Export a vehicle - transit

Changed
07/02/2024

General information on the X plate

The X plate is typically intended for the export of a vehicle and is valid during 30 calendar days, except in certain cases (VAT exemption) for which the validity period may be longer. See the table with the validity periods for short-term temporary plates.

The end of the validity period is inscribed on the number plate using 3 indicators:

  • the two figures stamped in the middle show the year;
  • the two stickers show the day (above) and the month (below). They are in red or blue according to the tax regime.

Each plate is automatically deregistered when it expires.

For whom?

The persons entitled to an X plate are:

  • natural persons not registered in the National Register or the Waiting Register, having their home abroad and having bought a vehicle in Belgium for export purposes;
  • legal persons established in an EU Member State, not registered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and having bought a vehicle in Belgium for export purposes;
  • natural persons working for an international or European company with its headquarters in Belgium: these persons have bought a vehicle in Belgium for export purposes (as long as the vehicle is entitled to an exemption of import duty and/or VAT by the FPS Finance);
  • natural persons registered in the National Register and having bought a vehicle which is exempt from import duty and/or VAT by the FPS Finance with a view to moving abroad;
  • legal persons with a Belgian trade register or being a Belgian establishment according to international, foreign or Belgian law, that have bought a vehicle which is exempt from import duty and/or VAT by the FPS Finance and which is intended for export to an establishment abroad;
  • persons registered in Belgium who, for a temporary stay abroad, would like to export their vehicle used for the journey. The possibility of obtaining a temporary export plate, for residents in Belgium, is limited to one plate per holder per year.

Where and how much?

Applications to register a vehicle with an X plate must be submitted to the DIV offices: City Atrium– Vooruitgangstraat 60 Rue du Progrès - 1210 Brussels. (open every working day from 8:30 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 15:30)

See information on prices and delivery.

How to register a new vehicle with an X plate? 

To register a new vehicle with an X plate, follow the steps below:

  • Complete and sign the registration application form that the seller has given you. You can be assisted and/or represented by a proxy (e.g., a company used to this type of registration - customs agency) or your insurer

PLEASE NOTE: Not all insurance companies offer temporary insurance! Please contact insurers directly to find out if they offer this type of insurance.

Box X1 “registration 

Tick “Transit” 

Box X2

Tick “new vehicle 

Box X3 plate format 

Ticknormal plate”, “square format”or “motorbike format

The registration applicant 

Complete legibly, in capitals, one letter per space. 

Enter the full address of your temporary residence in Belgium (contact address: e.g., address of a customs office).

Enter a telephone number or email address. 

Boxes X7 and X8 “date and signature 

Date and sign the form. 

Box X10 “additional information” 

Enter the full address of your main residence abroad if you are not a resident of Belgium. 

Box Z “The insurer”

Affix the yellow sticker provided by your insurer here.

An application is submitted using original documents. No photocopy, even legalised, is accepted. The DIV officer should check, with the aid of the original documents, the accuracy of the information mentioned on the registration application form. Temporary registration is not allowed as long as the application is not complete and all the required documents have not been submitted. The promise to provide the documents at a later date or to show them when the registration documents are issued is not sufficient to process the application.

  • Enclose the following original documents with the application:
    • proof of insurance contract (“green card”);
    • purchase invoice / sales contract;
    • original passport or identity card, issued abroad, valid and in a language understood by the DIV office or accompanied by an official translation;
    • a recent and original certificate of residence abroad if the identity documents do not mention any address;
    • if a Schengen visa is required for the country concerned, it must be submitted.

An X plate can be issued to a company established in an EU Member State based on a valid certificate proving that the company is actually established or registered abroad. This recent certificate is issued by a foreign authority. It must clearly include the name and address of the company, as well as its VAT number, as mentioned on the registration application form.

How to register a used vehicle with an X plate? 

