Best car insurance in Belgium for expats (2026)
Updated · figures checked 2 November 2026
The short version
- If you want to read your car insurance pages in English, KBC Brussels is the only insurer we checked that publishes them.
- If you drive little and are happy to do everything online in French or Dutch, Belfius Direct and Yuzzu price by mileage and let you sign online.
- If you prefer a person across the table, P&V agencies or a broker selling AG, Baloise or AXA will build the file with you.
- No insurer we checked publishes a premium or a written rule on foreign no-claims records: get several quotes and ask in writing how your history abroad is counted.
Not rated: Allianz. Their official pages could not be read when we checked, so we do not score them rather than guess.
Values link to the provider page we read on the date shown on hover. Prices change: confirm on the provider's site before you sign.
You have a car in Belgium, or you are about to buy one, and before it can be registered and driven it needs motor third-party liability insurance. For someone who arrived recently this is often the first Belgian insurance contract, and it comes with unfamiliar words (RC Auto / BA Auto, omnium, bonus-malus), websites in French and Dutch, and a question no insurer answers clearly on its public pages: what happens to the claims-free years you built up in another country?
This guide is for newcomers who need car insurance for a private car registered in Belgium. It compares eight insurers whose pages we could read: banks that sell insurance, direct online insurers, a traditional agency network and broker-only companies. We scored them on what they publish about cover, English support, service channels, how easy it is to sign up as a newcomer and their online tools.
What really decides the choice is less the brand than three things about you: how many kilometres you drive, whether you can handle a contract in French or Dutch, and what proof of your driving history you can bring from abroad. Since none of the insurers below publishes a premium, the only reliable price comparison is the quote you get with your own details.
How to choose car insurance in Belgium
What the law requires
Liability cover is compulsory for every vehicle owner. Every vehicle owner must by law hold motor third-party liability (RC Auto) insurance; driving uninsured is a criminal offence (fine, prison, seizure of the vehicle). (source, checked 2 November 2026) This minimum cover, called RC Auto in French and BA Auto in Dutch, pays for damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not pay for damage to your own car. Everything beyond it is optional:
- Mini omnium (partial cover): theft, fire, glass, natural events, sometimes collision with animals.
- Full omnium (comprehensive): adds damage to your own car, including when you are at fault, usually with a deductible you choose.
- Legal assistance: help and costs if you need to claim from the other party or defend yourself after an accident.
- Driver cover and assistance: injuries of the driver, and breakdown help in Belgium and abroad.
A full omnium mainly makes sense for a recent or financed car. For an older car many drivers take liability plus legal assistance and stop there.
Bonus-malus is no longer the same everywhere
Belgium used to have one bonus-malus scale for all insurers. That is over. There is no longer a uniform bonus-malus system in Belgium; each insurer chooses its own system, some with 'Jokers'. (source, checked 2 November 2026) In practice this means two things for a newcomer. First, a good level at one insurer does not transfer as a number to another; each insurer reads your history and places you on its own grid. Second, protections such as a lifetime minimum level or a “joker” that forgives one claim differ by company, so compare them as product features, not as a common standard.
Your claims history from abroad
This is the question expats ask most, and the honest answer is that none of the insurers in this guide states a rule on its public pages. What the pages do say:
- Belfius Direct uses your insurance history to price the policy and asks for a claims certificate (attestation de sinistralité / attest schadeverloop) from every insurer you had over the recent past.
- Yuzzu’s blog tells people who lived abroad to ask their former insurers in that country for documents proving their claims history.
- Baloise says the premium depends on your age, the date you obtained your licence, your address and your claims history.
So before you request quotes, write to your previous insurer abroad and ask for a claims statement in English, with your name, the policy period, the vehicles insured and every claim (or a statement that there were none). Then ask each Belgian insurer, in writing, whether it accepts that document and how it rates you. Keep the answers. A verbal “yes” from a call centre is not what counts at renewal.
The same caution applies to your licence. Some guarantees are linked to the number of years you have held a licence, and no insurer here says whether years on a foreign licence count.
If you are refused
A long foreign history with claims, or no history at all, can lead to refusals or very high quotes. There is a safety net. If at least three insurers refuse you RC Auto or quote an excessive premium, you can apply to the Bureau de Tarification, which sets the premium and designates an insurer. (source, checked 2 November 2026) Keep the refusal letters and quotes, because you will need them to show three attempts.
Traps for newcomers
- The quote is not the policy. Several insurers give a price online but still need a broker or adviser to issue the contract. Factor in a few days.
- Name every regular driver. A partner who drives the car often must be declared; leaving them off can cause trouble after a claim.
- Declared mileage. Low-mileage discounts are real, but if you exceed the declared distance the contract can apply an extra deductible. Declare honestly.
- Cancellation of the old contract. If you switch from another Belgian insurer, some new insurers send the cancellation for you. Check that the dates match so you are never uninsured.
