What is the LEZ?
The LEZ (low emission zone) covers the whole Brussels-Capital Region. The most polluting cars are no longer allowed to drive there. What counts is the car’s Euro standard and its fuel, not its exact age.
What is banned in 2026
- Diesel: Euro 5 cars and older have been banned since 1 January 2026.
- Petrol: Euro 2 cars and older are banned.
- Hybrids: they follow the rules for their fuel (petrol or diesel).
- Electric: allowed.
A non-compliant car first receives a warning letter, then a €350 fine, which can be repeated.
The timetable ahead
| Year | What changes |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Euro 5 diesels and Euro 2 petrol cars banned. |
| 2027 to 2029 | Intermediate stages are planned (older Euro 6 diesels, Euro 3 petrol cars). Check the exact dates on lez.brussels. |
| 2030 | End of diesel cars in the LEZ. |
| 2035 | End of petrol cars in the LEZ. |
How do you find a car’s Euro standard?
It is on the registration certificate or the certificate of conformity. To give you an idea before you see it, the date of first registration helps:
| First registration | Most often Euro standard |
|---|---|
| 2001 to 2005 | Euro 3 |
| 2006 to 2010 | Euro 4 |
| 2011 to mid-2015 | Euro 5 |
| Late 2015 and after | Euro 6 |
Watch out for transition years. A car registered in 2015 can be Euro 5 or Euro 6. Only the document is authoritative.
Test a car
Choose the fuel and year for a first indication:
Allowed in the Brussels LEZ until 2029 at the latest.
For guidance only — the exact Euro standard is on the registration certificate. Official rules on lez.brussels. Rules checked on 30 October 2026.
What should you buy if you drive in Brussels?
- A diesel only makes sense if you plan to keep it until 2029 at the latest, and it is Euro 6.
- A Euro 6 petrol car (late 2015 and after) can drive until 2034.
- A hybrid follows the petrol rules: a good compromise for the city.
- An electric car has no end date announced.
Antwerp and Ghent also have their own low emission zones, with different rules: check them if you drive there.
With Huntly
For each car we suggest, we check the Euro standard and tell you until when it can drive in Brussels.
Sources: official rules on lez.brussels, checked on 30 October 2026. This guide is for information only: only the official rules are authoritative.