Low-emission zone Brussels: these vehicles will no longer be allowed from 2026 after all
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Brussels is entering a new phase. As a result, owners of diesel vehicles meeting the Euro 5 standard and petrol vehicles meeting the Euro 2 standard will no longer be allowed to drive around our capital starting from 1 January, 2026.
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Brussels is entering a new phase. Initially, the implementation of the rule was postponed to 2027, but that decision was recently reversed. According to the Constitutional Court, the postponement undermined fundamental rights to health and a healthy environment. As a result, tens of thousands of citizens suddenly have only a few months left to change their vehicle.
On 1 January, 2026, the Brussels-Capital Region will resume enforcement of compliance with the LEZ standard. From that date, Brussels will officially be off-limits for diesel vehicles with the Euro 5 standard and petrol vehicles with the Euro 2 standard. To give owners of these vehicles some breathing room, no fines will be issued during the first two months. Those who violate the rule will receive a warning letter.
From 1 March, 2026, actual fines will follow. Such a fine amounts to 350 euros and can recur every three months. Drivers who continue to use a non-compliant vehicle could therefore face up to 1,400 euros per year in fines.
Is your vehicle still allowed?
The Euro standard is a European emissions standard that determines how little harmful substances, such as nitrogen oxides, a vehicle emits. The higher the standard, the lower the emissions. Diesel vehicles with the Euro 5 standard were first registered between January 2011 and August 2015. Petrol vehicles with the Euro 2 standard date back to before 2001. If you are unsure whether your vehicle falls under the stricter LEZ rules, be sure to use the simulation tool on the LEZ Brussels website.
The Brussels LEZ covers the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region. The new standard also affects non-residents who want to come to Brussels with a Euro 5 diesel or Euro 2 petrol vehicle. For clarity: the ring road around the capital is not included and therefore remains accessible.
A new vehicle
Those who have already ordered a new vehicle may sometimes face longer delivery times. That is why the Brussels LEZ provides one exception: anyone who orders a vehicle before December 31, 2025, and can prove this, will be exempt from fines for the polluting vehicle if the new vehicle is delivered after March 1, 2026.
