release

Release

What is changing?

Category Sub-category Range Format Preview Description
Customized 8-characters XXXXXXXX Long The new format of customized plates launched on 31/03/2014 where limited to 7-characters plates combination.
      Square
      Small
  8-characters oldtimer   Long An 'Old timer' label is placed just bellow the 'CV' logo at the extreme top left of the plate.
      Square
      Small
Motorcycles   M-XXX-111 Small On 30 June 2014, new combinations for motorcycles will appear. Since 15 November 2010, all registrations started with the index digit 1, followed by a group of three letters starting with M, fo three digits (e.g. 1-MXX-111). In keeping with the idea of introducing index letters to distinguish the different categories of vehicles, motorcycles will henceforth have a registration starting with the index letter M, followed by three serial letters above three serial digits (e.g. M-XXX-111). There will be no subcategories. 15,609,375 combinations will be available.
Oldtimers  Ordinary O-XXX-111 All As of 30 June 2014, oldtimers will get a new range of combinations, similar to motorcycle plates. Since 15 November 2010, all registrations started with the index digit 1, followed by a group of three letters starting with O, followed by three digits (e.g. 1-OXX-111). In keeping with the idea of introducing index letters to distinguish the different categories of vehicles, motorcycles will henceforth have a registration starting with the index letter O, followed by three serial letters above three serial digits (e.g. O-XXX-111).
  Motorcycles O-MXX-111 Small
  Trailers O-QXX-111 All
  Scooters A-class O-SAX-111 Small
  Scooters B-class O-SBX-111 Small
  Micro cars with bodywork O-SUX-111 All
Scooters Scooters A-class SAAA-001 Tiny  
  Scooters B-class SBAA-001 Tiny  
  Micro cars with bodywork SUAA-001 Tiny  
  Speed Podelec SPAA-001 Tiny  
Trailers   Q-XXX-111 All Trailers, too, will be issued a new type of registration, just like the aforementioned categories, as of 30 June 2014. Since 15 November 2010, all registrations started with the index digit 1, followed by a group of three letters starting with Q, followed by three digits (e.g. 1-QXX-111). In keeping with the idea of introducing index letters to distinguish the different categories of vehicles, motorcycles will henceforth have a registration starting with the index letter Q, followed by three serial letters above three serial digits (e.g. Q-XXX-111). There will be no subcategories. 15,609,375 combinations will be available.
Taxis Ordinary T-XXX-111 All Another type of plates will be adapted on 30 June 2014: taxi plates. Since 15 November 2010, all taxi registrations started with the index digit 1, followed by a group of three letters starting with TX, followed by three digits (e.g. 1-TXX-111). In keeping with the idea of introducing index letters to distinguish the different categories of vehicles, motorcycles will henceforth have a registration starting with the index letter Q, followed by three serial letters starting with X above three serial digits (e.g. T-XXX-111).
  Scooters A-class T-XSA-111 Small
  Scooters B-class T-XSB-111 Small
  Micro cars with bodywork T-XSU-111 Long
  Micro cars with bodywork (small format) T-XSY-111 Small
    T-XSZ-111 Small
Rental cars with chauffeur   T-LXX-111 All A last category will undergo a change on 30 June 2014: plates for rental cars with chauffeur. Since 15 November 2010, all rental cars with chauffeur registrations started with the index digit 1, followed by a group of three letters starting with TXL, TXR, TXH or TXV, followed by three digits (e.g. 1-TXL-111). In keeping with the idea of introducing index letters to distinguish the different categories of vehicles, motorcycles will henceforth have a registration starting with the index letter T, followed by three serial letters starting with L above three serial digits (e.g. T-LXX-111). 624,975 combinations will be available.
Professional plates: technical checkup Cars, vans, trucks YA-11-AAA All Since 1997, dealers have had the possibility to apply for so-called 'road tests plates' (plates with a registration starting with ZZ*, ZZ* or 1-ZZ*) in order to check whether their vehicles were technically able to drive on the road. Unfortunately, unscrupulous dealers decided to rent these plates to people who wanted to go to official technical check facilities (e.g. for homologation) but had no regular plates to do so. It has therefore been decided to put an end to such practices by both clarifying the legislation and limiting the cases in which such technical checkup plates can be used.

Use:
  • only by professionals in the automotive sector (i.e. dealers and their staff)
  • test drives after an upkeep, repairs, or for running in a new vehicle
  • rides from dealership to the customs
  • rides to and from official technical checkup facilities
  • rides to a customer's residence to deliver the vehicle to them
  • note that the vehicle equipped with a Y license plate does not have to belong to the owner of the Y plate, unlike the Z license plate [see below])
Furthermore, the plate cannot be lent or rented, and it cannot be used by vehicles taking place in racing events.

