Flanders introduces kilometre-based charge for commercial vehicles

Starting in April 2016, domestic and foreign commercial vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes will pay a Fee A fee is remuneration requested by the government for a specific service that it provides. The difference between a fee and taxes is that there is an immediate service provided in return for a fee. An example is the parking charges that the municipalities can enforce. They can carry out the collection thereof themselves, or contract this out. fee per kilometre driven on the main roads in Flanders. “The whole world uses our roads, but only Flemish citizens are paying for them right now. This changes now,” says Flemish Minister of Mobility Ben Weyts (N-VA).

Commercial vehicles will be charged based on three criteria: tonnage, road type and emission. The rates are lower than those of the German kilometre-based charge. The smart kilometre-based charge will be primarily limited to motorways and some of the major main roads. The dock areas of the four Flemish sea ports are exempt from the charge. This allows the ports to maintain their competitive position.

The revenue will be used to, among others, decrease the road tax. This will even be abolished for commercial vehicles up to 12 tonnes. Furthermore, 40 million euros will be used to decrease labour costs within the transport sector. Revenue from the kilometre-based charge will also allow the government to invest approximately 100 million euros extra in the road system.