{"type":"document","data":{"id":"542dc820-df7a-4c8a-974a-8b1e665605f6","localeString":"en-GB","publishDate":"2024-10-21T14:24:53.277+02:00","contentType":"onecms:editorialPage","hasMacro":false,"flexPageMetadata":{"afmBanner":false,"robotInstruction":{"noIndex":false,"noFollow":false},"description":"A vehicle’s fiscal horsepower (bhp) has a direct impact on road tax and car insurance: the more powerful your vehicle's engine, the higher the cost."},"mainHeaderZone":{"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"title":"Your car's fiscal horsepower","subtitle":"How does it impact your taxes?","body":"In Belgium, a vehicle’s fiscal horsepower (bhp) plays a crucial role in determining the cost of car use and ownership. That is because the fiscal horsepower has a direct impact on road tax and car insurance. Simply put, the more powerful your vehicle's engine, the higher the cost of tax and your car insurance. Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels Capital-Region all use their own calculation methods."},"backLink":{"textLink":{"url":"/en/business/my-sector","text":"My sector"}},"date":"2024-01-15","readingTime":3},"flexZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What is the fiscal horsepower?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p><span><span>The fiscal horsepower is a measure of the power of a vehicle engine. More specifically, it corresponds to the <strong>cylinder capacity (cc) expressed in cm³ or number of kilowatts (kW)</strong>. For example, one fiscal horsepower equals 200 cm³ of displacement. That means that a car with a displacement of 1,600 cc has 8 fiscal horsepower.</span></span></p><p><span><span>Are you going to use your vehicle on public roads? Then you have to register the vehicle with the <strong>Vehicle Registration Service (DIV)</strong>, and you have to pay both the (one-off) <strong>registration tax (BIV)</strong> and the annual road tax (VKB). Note that for passenger cars and minibuses registered before 1 January 2016, road tax is calculated on the basis of fiscal horsepower only.</span></span></p>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Calculation of fiscal horsepower by region"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p><span><span>The regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels Capital-Region) apply the fiscal horsepower in their own way. That means that it is perfectly possible for the fiscal horsepower for two cars to be the same but for the tax to be higher in one region than the other.</span></span></p><p><span><span>The regions use their own table for calculating fiscal horsepower and apply a different base amount for calculating annual road tax.</span></span></p><p><span><span>In the <strong>Brussels-Capital Region</strong> as well as in the <strong>Walloon</strong> <strong>Region</strong>, the engine power determines how much tax you pay. This tax is always payable on the greatest amount of power possible.</span></span></p><p><span><span>In the <strong>Flemish Region</strong>, the calculation is a lot more complex. Flanders applies a <strong>different rate</strong> for passenger cars, cars for business and private use and minibuses that are not leased, for leased passenger cars and for motorbikes.</span></span></p><ul><li><span><span>Do you drive a <strong>passenger car that is not leased</strong>? The fiscal horsepower is then determined based on environmental standard and the age of your vehicle. These are things like the CO2 emissions, the fuel type you use and whether the car has a particulate filter. </span></span></li><li><span><span>For <strong>leased vehicles as well as for motorbikes</strong>, the amount of road tax payable is determined by the power. </span></span></li><li><span><span>For <strong>passenger cars, dual-use cars or minibuses registered after 1 January 2016</strong>, there is also the green annual road tax. The Flemish government thus hopes to encourage as many people as possible to buy an eco-friendly car.</span></span></li></ul>"}},{"componentType":"cta","textLink":{"url":"/en/business/my-sector/accountis-professionals","text":"Accountant? Discover the strengths of Accountis"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"The impact of the fiscal horsepower on your car insurance"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p><span><span>The power of the vehicle’s engine (and therefore the fiscal horsepower) has a direct impact on your car insurance. Insurers assume that those who drive a <strong>vehicle with a more powerful engine</strong> are more likely to be involved in a <strong>traffic accident</strong>. The result? The more powerful the engine, the <strong>higher the premium</strong> for car insurance.</span></span></p><p><span><span>It is, however, important to note that insurers also take <strong>other elements</strong> into account when calculating your insurance premium. That includes the <strong>driver&apos;s age</strong>, the number of <strong>claim-free years</strong> and the <strong>region</strong> where the vehicle is used. </span></span></p>"}},{"componentType":"cta","textLink":{"url":"/en/business/insurance/vehicle-insurance","text":"Need insurance for your car? Discover the possibilities"}}]},"complementaryZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"Tax prepayments","body":"Details and tips","link":{"url":"/en/business/financing/tax-prepayments"}},{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"Withholding tax scales","body":"Zoom on the latest changes and their impact","link":{"url":"/en/business/financing/withholding-tax-scales-2023"}}]}]},"legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Legal provisions","richBody":{"value":"<p>Read the information document about the product and the general terms and conditions before you sign up.</p><p>Comfort Auto is an insurance subject to Belgian law. It is offered to you, subject to acceptance by:</p><p><strong>Insurance intermediary</strong></p><p>ING Belgium SA/nv, an insurance broker registered with the FSMA under the code number 0403200393. Registered office: Avenue Marnix 24, B-1000 Brussels - RPR Brussels - VAT BE 0403.200.393 - <a data-type=\"internal\" href=\"/en/business\">www.ing.be</a> - BIC: BBRUBEBB - IBAN: BE45 3109 1560 2789.</p><p><strong>Insurer and promo regulations</strong></p><p>AXA Belgium, S.A. of insurances authorised under n° 0039 to practice the life and non-life branches (KB04-07-1979, BS 14-07-1979) at the National Bank of Belgium, located at Boulevard de Berlaimont 14, B-1000 Brussels - Main office: Place du Trône 1 - B-1000 Brussels (Belgium) - Website: <a href=\"https://www.axa.be/fr/particuliers\">www. axa.be</a> - Tel.: <a href=\"tel:003226786111\">+32 2 678 61 11</a> - Fax: <a href=\"tel:003226789340\">+32 2 678 93 40</a> - CBE no.: VAT BE 0404.483.367 RPR Brussels 7.06.5833 - 0616.</p>"}}]}}}