Flemish motorists are already benefiting from fewer mandatory vehicle inspections, but the government may wait until late 2029 or even longer to formally assess the consequences for road safety.

Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder’s office has confirmed to Newmobility.news that the first comprehensive evaluation will follow the completion of the entire reform, including measures still being phased in until 2028.

For drivers, the advantages are straightforward: fewer visits to inspection centers, less paperwork and lower inspection costs. But critics fear that serious mechanical defects could remain undetected for longer.

What changes for motorists?

Since September 2026, passenger cars in Flanders generally qualify for technical inspections every two years, even when they are more than ten years old or have covered over 160,000 kilometers.

That means fewer appointments and, for a car previously inspected annually, roughly half the inspection fees over time. Existing certificates are not automatically extended, however: the new interval applies when the vehicle qualifies at its next inspection.

From 1 January 2027, another major change follows. People selling a used car within Belgium will no longer need a separate mandatory technical inspection under the Flemish rules. Buyers can still request a voluntary inspection before purchasing, but they will need to be more attentive to the vehicle’s condition.

The final stages of the reform concern vans and light commercial vehicles, with older vehicles switching to two-year inspections from September 2028.

Safety evaluation only after full rollout

In a written parliamentary answer, De Ridder stated that the first evaluation should preferably take place after at least one complete year of the entire reform being operational.

Asked by Newmobility.news whether that includes the long-term measures, her spokesperson Xavier Lesenne confirmed: “The entire reform is the reform set out in the approved concept note. So yes, only after the long term as well.”

Assuming the final measures take effect in September 2028, a comprehensive review would therefore not be expected before autumn 2029. No firm date has been announced.

The government argues that the changes bring Flanders closer to European requirements and eliminate unnecessary inspections. Safety indicators, including inspection failures and dangerous defects, will continue to be monitored in the meantime.

But critics question whether monitoring alone is sufficient when vehicles are being checked less frequently.

Petition now followed by court challenge

The debate reached another milestone on 28 October, when the Flemish Parliament concluded its examination of petitions challenging the reform, including one backed by 15,752 signatures.

Campaigners Bart Rassaerts and Nicolas Godin have called for an independent safety assessment before further inspection requirements are relaxed.

Their concerns are partly based on official GOCA figures showing that more than 93,000 used vehicles failed inspections in Flanders in 2025 because of major or dangerous defects.

The dispute has also entered the courts. Rassaerts, a former vehicle inspector who currently works as a safety adviser at inspection operator AIBV, says he filed an annulment appeal with Belgium’s Council of State on 18 October.

Acting personally rather than on behalf of the petitioners or his employer, he challenges the longer inspection intervals on road-safety and emissions grounds. The appeal does not suspend the reform, and no ruling has been issued.

Fewer checks, greater responsibility

For the average car owner, the reform means greater convenience but also greater responsibility. Brakes, tires, suspension, and emission-control systems can deteriorate between inspections, regardless of a certificate’s validity.

A two-year inspection interval does not replace regular maintenance, while buyers of used vehicles may increasingly need to arrange their own independent checks.

The unanswered question is when the government would intervene if road safety deteriorates. Although De Ridder has promised to reconsider the reform if significant negative effects emerge, no specific threshold has been established.

Flanders has set clear deadlines for reducing compulsory inspections. For assessing their overall safety consequences, motorists may have to wait considerably longer.