Truck tolls in Belgium

21 March 2025

Which roads in Belgium are subject to tolls?

1. Motorways

Unlike many European countries, Belgian motorways are free for cars and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. Toll charges only apply to lorries with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes.

2. Liefkenshoek Tunnel

Trucks over 3.5 tonnes must also pay a toll to use the Liefkenshoek tunnel, which runs under the Scheldt river near Antwerp. The toll depends on the height of the vehicle.

3. National roads

Tolls also apply to some national and local roads in Belgium. The main regions, such as Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia, set their own rates and rules for toll collection. Therefore, it is worth analysing the cost before travelling.

How does the Belgian toll system work?

Belgium bases its road toll system Viapass on satellite-based monitoring of journeys. The country requires lorries with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes to be equipped with Satellic on-board units, which measure the number of kilometres travelled. The data is then fed into the Viapass system, which calculates the tolls for journeys on toll roads.

How do satellic OBUs work?

The units track the vehicle's position using GPS and calculate the amount due for travelling on motorways, selected national roads and some local roads. An exception is travelling through the Liefkenshoek Tunnel, which is not covered by the Viapass system.

Thanks to the Satellic OBU (On Board Unit), the Viapass system can calculate tolls precisely based on:

• the number of kilometres travelled,
• the region's rates (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels),
• the type of road (motorway, national/local road),
• the vehicle's Euro class (exhaust emissions).

Once activated, the device works automatically and does not require manual data entry. The system collects tolls in real time, and the driver can monitor the account balance and history of trips through the Satellic online portal.

Check along the route

Jak już wspomnieliśmy - posiadanie ważnej jednostki pokładowej Satellic jest obligatoryjne dla cięższych pojazdów. Viapass prowadzi więc regularne inspekcje, sprawdzając czy pojazdy posiadają aktywne urządzenie pokładowe.

Kontrole przeprowadzane są przez bramownice z kamerami, ruchome kamery kontrolne, ale też przez jednostki inspekcyjne i patrole drogowe.

Penalties for not paying road tolls in Belgium

Failure to pay the toll due may result in a penalty.

The absence of an active Satellic OBU can cost between 100 and 1000 euros, depending on the type of offence. It is worth being careful in this regard. Data from the official Viapass website indicates that, on average, a truck is checked three times on a route.

You can find out the exact penalty rates and Belgian toll regulations here:
https://www.viapass.be/en/faqs-and-resources/faqs/#how-much-are-the-fines

Toll rates

The rates for the Belgian kilometre charge for lorries depend on the total weight of the vehicle (including the trailer), the Euro emission class of the vehicle, and the type of toll road and the region in which it is located.

You can find the exact rates on the Viapass website: https://www.viapass.be/en/rates/

There are calculators that help you estimate the cost of the route, e.g. Toll Calculator: https://tollcalculator.satellic.be/user/estimator

How do I pay for Belgian toll roads?

The Viapass system allows you to pay for tolls in Belgium in two ways:

• Online payment (prepaid) – by topping up your account in advance
• Payment by card or invoice (postpaid) – payments are made post factum based on the number of kilometres travelled.

Summary

Trucks over 3.5 tonnes are subject to tolls in Belgium. The toll roads are controlled by the Viapass system and drivers must have a valid on-board unit. Chargeable roads in Belgium include selected motorways and the Liefkenshoek tunnel. Hauliers can settle the charges by online payment or card payment. Failure to pay the charges can result in heavy fines.

Want to learn more about VIAPASS https://www.viapass.be/en/about-viapass/viapass-for-hgvs/

Read more about working and driving in Belgium 

Fines and penalties in Belgium: https://www.247drive.com/blog/72/fines-and-penalties-in-belgium 

Speed limits for trucks in Belgium in 2025: https://www.247drive.com/blog/71/current-speed-limits-for-trucks-in-belgium-2025 

Low emission zones in Belgium: https://www.247drive.com/blog/76/low-emission-zones-in-belgium-truck-drivers-should-know 

Logistics and transport job offers in Belgium

Looking for a job in Belgium? Check out the job offers at 24/7 drive! https://www.247drive.com/vacancies/country/belgium