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Like 200 other European cities, Brussels is a low emission zone (LEZ). Some vehicles are not allowed to drive in the city and the regulations become more stringent every year.
Vehicle access is determined by the vehicle's European emission standard or Euro standard. This standard classifies vehicles on a scale of 1 to 6, depending on how well their engines meet environmental standards. The higher the Euro standard of a vehicle, the lower its emissions.
Since the beginning of 2022, diesel vehicles of standard 4 and below are no longer permitted to drive in Brussels.
| Standard | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Euro 6 | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| Euro 5 | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | x |
| Euro 4 | ok | ok | x | x | x | x |
| Euro 3 | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Euro 2 | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Euro 1 | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Without Euro | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Petrol, LPG or CNG vehicles without a EURO standard or with a EURO 1 standard are not permitted. Petrol vehicles up to standard 2 will be banned from 2025.
| Standard | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Euro 6 | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| Euro 5 | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| Euro 4 | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| Euro 3 | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok |
| Euro 2 | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | x |
| Euro 1 | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Without Euro | x | x | x | x | x | x |
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Not sure which Euro standard your vehicle complies with? This can be checked using the COC code on your vehicle's certificate of conformity. If you get a different result, you can request a data correction. More information is available on the website lez.brussels |
Go to an authorised centre. Note that by destroying it, and by waiving any new registration for one year, you become eligible for the Bruxell’air grant.
You can sell it second hand, but not on the Brussels market.
If your vehicle does not meet the LEZ access criteria and you need to drive into Brussels, you can buy a paid day pass which costs €35.
You can buy it before your visit to Brussels and until midnight the next day.
| Please note: this pass is only valid for the day for which it was purchased and a maximum of 8 passes can be purchased per vehicle. This is a temporary solution. Once the 8 days have been used up, the vehicle will no longer be allowed to enter Brussels. |
In principle, new cars meet the Euro 6 standard. They therefore still have access to the LEZ. In general, it is advisable to buy the least polluting vehicles such as electric vehicles, natural gas, hydrogen or even petrol vehicles (considered less polluting than diesel).
If it is a second-hand vehicle, check the vehicle registration document or take into account the date of the first registration. Note, however, that diesel vehicles are the most affected, as they emit more pollutants.
The public transport offering of the STIB (tram, metro, bus), de lijn and the TEC is accessible with a single Mobib card, which can also be recharged online.
Your Mobib card also allows you to travel by train between the various stations in Brussels (Jump ticket).
Why not walk a little or use a bicycle to cover short distances? In Brussels, the cycling network is growing in leaps and bounds. Use your own bike or hire one, electric or not, on the network of the incumbent operator Villo!, launched with the support of the Brussels-Capital Region, or on other networks. A list is available on the Brussels Mobility website.
In addition to taxis, several driverless car-sharing networks are available in Brussels. Consult the list on the Brussels Mobility website.
Do you prefer a scooter? Reserve one of these shared electric vehicles here.
Online platforms make it easy for users to find a carpool that suits them, whether for long or short distances, regular or occasional journeys.
These new machines are booming and paving the way to new ways of getting around.
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