{"id":1037,"date":"2026-05-10T08:23:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T08:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flytorelocation.com\/be\/belgium-car-export-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T20:16:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T20:16:47","slug":"belgium-car-export-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/flytorelocation.com\/be\/belgium-car-export-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Exporting a Car from Belgium 2026: DIV + Customs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Exporting a Car from Belgium 2026: DIV Plate Cancellation, Export Plate and Customs<\/h1>\n
Flyto Relocation Team<\/strong>\u00b7<\/span>Updated May 10, 2026<\/span>\u00b7<\/span>\u2713 Expert team since 2018<\/span>\u00b7<\/span>~2 min read<\/span><\/div>\n
Also available in Nederlands<\/a><\/div>\n
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Quick answer:<\/strong> Exporting a car from Belgium requires plate cancellation at DIV (Dienst Inschrijving Voertuigen) under FOD Mobiliteit, optionally a Belgian export (transit) plate, and customs procedures for third countries (UK after Brexit, Switzerland, USA). Within the EU\/EEA there are no duties; re-registration must occur within 30-90 days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Key takeaways<\/h3>\n
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  • DIV cancellation<\/strong> mandatory.<\/li>\n
  • Export plate<\/strong> for transit.<\/li>\n
  • EU\/EEA<\/strong>: no duties.<\/li>\n
  • UK Brexit<\/strong>: ~10% duty + 20% VAT.<\/li>\n
  • Re-register<\/strong> within 30-90 days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    \"Exporting<\/figure>\n
    \n

    What changes in 2026: full digital DIV deregistration<\/h2>\n

    From January 2026, the Direction pour l’Immatriculation des Vehicules \/ Dienst Inschrijving Voertuigen (DIV) within FPS Mobility processes deregistration of Belgian-plated vehicles entirely online via the WebDIV portal (mobilit.belgium.be). The paper procedure (cancelling at the Post Office or via Bpost) remains a fallback but is no longer the default. WebDIV uses eID or itsme for authentication and accepts scanned export documents.<\/p>\n

    The legal basis is the Royal Decree of 20 July 2001 on the registration of vehicles, with the 2024 reform implementing EU Directive 2014\/47\/EU on roadworthiness and the 2025 EU regulation on cross-border data exchange of vehicle registers (EUCARIS).<\/p>\n

    Key concepts: Belgian plates and the inscription certificate<\/h2>\n

    Belgian plates are personal: the same plate (e.g. 1-ABC-123) follows the owner from one car to another. On emigration you decide whether to:<\/p>\n

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    • Export the car<\/strong> with permanent deregistration in Belgium and re-registration abroad. The plate is returned to DIV.<\/li>\n
    • Sell the car<\/strong> in Belgium before leaving. The plate stays with you (held by DIV) for up to 4 months for a new car, otherwise also returned.<\/li>\n
    • Keep the car as second vehicle<\/strong> with Belgian plate. Possible only if you keep a Belgian residence registered. Otherwise impossible \u2014 the registration is tied to a Belgian address.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The DIV registration certificate (inschrijvingsbewijs \/ certificat d’immatriculation) is in two parts: the pink ”part 1” stays with the vehicle, the green ”part 2” is your title document \u2014 keep it secure for the export procedure.<\/p>\n

      Step-by-step car export<\/h2>\n
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      1. Pre-export technical inspection<\/strong>. Visit a centrum voor technische keuring \/ centre de controle technique (GOCA-affiliated). The pre-export keuring \/ controle technique export costs EUR 65-90 and is valid 2 months. Mandatory in most countries before re-registration.<\/li>\n
      2. Insurance certificate<\/strong>. Cancel Belgian insurance (Ethias, AG Insurance, Allianz, KBC Insurance, AXA, Belfius Insurance) effective the day of export. Get a vehicle history statement (schadeverlopen \/ antecedents) for insurance discount in the new country.<\/li>\n
      3. WebDIV deregistration<\/strong>. Log in with itsme or eID. Submit chassis number, plate, intended destination country, expected re-registration date. Upload pre-export inspection report, insurance cancellation, copy of new registration documents abroad if already issued.<\/li>\n
      4. Return the plate<\/strong>. Send the physical plate (yes, the metal one) to DIV via Bpost prepaid envelope or hand it in at any DIV office. Without plate return, the deregistration is provisional.<\/li>\n
      5. Export certificate<\/strong>. DIV issues a deregistration certificate (uitschrijvingsbewijs \/ certificat de radiation) within 5 working days of plate return. This is your proof for the foreign registration office.<\/li>\n
      6. Foreign re-registration<\/strong>. Within 30 days (most EU countries) of arrival, register the car at the foreign vehicle registration office. Pay local registration tax. Get foreign plates and insurance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Regional registration tax on entry<\/h2>\n

