Vehicle inspection 'tourism': Flanders to relax rules on car check-ups

Mobility organisation Touring expects that from September onwards, motorists from Brussels and Wallonia will increasingly choose to have their cars inspected at a Flemish vehicle inspection centre, following the announced relaxation of vehicle inspection rules in Flanders. 

“At present, the rules are largely the same across the country, but that will change from September,” said Touring spokesperson Joost Kaesemans. 

In September, vehicle inspections in Flanders will be reformed so that after their first inspection after four years, passenger cars will only need to be inspected every two years. 

“In Brussels and Wallonia, that is not yet the case,” Kaesemans said, noting that Belgian residents are free to choose where in the country they go for their vehicle inspection. 

“We expect that a great many people will choose to have their car inspected in Flanders, because the inspection certificate is valid for longer in Flanders than in the other regions.”

From September, Flemish vehicle inspection centres will also no longer check insurance certificates and the deadline for rectifying major faults will be extended from 15 days to two months.

Touring is calling for uniform rules across the whole country.

“It’s difficult to explain why the rules are different on one side of the language border than on the other,” said Kaesemans.

“It also creates extra work for some inspection companies.”

Walloon mobility minister François Desquesnes (Les Engagés) also warned a few months ago about "inspection tourism". 

“We must avoid a situation where this arises for reasons that run counter to road safety,” Desquesnes said.