Importing a Car into Belgium: Everything You Need to Know | Independer.be

With new cars, it sometimes happens that not all versions of a certain brand are available in our country. You can solve this by buying your dream car in the ‘home country’ of the brand, such as Alfa Romeo in Italy or Volkswagen in Germany.

In the case of a used car, the main reason for import is usually another: the price. After all, many second-hand cars are a lot cheaper in the country of origin (where they are built) than in our country. That is usually because there are simply a lot more of them driving around and ending up on the second-hand market.

Think, for example, of Renault or Peugeot in France, or Audi in Germany. You will often find used cars that are a quarter to half cheaper than with us. This usually concerns executive cars or cars that have served as a demo model.

Buy second-hand car: through a private person or through a garage?

What about VAT?
The Belgian government makes a difference between new and second-hand cars. An imported car is considered ‘new’ if you buy it within six months of first use, OR if it has less than 6,000 kilometers on the odometer.

With a new car, you do not pay VAT in the country where you buy the car, but you do pay VAT in Belgium. A VAT rate of 21 percent then applies. At least, if you import a car from the European Union.

If the car you buy is not new, you pay the VAT in the country of purchase. By the way, you do not have to pay VAT when purchasing from another private individual; only if you buy from a dealer.

How do you legally bring the car to Belgium?
If you take the car across the border, you will of course need transit plates. You must apply for this in the country of purchase, and it is best to arrange this through the dealer from whom you buy the car. You also need the foreign transit plates and the accompanying documents for the technical inspection in case of a non-new car.

Customs control
As soon as you bring the vehicle into Belgium, you must declare it to customs. The easiest way to do this is via the E705 application on MyFin. You then submit the following forms online: the purchase invoice (the seller is a trader) or the proof of purchase (the seller is a private individual) and the ‘registration application’ form.

You therefore pay 21 percent VAT on the purchase price. Once the VAT has been paid, Customs will affix an E705 vignette to your application for registration and the vehicle will have been entered correctly. In most cases, the import takes place from another Member State of the European Union. In that case you do not have to pay any additional import duties to customs.

Registration and insurance
If you buy a new car abroad, the garage owner will send you the ‘registration application’ form. You send this completed and signed form to your insurer, together with a copy of the purchase invoice and a copy of the certificate of conformity. The insurer then arranges the registration of your vehicle via WebDIV and also arranges the BA (Civil Liability) insurance.

For most motorized vehicles it is mandatory to take out civil liability insurance: Why? And what is the exact coverage of this?

Customs control
As soon as you bring the vehicle into Belgium, you must declare it to customs. The easiest way to do this is via the E705 application on MyFin. You then submit the following forms online: the purchase invoice (the seller is a trader) or the proof of purchase (the seller is a private individual), the certificate of conformity and the original foreign registration certificate of the vehicle.

You will then receive an E705 vignette from customs. This means that the vehicle has been entered correctly. In most cases, the import takes place from another Member State of the European Union. In that case you do not have to pay any additional import duties to customs.

Technical examination
You then have to take your vehicle to the technical inspection, and you will receive an ‘application for registration’ form.

Which documents and accessories do you take with you to the car inspection? And when exactly should you go? Here’s what you need to know for a stress-free visit.

Registration and insurance
You send the signed ‘registration application’ form to your insurer, together with the E705 vignette, the original foreign registration certificate, a copy of the purchase invoice and a copy of the certificate of conformity. The insurer arranges the registration of your vehicle via WebDIV, just like the civil liability insurance.

Read more on Independer.be:

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