for the vehicle after registration. The relevant tax authority depends on the region where you live.

How to import a used car to Belgium

In brief

Check the documents before you pay. Ask for the purchase invoice, foreign registration certificate and, preferably, the European Certificate of Conformity.
Agree how the car will get to Belgium. Arrange transport or ask about temporary number plates in the country where you buy it. If you drive, check that the plates and insurance are valid for the whole journey.
Arrange the declaration on arrival. According to the Flemish step-by-step guide, apply online for the electronic E705 vignette before the technical inspection and registration with the DIV.
Get ready for the technical inspection and registration. Present the car’s documents at the inspection centre and ask which inspection applies to your import.
Register the car with the DIV. Ask your insurer or insurance broker whether the application can be submitted through WebDIV.
Check the tax assessment notices and inspection certificate. Your region’s tax authority handles road taxes. The inspection certificate shows its expiry date.

VAT and customs when buying in another EU country

For VAT purposes, a car counts as used only if it is delivered more than six months after its first registration and has driven more than 6,000 kilometres. This is set out in the EU guidance on VAT when buying a car. So check the date of first registration and the mileage before completing the purchase.

Those conditions alone do not tell you how much VAT you’ll have to pay. Ask customs which treatment applies to your purchase. Explain who you’re buying from, what the invoice says and how the car will arrive in Belgium. Also ask them to confirm which declaration or supporting documents you need for your situation.

According to the Flemish step-by-step guide to importing from an EU country, apply online for the E705 vignette before the technical inspection and registration with the DIV. Keep the application details with your purchase documents. Ask customs for clarification if the details on the invoice and foreign registration certificate do not match.

Documents to ask the seller for

Before paying, ask for a legible copy of the purchase invoice and foreign registration certificate. Preferably, also ask for the European Certificate of Conformity. These are the documents Car-Pass mentions when buying an imported car. Compare the vehicle details on the documents with the car you want to buy. If anything is wrong or missing, ask the seller to explain.

Agree when you’ll receive the originals. When registering in another EU country, you must present the original foreign registration certificate to the registration authority, according to the EU information on registration documents. A scan can help you ask questions in advance, but make sure the original is available for registration.

Don’t have a Certificate of Conformity? Ask the inspection centre what it needs for your car. GOCA Vlaanderen says that a Certificate of Conformity is not a compulsory inspection document for a vehicle previously registered in another EU Member State and then imported. Ask the inspection centre in advance to assess which details it needs for your car.

Step by step: from declaration to tax assessment

Apply for the electronic E705 vignette. Follow the online step in the Flemish import process. Ask customs what to enter if your purchase documents don’t contain all the requested details.
Contact an inspection centre. Say that you want to register a used car from another EU country. Ask which technical inspection applies and which originals you need to bring. According to the Flemish step-by-step guide, apply online for the electronic E705 vignette before the technical inspection and registration with the DIV. Check what the issued inspection certificate says.
Check the registration application. The pink form is called the ‘Application for vehicle registration’, as GOCA Vlaanderen calls it. Ask the inspection centre and your insurer which details must appear on the application for your imported car. Have the original foreign registration certificate ready too.
Arrange registration with the DIV. An insurer or insurance broker can register an eligible vehicle online through WebDIV. Ask whether this is possible for your case. After registration, bpost delivers the registration certificate and official number plate, according to the Flemish guidance on the DIV.
Check the tax assessment. Vehicle taxes are handled by region. If you live in Flanders, the Flemish Tax Service automatically charges the tax on entry into service on the first tax assessment notice for the registered vehicle. If you live in Brussels or Wallonia, check the information from your own region. Brussels Fiscality handles road taxes for residents of the Brussels-Capital Region.

What does it cost?

As well as the purchase price, budget for transport or temporary plates, the inspection, the Belgian number plate and vehicle taxes. Which costs apply to you and how much they come to depend on your car and situation. Before deciding to buy, ask the relevant authority which additional costs you’ll have to pay.

The official Belgian number plate costs €30. Check the current fee when you apply for registration. Ask the inspection centre for the applicable inspection fee; first, you need to establish which inspection your car requires.

Your region of residence matters for the tax on entry into service. In Flanders, the person named on the registration certificate is liable for the tax. Buying a used car can also make the new holder liable for this tax, subject to exemptions. See the Flemish guidance on the BIV (tax on entry into service). Enter your car’s details in the Belgium import cost calculator. Use the result to draw up your cost estimate and check the final assessment with the relevant tax authority.

Bringing the car to Belgium

You can arrange transport for the car or check whether you can drive it to Belgium yourself. Agree with the seller how and where the car will be handed over. Keep the purchase documents to hand during transport and for the steps after arrival.

If you want to drive, ask about a temporary number plate in the country where you buy the car. The EU guidance on buying abroad says you can get one in the country of purchase. Before setting off, check that your insurance covers the journey and that the temporary plates are recognised in every country on your route, as explained in the EU guidance on the journey home. Ask the issuing authority which documents and conditions apply to those plates. If you choose transport, ask in advance which handover documents you’ll receive.

Checklist

When	What
Before purchase	Ask for the purchase invoice, foreign registration certificate and, preferably, the European Certificate of Conformity.
At handover	Collect the originals and check the vehicle details on the documents.
Before the journey	For temporary plates, check recognition and insurance cover for the whole route.
After arrival	Apply for the electronic E705 vignette and ask customs which details are needed for your case.
Before registration	Ask the inspection centre which inspection applies. Have the inspection certificate, registration application and original foreign registration certificate ready.
At the DIV	Ask your insurer or insurance broker whether registration through WebDIV is possible.
After registration	Check the number plate and registration certificate delivered, the tax assessment notices and the expiry date on the inspection certificate.

After registration

Before driving, check with your insurer what cover has been arranged for the car. Your insurer or insurance broker can also tell you whether your registration was submitted through WebDIV. Then keep the registration certificate safe and make sure your contact details for vehicle taxes are up to date with the relevant authorities.

If you live in Flanders, the Flemish Tax Service automatically sends a tax assessment notice for annual road tax while the vehicle remains registered. In Brussels, Brussels Fiscality sends the assessment after registration with the DIV. See the Flemish information on annual road tax and the Brussels information on road tax.

For your next technical inspection, check the expiry date on your inspection certificate. According to the Flemish inspection guidance, the date is on the document itself. Periodic inspection rules vary by region and vehicle. So also check the applicable rules with the inspection centre when you book an appointment.

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