Softer Terms and No Second-Hand Inspection: Auto Inspection Rules to Change Significantly from September
The Flemish government has given preliminary approval to a comprehensive overhaul of vehicle inspections, set to take effect in September 2026. The reforms include relaxed inspection timelines for numerous vehicle categories and extended repair deadlines. A second-hand inspection requirement will be eliminated, except for imported vehicles.
“This reform contains a number of important quick wins,” said Flemish Minister for Mobility Annick De Ridder. “We are following the European standards that guarantee road safety, but eliminating outdated and disproportionate requirements. This leads to less administration, shorter waiting times, and more efficiency. Road safety remains, of course, important.”
One of the most notable changes is a significant easing of inspection intervals for a wide range of vehicles. However, it’s important to note that the extended timelines will only apply if the vehicle has a valid inspection certificate at the time of inspection.
Here’s a breakdown of the changes to inspection timelines:
- Annual inspections for passenger cars older than 10 years or with more than 160,000 km will switch to biennial inspections.
- Commercial vehicles and light trucks will transition from 1 to 2-year intervals between 2026 and 2028.
- Taxis and ambulances will move from 6-month to 1-year inspections.
- Agricultural vehicles (category Tb) will go from 1 to 2 years.
- Buses will shift from 3 or 6 months to 1 year.
- Fairground vehicles will move from 1 to 2 years.
Inspections will no longer be required when installing a tow hitch.
The mandatory second-hand inspection for vehicles purchased by residents of Flanders within Belgium will be completely abolished. Only imported vehicles will still be subject to a second-hand inspection. More details on the changes are available here.
The move to streamline the inspection process comes as the automotive sector faces increasing pressure to adapt to new technologies and evolving consumer demands. The reforms aim to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency within the inspection system. Further information on the reforms can be found on Vroom.be.