- Language of the contract. Even where a product page exists in English, the general conditions are usually in French or Dutch. Ask for a translation of anything you do not understand before signing.
Checking the insurer and complaining
All eight companies below are authorised or registered with the FSMA, the Belgian financial markets regulator; you can confirm any company or intermediary on the FSMA register. If something goes wrong, first write to the insurer’s complaints service, then to the Insurance Ombudsman. The ombudsman sees a growing number of car files. The Insurance Ombudsman received 1,697 car-insurance requests in 2025 (+15%); 59% of analysed cases ended with a positive answer for the consumer; premium-related requests rose 50%. (source, checked 2 November 2026) The annual report does not break complaints down by insurer, so no company here is scored on complaint numbers.
The car insurers compared
The table ranks eight insurers with our scoring method. Product scores rest on published features only, because no insurer we checked publishes a car premium.
Allianz is listed as not rated. Its Belgian website returned a bot check when we tried to read the car, home, liability and legal protection pages, so we could not verify its distribution, prices or English availability. You can still ask for a quote on the Allianz site or through a broker.
1. KBC / KBC Brussels 6.3/10
Ranked 1 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: English speakers who bank with KBC Brussels and want to apply online.
KBC sells car insurance through the bank, its insurance agents and online. For English speakers the relevant brand is KBC Brussels, and its car insurance page is the only one in this guide published in English: Yes (KBC Brussels). That alone makes it the easiest place to understand what you are buying before you sign.
How you buy: Online, KBC Brussels insurance agent or bank branch. The online route is direct: Yes, calculate and apply online. To apply online you need the chassis number, which is on the vehicle registration certificate. If you are buying a car that is not registered yet, ask the seller for the chassis number or go through a branch.
The product is a standard Belgian range with useful choices. The omnium deductible can be set at several levels, from low to high, so you can trade a lower premium against a bigger share of each claim. Legal assistance is part of the range. When you switch from another insurer, KBC Brussels cancels your current contract for you, which removes one step.
On foreign history, the page does not say how a claims record from abroad is treated: Not stated; page only says a no-claims history lowers the premium. Ask before you sign. We could not confirm that the contract documents and app are in English, only the product pages.
KBC suits English speakers who already bank with KBC Brussels or want to, and who prefer to apply online with an agent available behind it. It suits less well someone who drives very little and wants a premium built around mileage, since no low-mileage tariff is published: not published.
- Online price calculator
- Yes, calculate and apply online
- Product pages in English
- Yes (KBC Brussels)
- Low-mileage pricing
- not published
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- Not stated; page only says a no-claims history lowers the premium
What works
- Only insurer in this guide with English product pages
- Online application
Watch out
- No published premium
- Foreign claims history acceptance not stated
How this 6.3/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 6/10 | Omnium deductible choice 250/500/750/1,000/1,250 €; legal expenses up to 100,000 €; no premium published. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 6/10 | Product pages in English on kbcbrussels.be; English app and English contracts not verified. |
| Service (20%) | 7/10 | Online, insurance agents and bank branches; KBC Brussels arranges cancellation of your old contract. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 6/10 | Apply online with chassis number from registration certificate; newcomer documents not stated. |
| Digital (5%) | 7/10 | Online application; KBC Brussels Mobile/Touch mentioned for adding drivers. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0403.552.563 (checked 2026-11-02).
2. Belfius Direct (ex Corona Direct) 5.0/10
Ranked 2 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Low-mileage drivers happy to do everything online in French or Dutch.
Belfius Direct is the new name of Corona Direct: the old coronadirect.be address now redirects to belfiusdirect.be, and the insurer behind it is Belfius Insurance. It is a direct insurer with no agents. How you buy: Direct, online (chat, email form).
Its main feature is the pricing model: Pay-per-kilometre car insurance. The premium follows the distance you drive, which is attractive if the car mostly sits outside your flat while you take the train to work. The insurer advertises average yearly savings on its own site, without showing how they were calculated, so treat them as marketing and compare with your own quote.
The process is the fastest in this guide: Yes, offer in under 5 minutes, signed online. Belfius Direct also signs and sends the cancellation letter to your old insurer. The catch for a newcomer is the language and the paperwork. The site is in French and Dutch only (No (belfiusdirect.be/en returns 404)), service runs through chat and a contact form, and we did not see a phone number on the pages checked.
On history: Not stated; FAQ asks for claims certificates from every insurer of the last 5 years. If your previous insurers are abroad, you will need their statements, and you should ask how they are counted. Duplicates of Belgian certificates can be requested through carattest.be. Its FAQ is also useful if you import a used car from another country: it explains the customs form and documents needed before registration.
Belfius Direct suits low-mileage drivers who read French or Dutch and want to do everything online. It does not suit people who want an English contract or a phone call with an adviser.
