Brussels is set to implement a ban on older, more polluting vehicles beginning January 1, 2026, as part of a broader low-emission zone initiative. The new regulations, initially delayed but recently reinstated by a Constitutional Court ruling, will restrict vehicles not meeting Euro 5 diesel or euro 2 gasoline standards from operating within the region.Approximately 7 percent of Brussels’ vehicle fleet-around 225,000 vehicles per quarter-will be affected, according to estimates from Brussels Habitat.
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Key Takeaways
- Beginning January 1, 2026, Brussels will prohibit vehicles that do not meet Euro 5 standards for diesel or Euro 2 standards for gasoline.
- Approximately 7 percent of vehicles in Brussels, or roughly 225,000 vehicles per quarter, will be affected by this ban.
- The low-emission zone initiative includes a grace period and fines for non-compliant vehicles after three months, with subsequent phases tightening emission standards further.
Brussels will ban older diesel and gasoline vehicles starting January 1, 2026, as part of its low-emission zone (LEZ) initiative. The regulations, reported by Belga, will prevent vehicles that don’t meet Euro 5 diesel or Euro 2 gasoline standards from operating within the region. The measure had been previously delayed by the Brussels Parliament but was reinstated following a ruling from the Constitutional Court.
Impact on Vehicle Owners
Brussels Environment, the regional environmental agency, estimates that around 7 percent of the city’s vehicles—approximately 225,000 vehicles per quarter—will be impacted by the new rules. This figure includes roughly 33,000 vehicles registered in Brussels itself. To ease the transition for drivers, a transition period began in September.
Enforcement will initially involve warning letters sent to owners of non-compliant vehicles. Subsequent violations after three months will result in fines, with Brussels Environment specifying that only one fine will be issued per quarter. The next phase of LEZ restrictions is scheduled for 2028 and will target Euro 6 diesel and Euro 3 gasoline vehicles, further tightening emission standards in Brussels. (jv)
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