Registering your vehicle, in the right order.
Tell us where the vehicle comes from and you get the exact procedure, the papers to gather and the deadlines. Because in Belgium, insurance always comes before registration.
Page reviewed on 11 September 2026 Sources: FPS Mobility and Transport (DIV), Car-Pass, bpost.
This adjusts the papers and the regime that applies.
The papers, and who provides them
This list is for a used vehicle bought in Belgium, the most common case. For a new vehicle the dealer gathers the essentials; for an import, add the customs papers.
- Pink form, with the roadworthiness-test stamp Seller At the sale
- Car-Pass, the mileage history Seller At the sale, insist on it
- Registration certificate, their part Seller At the sale
- Roadworthiness report for resale Seller Less than two months old
- Certificate of conformity (COC) Seller At the sale
- Invoice or sale agreement Seller At the sale
- Buyer's identity card You For the application
- Insurance certificate and sticker Cinassur After the review
Four pitfalls that block the file
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A form without the roadworthiness-test stamp
Without that stamp the application is refused. Check it before you pay for the vehicle.
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Car-Pass forgotten
Compulsory in Belgium to fight odometer fraud. A sale without a Car-Pass is irregular.
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Roadworthiness test out of date
The resale test must be less than two months old. If it is older, it is up to the seller to redo it.
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Driving before the plate arrives
The vehicle may only be driven once registered and covered. No plate, no road.
The deadlines to know
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2 monthsof validity for the pink form, and for the resale roadworthiness test.
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1 working dayour commitment to file the application after receiving the signed form and validating the insurance.
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48 hbpost's commitment to deliver the plate, often the next working day.
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4 monthsduring which a plate not linked to a vehicle can still be reused.
Costs and a garage tip. DIV fees apply for the plate and the certificate: we confirm the current amount. And for a new plate you can have it delivered straight to your garage, which fits it before you arrive.
Who does what, with no grey area
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You, alone
What nobody can do for you
- → Gather the seller's papers.
- → Fill in and sign the pink form.
- → Provide your identity card.
- → Send us your details for the market review.
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Cinassur
What we take care of
- → Comparing the insurers that cover your profile.
- → Validating the cover and affixing the insurance sticker.
- → Filing the registration application electronically.
- → Handing you the insurance certificate.
Worth knowing: the main driver can be someone other than the registered keeper, with no effect on the insurance.
Your questions about registration
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Can I register before I have insurance?
No. Registration requires an insurance sticker on the pink form: without validated liability cover, the DIV will not register the vehicle. Insurance is a precondition, never a final formality.
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The seller did not give me a Car-Pass, does it matter?
Yes. The Car-Pass is compulsory for every second-hand sale in Belgium. Insist on it: without it the sale is irregular and you have no guarantee on the mileage.
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How long before I get my plate?
Allow one to three days for the application to be processed, then one to two working days for delivery by bpost. The pink form stays valid for two months.
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How does a personalised plate work?
It is a specific paid application to the DIV, with a longer lead time than a standard plate. The combination must respect the format rules and still be available. The conditions and the fee are on the FPS Mobility website.
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Do I need another roadworthiness test?
No, it is up to the seller to provide a resale test less than two months old, stamped on the pink form. If it has expired, it is for them to redo it before the sale.
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Does the driver have to be the registered keeper?
No. The main driver can be someone other than the person the vehicle is registered to, with no effect on the insurance.
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Can I have the plate delivered to my garage?
Yes. For a new plate, give the garage address as the delivery address: they fit the plate before you arrive. You specify this in box X10, explained in our guide
Compare before you register.
Send us the vehicle and driver details: we put the insurers covering your profile in competition, validate the cover and affix the sticker to your form.