The Flemish Government is preparing a major change to vehicle technical inspection rules. If the reform moves forward, several categories of vehicles will need mandatory inspections less often from 1 September 2026.

The proposal is currently before Belgium’s Council of State for an advisory opinion. That means the reform is not just a small administrative update; it could become a significant shift in how Flanders manages vehicle safety, especially for older cars and high-mileage vehicles.

For drivers, the plan may sound convenient. Fewer inspections could mean fewer appointments, less paperwork, and less time spent waiting for checks. But for road safety specialists, the reform raises an important question: will simpler rules make the roads less safe?

What Would Change?

The most important change concerns passenger cars that are more than 10 years old or have travelled more than 160,000 kilometres.

Under the current approach, these vehicles require annual technical inspection. Under the proposed reform, they would move to inspection once every 2 years.

The reform would also reduce inspection frequency for several other vehicle categories, including vans, taxis, ambulances, buses, and agricultural vehicles.

Another major change concerns vehicles that fail inspection because of serious defects. The repair period would be extended from 15 days to 2 months. This would give owners more time to fix problems, but it also raises concerns about how long vehicles with major defects might remain in use before repairs are confirmed.

Why Vehicle Inspections Matter

Technical inspections are not just a formality. They are designed to identify problems that can make vehicles unsafe on public roads.

A proper inspection can detect worn brakes, damaged tyres, faulty lights, steering issues, suspension problems, and other defects that drivers may not always notice in daily use.

This is especially important for older vehicles and vehicles with high mileage. As cars age or spend more time on the road, parts naturally wear down. Regular checks help make sure that small problems do not turn into serious safety risks.

For professional vehicles such as taxis, vans, buses, and ambulances, the issue is even more sensitive. These vehicles may cover long distances, carry passengers, or provide essential services, so their condition matters not only to the driver but also to the wider public.

Why Critics Are Concerned

Road safety experts have criticised the proposed reform, warning that it could weaken the progress Flanders has made in recent years.

Their main concern is that moving older cars from annual checks to inspections every 2 years would place Flanders among the minority of European jurisdictions that do not require yearly technical inspections for older vehicles.

The concern is simple: if inspections happen less often, defects may remain unnoticed for longer. A vehicle with worn brakes, damaged tyres, or lighting problems could continue being used for months before the issue is officially detected.

The longer repair window also adds to the debate. Extending the deadline from 15 days to 2 months may be more convenient for vehicle owners, but it could also delay the removal of unsafe vehicles from the road.

Only Flanders Would Be Affected

Vehicle inspection rules in Belgium are handled at regional level. That means the proposed reform would apply only in Flanders.

Wallonia and Brussels have not announced equivalent changes. As a result, Belgium could end up with different inspection rules depending on the region.

For drivers who move between regions, this may create confusion. For policymakers, it also raises a broader question about whether vehicle safety standards should remain closely aligned across the country.

The European Road Safety Debate

The Flemish proposal comes at a time when roadworthiness rules are also being discussed at European level.

In that wider debate, road safety specialists have argued that introducing annual technical inspections for cars over 10 years old in the 11 EU Member States that do not currently require them could prevent around 74 deaths and 850 severe injuries each year.

A stronger revision of European roadworthiness rules has also been linked to the possible prevention of around 7,000 road deaths and 65,000 serious injuries by 2050.

Against this background, the Flemish reform moves in the opposite direction. Instead of increasing checks for older vehicles, it would reduce them.

What Drivers Should Watch

For drivers in Flanders, the proposed reform could mean longer gaps between official inspections. But less frequent inspection should not mean less attention to maintenance.

Drivers should continue checking the basics regularly: tyre condition, tyre pressure, brakes, headlights, indicators, windscreen wipers, mirrors, warning lights, and unusual noises while driving.

Older cars and high-mileage vehicles need especially careful attention. Even if the legal inspection schedule becomes less frequent, the vehicle still needs to be safe every time it is used.

For companies operating vans, taxis, buses, ambulances, or agricultural vehicles, internal maintenance routines may become even more important. Fewer mandatory inspections could reduce administrative pressure, but they should not replace regular safety checks.

Convenience or Safety?

The debate around the reform is really a debate about balance.

On one side, fewer inspections could make life easier for drivers and businesses. It could reduce costs, save time, and make the system feel less burdensome.

On the other side, technical inspections exist for a reason. Roads are shared spaces, and one poorly maintained vehicle can create risks for many people.

The key issue is whether the benefits of simpler rules outweigh the possible safety costs. That question is especially important when the vehicles affected include older cars, high-mileage cars, passenger transport vehicles, and emergency service vehicles.

Flanders is preparing to make vehicle technical inspections simpler and less frequent from 1 September 2026, if the reform is approved. For many drivers, that may sound like welcome news.

But the proposal also raises serious safety questions. Older cars and heavily used vehicles are more likely to develop defects, and longer intervals between inspections may allow problems to go unnoticed for longer.

The reform may reduce inconvenience, but road safety depends on more than convenience. Whether inspections happen every year or every 2 years, drivers and fleet operators still carry the responsibility of keeping vehicles safe.

For now, the proposal remains under review. The final decision will show whether Flanders chooses a lighter inspection system or keeps stronger checks in place for the vehicles most likely to need them.