Register a car in Belgium or put it in your name

A national service, not your town hall, handles the plate

Vehicles are registered by the DIV, the national vehicle registration service, not by your municipality. You need Belgian liability insurance first, and your insurer normally sends the registration online. If that fails, you book a visit at a DIV counter. A car brought in from abroad needs more steps, such as a technical inspection. If you do not live in Belgium, ask which kind of registration you can get.

How it works

Register or transfer a vehicle

Register a car you bought or imported, or transfer it to a new owner.

When you buy, import or sell a vehicle, its registration has to be updated. A first registration or an import usually requires proof of ownership, a valid technical inspection, insurance, your ID and proof of address; imports may also need customs or tax clearance and new plates. When you buy a used car within the country, the seller and buyer often complete the transfer together, sometimes online, at a post office or at a registration counter. Expect fees for plates and registration documents.

Also searched as

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At a glance

Offices
11 offices in 10 cities
Book online
At 10 of 11 offices
Apply online
Not offered
Offices for specific groups
  • For non-residents: 1 office

In many cases your insurer comes first

Where to register your vehicle in person

Registration counters work by appointment, and one booking usually covers one vehicle. Imported cars come with extra paperwork, such as a customs form and a technical inspection.

Related services

Other everyday services in Belgium

Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Vehicle registration counters in Belgium

Compare DIV counters by city, with notes on booking and on what each one asks you to bring.

Vehicle registration offices in Belgium