        In Belgium itself, vehicle taxes are regionalised. On exit there is no Belgian export tax, but you must check what applies in the destination country:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Destination<\/th>\nRegistration tax<\/th>\nConditions<\/th>\nRefund of Belgian taxes?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
        Spain<\/td>\nIEDMT 0-14.75% based on CO2<\/td>\nPad ron + technical card ITV<\/td>\nNone – VKB \/ TC stays in BE region<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        France<\/td>\nCarte grise: regional + CO2 surcharge<\/td>\nQuitus fiscal + EU CoC<\/td>\nPro-rata refund of TC if <1 year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Netherlands<\/td>\nBPM based on CO2 + value<\/td>\nRDW inspection, possible exemption (verhuizer regeling)<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Germany<\/td>\nKraftfahrzeugsteuer + Umweltplakette<\/td>\nTUV inspection + Zulassungsstelle<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Italy<\/td>\nIPT + provincial surcharge<\/td>\nCodice fiscale + revisione<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        UK (post-Brexit)<\/td>\nExcise duty 10% + VAT 20% if <6 months use<\/td>\nNOVA + IVA tests<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Switzerland<\/td>\nCantonal tax + EUR 200-500 import VAT<\/td>\nCustoms form + MFK inspection<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        The verhuizer-regeling \/ regime demenagement \/ removal goods exemption applies when the car has been registered in your name abroad for at least 6 months before re-registration in the new country. Spain, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany all offer this exemption from registration tax for personal use vehicles.<\/p>\n

        Selling instead of exporting: when it makes sense<\/h2>\n

        Selling in Belgium often beats exporting for these reasons:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Belgian second-hand prices are typically 8-15% higher than EU average for German brands.<\/li>\n
        • Foreign re-registration tax can be 5-25% of the value.<\/li>\n
        • Foreign insurance for newly arrived residents is loaded with no-claim discount loss.<\/li>\n
        • Older diesels (Euro 5 or below) are banned from low-emission zones (LEZ) in many cities \u2014 Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Use Autoscout24, 2dehands.be, AutoVista, or specialist dealers (Cardoen, AutoMecanic). Belgian VAT on used cars stays with the seller; for export with VAT refund (intra-EU B2B) work with a professional buyer.<\/p>\n

          Insurance and the bonus-malus transfer<\/h2>\n

          Belgian insurance issues a vehicle history declaration (verklaring schadeverleden \/ attestation d’antecedents) with bonus-malus level (-2 to +22). Foreign insurers (Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy) generally accept this declaration for the first year, granting an equivalent discount of 30-65%. Demand the document in English or with EU multilingual standard form before leaving Belgium. After 1 year abroad, the foreign no-claim history continues.<\/p>\n

          Documentation checklist for the destination country<\/h2>\n
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          • Belgian DIV deregistration certificate (export).<\/li>\n
          • Pre-export technical inspection report.<\/li>\n
          • European Certificate of Conformity (CoC) \u2014 request from manufacturer, EUR 100-300.<\/li>\n
          • Original purchase invoice or last registration certificate.<\/li>\n
          • Belgian insurance cancellation + bonus-malus statement.<\/li>\n
          • Translation of registration certificate if non-EU.<\/li>\n
          • Driving licence (Belgian valid in EU; exchange may be needed in non-EU).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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            FAQ<\/h3>\n
            \nDIV cancellation?<\/summary>\n

            Online via WebDIV or via your insurer for permanent deregistration.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nInsurance during transit?<\/summary>\n

            Short-term export cover for 30-60 days.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nEU export?<\/summary>\n

            No duties but local re-registration is mandatory in the legal window.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nIs exporting worth it?<\/summary>\n

            Often yes for newer cars, rarely for older ones once duties apply.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nClassic car?<\/summary>\n

            Special rules for vehicles older than 30 years.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nCan I keep Belgian plates after moving abroad?<\/summary>\n

            Only if you maintain a registered Belgian residence (i.e. didn’t file model 8). Belgian plates are tied to a Belgian address in the Rijksregister\/Registre national. After emigration you must deregister via WebDIV and return the plate; foreign re-registration is mandatory within 30 days in most EU countries.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nHow long does the DIV export deregistration take?<\/summary>\n

            From WebDIV submission to certificate: 5 working days after physical plate return. Total process including pre-export inspection (1 day), insurance cancellation (3-7 days) and DIV processing typically takes 2-3 weeks. Plan ahead \u2014 most foreign countries require Belgian deregistration before they will register the vehicle.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nDo I get a refund of Belgian car taxes when I export?<\/summary>\n

            No refund of the verkeersbelasting \/ taxe de circulation already paid for the year. The belasting op inverkeerstelling \/ taxe de mise en circulation (BIV\/TMC) is a one-time tax on entry into the Belgian fleet \u2014 not refundable on exit. Plan your export at year-end to minimise overlap with new annual taxes.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

            \nWhich Belgian insurer covers vehicles after export?<\/summary>\n

            Belgian motor insurance ends at the export date \u2014 Belgian policies cover only Belgian-plated vehicles. From the day of foreign re-registration, take out a local policy. Belgian insurers (Ethias, AG, Allianz, KBC Insurance, AXA, Belfius Insurance) issue the bonus-malus statement (verklaring schadeverleden \/ attestation d’antecedents) for transfer to your new insurer.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

            Time the export plate with the moving truck schedule to avoid uninsured days.<\/p>\n

            Flyto Relocation arranges international vehicle transport. Get a free quote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

            See also: All Belgium moving guides<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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            Need to ship your car or belongings?<\/h3>\n

            Get a personalised quote for your full international move<\/p>\n

            Get free quote \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n