Buying a used car in East Flanders: one province, many driving styles
East Flanders is anything but uniform. Ghent is a large university city whose centre is largely closed to through traffic. Aalst and Dendermonde, on the river Dender, look towards Brussels. Sint-Niklaas and Lokeren are the heart of the Waasland, Eeklo is the gateway to the Meetjesland, and around Oudenaarde and Ronse the rolling Flemish Ardennes begin. The right used car therefore depends heavily on where you live and how you drive every day.
If you live in or near Ghent and mostly make short trips, a compact city car that is easy to park is often enough. If you commute daily from the Meetjesland or the Dender valley to Ghent, Brussels or Antwerp, comfort and low motorway consumption matter more. In the Flemish Ardennes, with narrow lanes, climbs and cobbled stretches, healthy brakes, a smooth clutch and sound suspension count for more than horsepower.
The roads you will actually drive: E40, E17, E34 and the R4
Two major motorways cross near Ghent: the E40 between Brussels and the coast, passing Aalst, and the E17 between Antwerp and Kortrijk, passing Sint-Niklaas and Lokeren. In the north, the E34 runs through the Waasland towards Zelzate and Eeklo. Around Ghent, the outer ring R4 distributes traffic, while the inner ring R40 encircles the historic centre. If you sit on these routes at rush hour every day, ride comfort matters as much as fuel use.
The Ghent port and canal zone also bring heavy goods traffic. Good visibility, working parking sensors and reliable driver assistance are not luxuries here. When viewing a used car, check that the assistance systems still work and that no warning lights stay on in the dashboard.
Ghent's low emission zone and your used car
Ghent is the only city in East Flanders with a low emission zone. According to the Flemish government, Antwerp and Ghent are currently the only Flemish cities with an LEZ. Ghent's zone has applied to the city centre since 1 January 2020. In late November 2025, the Flemish government withdrew the planned tightening of access rules, so the current conditions remain in force.
Planning to buy an older diesel or petrol car and drive it into central Ghent? Check first, with the number plate or chassis number, whether the car is allowed, using the city's tool at lez.stad.gent. Vehicles that are not allowed can use the free park-and-ride sites on the edge of the city. If you live elsewhere in the province and rarely visit Ghent, the LEZ will weigh less in your decision.
Also keep Ghent's traffic circulation plan in mind. Since 2017 the centre has been split into sectors around a car-free core, and you move from one sector to another via the R40. That makes the centre a poor place for a test drive: use the ring roads and main approach roads instead.
Vehicle inspection in East Flanders: what changes in 2026 and 2027
Flanders has thoroughly reformed its technical inspection. For inspections from 1 September 2026, a passenger car will as a rule receive a certificate valid for two years instead of one. The first inspection is still due when the car turns four. After a major defect, owners now have two months instead of fifteen days to bring the car back.
For buyers and sellers, the key date is 1 January 2027. From then on, Flanders scraps the mandatory inspection at sale for cars sold within Belgium. It remains mandatory for imported vehicles. A seller can still choose a voluntary early periodic inspection before selling, which is a strong way to earn a buyer's trust.
In Wallonia and Brussels, annual inspection remains the rule for now. The Car-Pass stays mandatory everywhere when a car is sold: the seller must hand it to the buyer and it may be no more than two months old. To book an inspection at a Flemish station, use the GOCA Vlaanderen website, afsprakenautokeuring.be, which also lists every inspection centre.
- From 1 September 2026: passenger cars generally inspected every two years in Flanders
- From 1 January 2027: no mandatory sale inspection for cars sold within Belgium
- Imported cars: inspection still mandatory
- Car-Pass: still mandatory, no more than two months old
Registration tax and annual road tax in East Flanders
The registration tax, known locally as BIV, and the annual road tax are regional taxes. If you live in East Flanders, the Flemish Region is responsible and the Flemish Tax Service collects both. Even for a used car, registration tax is due again when the car is registered in your name. After registration with the DIV, the tax bill arrives automatically.
