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Motoring and mobility media in Belgium
Belgian motoring news comes in French from the Moniteur Automobile and Gocar, in Dutch from AutoGids, plus the mobility sections of Le Soir, L'Echo or De Tijd, the Touring and VAB magazines, and video road tests available online.
A tradition built around the Brussels Motor Show
The Brussels Motor Show, organised by the FEBIAC federation at Heysel, has set the rhythm of Belgian car news since the early twentieth century. At each January edition, dailies and magazines publish supplements, road tests and buying guides tied to show offers.
Moniteur Automobile and AutoGids, the specialists
The Moniteur Automobile in French and AutoGids, its Dutch-language counterpart, publish road tests, comparisons and price catalogues tailored to the Belgian market. Their strength lies in Belgian prices and equipment, often different from versions sold in France or the Netherlands.
Two languages, sometimes different verdicts
The same cars are often tested by separate newsrooms in the north and the south of the country. Comparing a Gocar review with one from a Flemish site such as Autowereld, or from a De Standaard supplement, reveals assessments that sometimes diverge sharply.
Mobility, traffic jams and roadworks in the regional press
The Brussels ring road, the Leopold II tunnel, the Kennedy tunnel in Antwerp and roadworks on the E411 regularly make headlines in Sudinfo, L'Avenir, Bruzz and Gazet van Antwerpen. The Belgian regional press remains the best source on local diversions.
Gocar and online road-test sites
Gocar, a French-language car news site, combines road tests, used-car listings and tax advice. Traffic apps from the public broadcasters, such as VRT or VivaCité road information, complement these sites for drivers who travel on Belgian roads every day.
Registrations and FEBIAC figures
FEBIAC publishes monthly new-car registrations by brand and by powertrain, which Belga distributes to the whole press. These figures make it possible to follow the growing share of electric cars, particularly in company car fleets.
Touring, VAB and public broadcasters
Touring and VAB, both roadside assistance organisations, distribute magazines, tyre tests and safety advice. RTBF and VRT also cover mobility, especially when traffic rules change or when the vehicle registration tax is revised.
Company cars: a very Belgian subject
The tax regime for company cars, revised in 2023 to favour electric models, fuels many articles in L'Echo and De Tijd. The Belgian business press analyses its effects on companies, leasing contracts and the used-car market.
Motorsport: Spa, rallies and Belgian drivers
The Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours, held at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, draw French-language press attention every summer. Thierry Neuville, world rally champion in 2024, is followed closely by DH Les Sports+, Sporza and RTBF.
Press cars and relations with manufacturers
Road tests usually rely on vehicles lent by importers at organised launches. Serious Belgian newsrooms say so, and the Council for Journalistic Ethics points out that advertising and information must remain separate, motoring supplements included.
Low emission zones and roadworthiness testing
Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent operate low emission zones that gradually exclude certain older engines. The timetable, which differs by city, is regularly explained by Bruzz, Het Nieuwsblad and Le Soir, along with the rules for vehicle inspection run by the Regions.
Subscriptions, classifieds and checks
The Moniteur Automobile and AutoGids come in paid print and digital editions, while many road tests remain free to read. Before buying a used car spotted online, check the Car-Pass, the Belgian document that certifies the vehicle's mileage history.
Keeping up with Belgian car news from abroad
- Choose a specialist outlet, the Moniteur Automobile in French or AutoGids in Dutch, for road tests and Belgian prices.
- Check the monthly registrations published by FEBIAC to see which brands and powertrains are gaining ground.
- Read the mobility section of L'Echo or De Tijd for company car taxation and leasing.
- Look up the low emission zone timetable on the city's own website before any trip to Belgium.
- Follow Touring or VAB for safety advice, tyre tests and traffic conditions.
- Compare a French-language and a Flemish test of the same model before forming an opinion.
Access to Belgian motoring media
| Type of outlet | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gocar and road-test sites | Free with advertising | Tests, news and used-car listings |
| Moniteur Automobile, AutoGids | Paid subscription, price varies | Special issues around the Motor Show |
| Mobility sections of L'Echo, De Tijd | Paid subscription | Taxation, fleets and the market |
| Touring, VAB | Magazines included for members | Advice and traffic news partly free |
| RTBF, VRT | Free | Road information and consumer reports |
Reference points for drivers who read the press
- Languages: French and Dutch, German in the East Cantons
- Industry federation: FEBIAC, organiser of the Brussels Motor Show
- Roadside assistance: Touring and VAB
- Mileage history: Car-Pass
- Low emission zones: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent
- Currency: euro; time zone: Central European Time
Pitfalls in motoring news
- Taking a French or Dutch price for a Belgian one, when taxes, incentives and standard equipment differ from country to country.
- Confusing manufacturer-sponsored content with an independent test, especially in supplements published around the Motor Show.
- Believing a very cheap used-car ad without demanding the Car-Pass, which exposes you to tampered odometers.
- Passing on an outdated low emission zone rule without checking the timetable in force in the city concerned.
- Trusting a page that imitates a traffic fines website to pay a ticket, a scam regularly denounced by the Belgian police.
Questions about the Belgian car press
Which Belgian car magazine can I read in French?
The Moniteur Automobile is the leading French-language magazine, with road tests, comparisons and Belgian price catalogues. Gocar offers free online content, and the motoring sections of Le Soir, La Libre or DH Les Sports+ round out the offer for a wider audience.
Is the Brussels Motor Show held every year?
The Brussels Motor Show traditionally takes place in January at Heysel, but its frequency and format have varied over the years depending on which brands take part. FEBIAC and the specialist press announce each edition several months in advance.
Where can I find car sales figures for Belgium?
FEBIAC publishes new-car registrations every month by brand and by fuel type. The Belga agency distributes these figures, which are then picked up by L'Echo, De Tijd and most dailies in their business pages.
What is the Car-Pass mentioned in the Belgian press?
The Car-Pass is a document that records the mileage readings of a used vehicle in Belgium. The seller must hand it to the buyer, and the press regularly points out that it is the best protection against tampered odometers.