The new registration will start with the index letter Y, followed by another letter indicating the vehicle category, then the last two digits of the year of validity, and finally three serial letters.
  Equipment companies (i.e. those creating security equipment for motor vehicles) YE-11-AAA All
  Motorcycles YM-11-AAA Small
  Museums YO-11-AAA All
  Police YP-11-AAA All
  Trailers YQ-11-AAA All
  Research (i.e. universities and university colleges developing cars or motors) YR-11-AAA All
  Scooters YS-11-AAA Small
  Customs agencies YT-11-AAA All
  SHAPE and NATO (these organizations appear to import a lot of vehicles and they need such a plate to drive these cars from a harbour to the customs) YY-11-AAA All
Professional plates: commercial test drives Cars, vans, trucks ZA-11-AAA
> ZA-11-VZZ		 Long The uses of the 'ordinary' dealer plates will be redefined as of 1 October 2014 to avoid fraud. The new Z plate (superseding the previous Z**, Z** and 1-Z** plates) is destined to be used by automotive dealers and sellers for the following purposes:
  • regular use of a new or used vehicle by the dealer or members of staff
  • this vehicle must be the property of the dealer and must have been checked by competent authorities (at official technical checkup facilities)
  • commercial test drive with potential customers, on the basis of a signed agreement between the dealer and the potential customers
  • loan of a new or used vehicle as a replacement for someone whose vehicle is being checked or upkept at the dealer's, for a maximum duration of 7 days
  • the Z plate cannot be used to go to official technical checkup facilities)
  • the Z plate cannot be used by vehicles taking part in racing events
The new registration will start with the index letter Z, followed by another letter indicating the vehicle category, then the last two digits of the year of validity, and finally three serial letters.

By embossing the year directly onto the plate instead of using stickers, it will be easier to detect whether a plate is valid or not. Besides, since these plates will be renewed each year, it will ensure that those commercial plates remain in a decent state (many dealers do not hesitate to drill extra holes in the plates or bend them, which causes them to look ugly). 
    ZA-11-WAA
> ZA-11-XZZ		 Square
    ZA-11-YAA
> ZA-11-ZZZ		 Small
  Motorcycles ZM-11-AAA Small
  Trailers ZQ-11-AAA
> ZQ-11-XZZ		 Long
    ZQ-11-YAA
> ZQ-11-YZZ		 Square
    ZQ-11-ZAA
> ZQ-11-ZZZ		 Small
  Scooters ZS-11-AAA
> ZS-11-VZZ		 Long
    ZS-11-WAA
> ZS-11-XZZ		 Square
    ZS-11-YAA
> ZS-11-ZZZ		 Small
Temporary transit plates Cars, vans, trucks WA-11-XXX All

As of 31 October 2014, the following plate will replace the current generation of temporary plates of short duration introduced on 15 November 2010 (index digit 1 followed by a dash and six serial numbers [e.g. 1-012345]; its validity was indicated by a blue or red sticker for the month and the embossed last two digits of a given year).

The new registration will start with the letter W (standing for 'world'), followed by another letter indicating the vehicle category, then the last two digits of the year of validity, and finally three serial letters.

The end of the validity of such temporary plates will be indicated by two blue or red stickers (one for the day and one for the month) placed above and below the second dash, or to the left of the group of serial letters in the case of square or small plates.

  • Blue stickers: if VAT and fees have been paid; validity of 6 months; renewable
  • Red stickers: if VAT and fees have not been paid (exemption); validity of 4 months; not renewable
  Motorcycles WM-11-XXX Small
  Trailers WQ-11-XXX All
  Scooters A-class WS-11-AXX Small
  Scooters B-class WS-11-BXX Small
  Micro cars with bodywork WS-11-UAA
> WS-11-UVZ		 Long
    WS-11-UWA
> WS-11-UZZ		 Small
Temporary export plates Cars, vans, trucks XA-11-XXX All

A brand-new category of plates will be created to solve a problem. Indeed, until now, people who wanted to sell their car abroad did not have any other solution than using plates from another vehicle (which they sometimes did not even own), illegally rented test drive plates, or resorted to temporary plates from France, Germany or the Netherlands. Thanks to the forthcoming X plate, people will be able to drive their car out of Belgium.

The new registration will start with the letter X (standing for 'export'), followed by another letter indicating the vehicle category, then the last two digits of the year of validity, and finally three serial letters.

It has a validity of maximum 15 days.
  Motorcycles XM-11-XXX Small
  Trailers XQ-11-XXX All
  Scooters A-class XS-11-AXX Small
  Scooters B-class XS-11-BXX Small
  Micro cars with bodywork XS-11-UAA
> XS-11-UVZ		 Long
    XS-11-UWA
> XS-11-UZZ		 Small
Temporary national plates Cars, vans, trucks NA-11-XXX All This plate, which is still at project stage, would be a temporary plate with a one-month validity that would be used by individuals who cannot get their vehicle registered because of a given administrative problem or procedure that is taking some time (e.g. compliance upgrade, technical checkup, passing customs).

Uses:
  • driving to and from an official technical checkup facility
  • driving to and from offices in order to obtain a certificate of conformity
  • driving to different places in view of exporting the vehicle (e.g. ride to a dealership, the customs, etc.)
Restrictions: 
  • the vehicle equipped with such a plate will have to be insured for at least one month
  • only individuals registered in the Belgian National Registry will be able to obtain such a plate
  • only the individual who has requested the plate will be allowed to drive the vehicle
  • once the limit of validity has been reached, the plate will be crossed off; no renewal will be possible. The vehicle will then have to be registered under an ordinary plate (1-***), a temporary transit plate (W*) or an temporary export plate (X*)

The goal of this new type of registration is to counter the illegal use of fake or foreign temporary plates or even rented professional plates in order to move a vehicle in or out of Belgium.

The new registration will start with the letter N (standing for 'national'), followed by another letter indicating the vehicle category, then the last two digits of the year of validity, and finally three serial letters.
  Motorcycles NM-11-XXX Small
  Trailers NQ-11-XXX All
  Scooters NS-11-AXX Small

For more information, please contact the DIV by phone on 02 277 30 50, by e-mail at help.div@mobilit.fgov.be or on site (FR and NL).

Some technical information come from here.