In Flanders, the amount depends on factors such as emissions, Euro standard, fuel type and the age of the car. Because these rules change, run a simulation on the official Flemish government website before you buy. That way you know exactly what the car will cost you on top of the purchase price.
Meeting sellers safely and planning a good test drive
Meet somewhere busy and in daylight, ideally at the seller's home so you know who you are dealing with. Bring someone along, inspect the car in dry weather and ask for the registration certificate, the certificate of conformity, the inspection certificate, the Car-Pass and service invoices. Check that the chassis number on the papers matches the one on the car.
A good test drive mixes conditions. Around Ghent, a few kilometres on the R4 let you feel the car at speed, followed by some urban traffic on an approach road. In the Flemish Ardennes, any climb will do for testing the clutch and handbrake on a hill start. In the polders of the Waasland or Meetjesland, quiet roads let you listen to the suspension without pressure.
Never pay large sums in cash and refuse any request for a deposit on a car you have not seen. A bank transfer from your own account leaves a trail and protects both sides. Put the sale in writing with the date, time, mileage, chassis number and the details of buyer and seller.
Electric cars and charging in East Flanders
Before buying a used electric car, work out where you will charge it. Residents of Flanders without a private driveway can request a public charging point near their home through the Flemish government. Ask the seller about the battery's state of health and check that the charging cables are included. A fully electric car is not affected by Ghent's LEZ, an advantage if you often need to go into the centre.
Selling your car in East Flanders with CarCentrale
Selling a car in Ghent, Aalst, Sint-Niklaas or elsewhere in the province? Listing on CarCentrale is free. Our AI assistant fills in your listing from your photos and a short text, so you are done in about three clicks. Private sellers' names are not shown publicly, and buyers contact you through the site. You stay in control of who comes to see your car.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any low emission zone in East Flanders besides Ghent?
No. According to the Flemish government, Antwerp and Ghent are currently the only Flemish cities with an LEZ, so in East Flanders it applies only to central Ghent. If you drive from the Waasland to Antwerp often, Antwerp's LEZ matters too. Always check access conditions on the official city websites before buying an older car.
Will my car need an inspection if I sell it in 2027?
From 1 January 2027, Flanders scraps the mandatory inspection at sale for cars sold within Belgium. Periodic inspection still exists and you still need a valid certificate to drive. A voluntary early inspection before selling is possible and reassures buyers. For imported cars, inspection at registration remains mandatory.
How do I book a vehicle inspection in East Flanders?
Appointments at all Flemish inspection centres are made through afsprakenautokeuring.be, the GOCA Vlaanderen website, which also lists the contact details of stations in the province. The Flemish government also links to an overview of waiting times at the centres, useful if you need an inspection quickly before a sale.
Which taxes do I pay after buying a used car in East Flanders?
You pay the Flemish registration tax when the car is registered in your name, then the annual road tax. The Flemish Tax Service collects both because East Flanders lies in the Flemish Region, and your home address decides which region applies. The amount depends on emissions, fuel type and the age of the car, among other things.
Why is the Car-Pass so important?
The Car-Pass shows the car's recorded mileage readings and helps you spot a tampered odometer. The seller must hand it to the buyer at the sale and it may be no more than two months old. Compare the latest reading with the odometer and the service invoices. Big jumps or long gaps in the history deserve an explanation.
Where should I test drive a car in the Ghent area?
Avoid the centre inside the R40, where the circulation plan and the LEZ restrict your route. Take a stretch of the R4 or a main approach road to judge the car at speed, then a quiet street to brake, turn and reverse park. Test in daylight and ask for a cold start so you hear the engine before it has warmed up.
Can I own a used electric car without a driveway?
Yes. In Flanders you can request a public charging point near your home through the Flemish government if you have no private charging option. Also look at charging at your workplace. When buying a used electric car, ask about the battery's state of health and make sure the cables come with the car.
Is my name shown if I sell my car on CarCentrale?
No. As a private seller, your name is not shown publicly. Buyers from Ghent, the Waasland or anywhere else in the province contact you through the site. Listing is free and the AI assistant writes your listing from your photos and text in about three clicks.