Good to know if you are driving with your (lease) car to Belgium soon. In order to improve the air quality, Ghent city centre, or more specifically the area within the R40, has been a low-emission zone (LEZ) since 1 January 2020.
A low-emission zone was previously in force already in Antwerp and Brussels in order to deter the most polluting vehicles and consequently improve the health of inhabitants and visitors.
Which vehicles does the low-emission zone apply to?
In order to be able to drive into the LEZ, a vehicle needs to meet a number of conditions. The European emission standard and the fuel type of the vehicle determine whether or not you are allowed to drive into the zone. Check your vehicle here with the online tool.
Register your vehicle
The criteria for access to the low-emission zone also apply to vehicles that are registered abroad. And although the obligation to register has been lifted in Antwerp and the Brussels region, this still applies to Ghent. This means that you need to register your vehicle prior to your visit to Ghent. This application for registration is free of charge and can be done via the website of the city of Ghent.
A smart camera scans your number plate as soon as you drive into the low-emission zone. If you drive into the Ghent low-emission zone (LEZ) with an unauthorised vehicles, you will receive a fine. The fine is 150 euros per infringement. You will receive the fine with the finding by registered letter.
What if my vehicle doesn’t meet the standard?
Does your car not meet the standard? In that case, it’s possible to purchase a day pass for 35 euros that allows you to gain access to the low-emission zone for a maximum of eight times per year.
There are also sufficient alternative mobility options, of course, for reaching Ghent.