Transferring a moped, motorcycle or speed pedelec from an EU country to Belgium

Do you want to import a moped, motorcycle, or speed pedelec from an EU country to Belgium? Then complete the following steps.

There is no need to register bicycles or electric bikes.

First check whether your vehicle meets one of the following conditions:

European type approval(*) and registered?
Then you can transfer your vehicle to Belgium and directly register it with the foreign vehicle registration certificate and an E705 vignette (in Dutch)(opens in new window) with the Vehicle Registration Service (DIV) (Dutch: Dienst voor Inschrijvingen van Voertuigen). (in Dutch)(opens in new window)
No European type approval(*), but registered in the other EU country?
Then you must apply for a validation certificate before you can have your vehicle registered with the DIV.
No European type approval(*) and not registered in the other EU country?
Since Belgium does not have any recognised technical services for mopeds, motorcycles and speed pedelecs (category L), no individual approval procedure can be carried out to have your vehicle registered.

(*) The European type approval is stated in section K on the foreign vehicle registration certificate.

Mopeds and motorcycles from before 10 October 1974

Have you purchased a moped or motorcycle that was first taken into use before 10 October 1974? Then no approval is applicable. The date of the first registration is used as reference for this.

If the first registration date is earlier than 10 October 1974, your vehicle falls outside the scope of approval and no validation procedure can be started. In that case, you can register your vehicle with the Vehicle Registration Service (DIV) of the Federal Public Service Mobility & Transport. (in Dutch)(opens in new window) Your vehicle can be registered there with the foreign vehicle registration certificate.

If you no longer have valid documents that prove the date of the first registration, the DIV will instead request a plausible proof of the vehicle’s first use.

Procedure

Stap 1
Gather the correct documents for transferring your vehicle
Does the second-hand vehicle have a registration certificate? Then you can transfer it to Belgium with these documents:
purchase invoice, purchase receipt, sales agreement, gift document or deed or will with statement of:
the price excluding VAT
name, first name and full address of the purchaser and seller
details about the vehicle: make, model, type, fuel, chassis number, year of construction, cylinder capacity, engine power, taxable horsepower (hp), date of first registration and odometer reading
method of payment
and delivery date.
complete original foreign vehicle registration certificate, better known in Belgium as the registration certificate (Dutch: inschrijvingsbewijs) or the pink card (Dutch: roze kaart). Please note that the certificate sometimes consists of several parts. Nothing may be written on it.
Does the new vehicle have a European type approval and NO registration certificate? Then you can transfer it to Belgium with these documents:
purchase invoice
proof of payment.
Stap 2
Insure the vehicle for the trip to Belgium
You must insure the vehicle for the trip to Belgium with an insurance company in the EU.
Transport your vehicle with a trailer or use a transport company.
Drive to Belgium with temporary number plates or transit plates. You apply for these in the country where you purchase the vehicle. The brochure ‘Transit plates in the European Union' (in Dutch) (in Dutch)(opens in new window) contains a summary of prices and procedures in the various European countries.
Stap 3
Visit a customs office for your electronic E705 vignette
New vehicle or not?
If you transfer a vehicle from an EU country to Belgium, you must always visit a customs office to make sure that your vehicle is in order for tax purposes. A distinction is made between new and not-new vehicles. These definitions apply in all EU Member States.
What is a new vehicle for customs?
Your vehicle has not driven more than 6,000 km,
or the delivery takes place within 6 months of the first use of the vehicle, regardless of the mileage or the year of construction.
Visit a customs office that is authorised to draw up an E705 vignette: (in Dutch)(opens in new window)
Applying for the E705 vignette at the counter: take the purchase receipt, the gift documents or the will with you, including the original registration certificate.
Have you, according to customs, purchased a new vehicle? Then you must pay 21% VAT in the customs office if:
both you and the seller are private individuals
you are a private individual, the seller is liable to VAT and the vehicle is motorised.
You do not pay VAT in the customs office if:
you are liable to VAT. You include the VAT in your periodical tax return.
you are a private individual and the vehicle is not new or the vehicle is non-motorised.
You will receive the pink form from customs. This is the application for registration of a vehicle. Once you have paid the VAT, customs will draw up an E705. You will receive a report as proof. Your vehicle is now in order for tax purposes.
The purchaser stated on the invoice must visit customs. If you send someone else, you must give that person a power of attorney.