Vintage cars may continue to drive in low-emission zones, the Flemish government has decided

The Flemish government is restoring access to vintage cars in low-emission zones (LEZ). After the Council of State annulled the original exemption scheme for vintage cars, access for vintage cars would soon revert to a scheme that would only allow them to drive 12 times a year with a paying day pass within the LEZ in Ghent or Antwerp. At the proposal of Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA), the Flemish government has now approved a decision in which the Brussels scheme is adopted and in which local authorities can grant individual exemptions.

A low-emission zone is a zone in which certain vehicles are not permitted for the quality of life and air quality, due to the environmental nuisance they cause. After the annulment by the Council of State of the previous LEZ decision that provided an exception for vintage cars, classic car owners would fall back on a day pass system from April 27, 2024 for a maximum of 12 times a year.

But the Flemish government now wants to adopt the Brussels government’s exception scheme. This arrangement did not encounter criticism from the Council of State. In concrete terms, local authorities can decide to grant people with recognized vintage cars an individual exemption free of charge. The free exemption can be granted to vehicles that are older than 30 years, are registered as vintage cars, and have a Belgian license plate with ‘O’, ‘1-O’ or a personalized license plate.

According to Minister Demir, local authorities have been informed about the possibility of exemption that they receive. “The Council of State has been asked for urgent advice in order to legally finalize the amended scheme as quickly as possible,” it said.