Please note:

Validity of the vehicle inspection certificate:

  • The vehicle is less than 4 years old and will still be less than 4 years old when the X plate expires: no vehicle inspection.
  • The vehicle is more than 4 years old and the periodic vehicle inspection certificate will still be valid when the X plate expires: enclose proof of validity.
  • The vehicle is more than 4 years old and the periodic vehicle inspection certificate is no longer valid: the vehicle must be brought to a vehicle inspection station. Find a vehicle inspection station and useful information on this matter.

The form issued by the station is valid for TWO MONTHS. Check the date in box X13 (station stamp + date).

The seller must give you their latest registration certificate or a Police Certificate if they no longer have their registration certificate. If you do not receive either of these 2 documents, ask them to take the necessary steps with the Police. 

To register a used vehicle with an X plate, follow the steps below:

  • Complete and sign the registration application form. You can be assisted and/or represented by a proxy (e.g., a company used to this type of registration - customs agency) or your insurer

PLEASE NOTE: Not all insurance companies offer temporary insurance! Please contact insurers directly to find out if they offer this type of insurance policy.

Box X1 “registration 

Tick “Transit” 

Box X2

Tick “used vehicle”

Box X3 plate format 

Ticknormal plate”, “square format”or “motorbike format

The registration applicant 

Complete legibly, in capitals, one letter per space. 

Enter the full address of your temporary residence in Belgium. (contact address: e.g., address of a customs office).

Enter a telephone number or email address. 

Boxes X7 and X8 “date and signature 

Date and sign the form. 

Box X10 “additional information” 

Enter the full address of your main residence abroad if you are not a resident of Belgium. 

Box Z “The insurer”

Affix the yellow sticker provided by your insurer here.

An application is submitted using original documents. No photocopy, even legalised, is accepted. The DIV officer should check, with the aid of the original documents, the accuracy of the information mentioned on the registration application form. Temporary registration is not allowed as long as the application is not complete and all the required documents have not been submitted. The promise to provide the documents at a later date or to show them when the registration documents are issued is not sufficient to process the application.

  • Enclose the following original documents with the application:
    • proof of insurance contract (“green card”);
    • the latest registration certificate (or a certificate of involuntary dispossession from the Police if the registration certificate is lost/stolen);
    • purchase invoice / sales contract;
    • the proof that the vehicle inspection certificate is still valid;
    • original passport or identity card, issued abroad, valid and in a language understood by the DIV office or accompanied by an official translation;
    • a recent and original certificate of residence abroad if the identity documents do not mention any address;
    • if a Schengen visa is required for the country concerned, it must be submitted.

An X plate can be issued to a company established in an EU Member State if there is a valid certificate proving that the company is actually established or registered abroad. This recent certificate is issued by a foreign authority. It must clearly include the name and address of the company, as well as its VAT number, as mentioned on the registration application form.

Status of your registration application  

Would you like to know the status of your registration application with the DIV? Go directly to our application My vehicle, my plate.

 Extension

The period of validity of a temporary registration may be extended if the extension is granted BEFORE THE DATE WHEN THE TEMPORARY REGISTRATION COMES TO AN END , and if the conditions for the original registration are still valid when the extension is applied for. The total duration may not exceed the maximum duration set by the Royal Decree of 20 July 2001 on vehicle registration.

new plate with a new number is issued when extending the temporary registration. A new registration certificate with the new period of validity will be issued with this new plate, and two new stickers will be affixed to the plate.

See the table with the validity periods for short-term temporary plates. 

An application for extension is also submitted using original documents.

Incompatibility of temporary plates

A vehicle registered with an X plate can no longer be registered under a temporary number plate by another holder. The X plate is really intended for export purposes. The vehicle can later be registered with an ordinary Belgian plate, once all the customs and VAT formalities have been completed.

Misuse

In the event of misuse of an X plate, the registration holder will no longer be able to obtain a temporary registration for a period of 5 years, from the time the DIV is informed of the facts.

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