- How you buy
- Direct, online (chat, email form)
- Online price calculator
- Yes, offer in under 5 minutes, signed online
- Product pages in English
- No (belfiusdirect.be/en returns 404)
- Low-mileage pricing
- Pay-per-kilometre car insurance
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- Not stated; FAQ asks for claims certificates from every insurer of the last 5 years
What works
- Kilometre-based pricing
- Fully online
Watch out
- No English pages
- No phone channel seen
How this 5.0/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 7/10 | Kilometre-based premium; advertises average savings of 242 € (RC), 252 € (RC + mini omnium), 360 € (full omnium) per year (insurer's own claim, basis not shown). |
| English accessibility (25%) | 0/10 | English URL returns 404. |
| Service (20%) | 5/10 | Online-only service: chat (staff or virtual assistant), contact form, FAQ; no phone number seen on pages fetched. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 8/10 | Quote in under 5 minutes, offer and cancellation letter signed online; Belfius Direct sends the cancellation to your old insurer. |
| Digital (5%) | 8/10 | Fully online quote, signature and customer area. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0405.764.064 (checked 2026-11-02).
3. Yuzzu 4.9/10
Ranked 3 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Newcomers with a foreign claims record and low annual mileage.
Yuzzu, formerly Touring Assurances, sells car insurance online. Yuzzu itself is a mandated underwriter approved by the FSMA; the risk is carried by AXA Belgium. How you buy: Direct online (mandated underwriter, risk carried by AXA Belgium). The quote: Yes (simulation).
Its pricing rewards low use: Up to -40% on RC under 7,500 km/year. It also advertises a reduction for electric cars. Yuzzu quotes an average saving for new clients based on a survey; that is its own claim, not a verified price.
What sets Yuzzu apart for newcomers is that it addresses the foreign history question directly, even if only partly: Not stated as accepted; blog advises people who lived abroad to ask former foreign insurers for claims-history documents. That is more guidance than most insurers give, but it does not say how those documents will be rated, so ask once you have them.
The website is in French and Dutch: No (yuzzu.be/en shows a 404 page). A phone line is published. Older Belgian friends may still call it Touring; the FSMA records the change of name, and Touring today is only a registered agent selling non-life products, not the car insurer.
Yuzzu suits newcomers with a clean record abroad and modest annual mileage who are comfortable in French or Dutch. Heavy drivers lose most of its pricing advantage, and English speakers will need help with the contract.
- Online price calculator
- Yes (simulation)
- Product pages in English
- No (yuzzu.be/en shows a 404 page)
- Low-mileage pricing
- Up to -40% on RC under 7,500 km/year
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- Not stated as accepted; blog advises people who lived abroad to ask former foreign insurers for claims-history documents
What works
- Strong low-mileage discount
- Explicit guidance for people arriving from abroad
Watch out
- No English pages
How this 4.9/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 7/10 | Up to -40% RC under 7,500 km and up to -25% for an electric car; average saving of 281 € claimed from an NIQ survey of new clients. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 0/10 | No English pages. |
| Service (20%) | 5/10 | Phone 02 505 66 00 listed; direct online model. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 7/10 | Online simulation and subscription; blog explains how newcomers from abroad get claims history. |
| Digital (5%) | 7/10 | Online simulator and contract. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0456.511.494 (checked 2026-11-02).
4. Ethias 4.7/10
Ranked 4 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Drivers comfortable in French or Dutch who want to buy directly online.
Ethias is a Belgian insurer that sells directly, without brokers. How you buy: Direct: online, phone or Ethias office. You can get a price and subscribe online: Yes.
The product range covers liability and several omnium levels, including a zero-deductible omnium option with age conditions, and a good-driver bonus. On mileage: Tariff adapted to annual mileage (stated, no figure). At the time of checking Ethias also ran a time-limited promotion on liability and omnium for new contracts; check whether it still applies when you ask for your quote.
Two details matter for newcomers. The replacement-car guarantee requires a minimum age and a licence held for at least a year, and Ethias does not say whether time on a foreign licence counts. And on history: not published.
The site is in French and Dutch: No (ethias.be/part/en.html returns 404). Ethias has offices and a phone line, so you can sit down with someone, in French or Dutch.
Ethias suits drivers who read French or Dutch and want to buy directly from the insurer, online or in an office. It is less suited to people who need English support or who arrived with a licence issued only recently.
- How you buy
- Direct: online, phone or Ethias office
- Online price calculator
- Yes
- Product pages in English
- No (ethias.be/part/en.html returns 404)
- Low-mileage pricing
- Tariff adapted to annual mileage (stated, no figure)
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- not published
What works
- Direct insurer, online subscription
- Mileage-based tariff mentioned
Watch out
- No English pages
- Some extras need a licence held for 1 year
How this 4.7/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 6/10 | 20% off RC and all omnium formulas for new contracts 01/10-17/12/2026, 0 € deductible omnium option and 'bonus bon conducteur' listed; no base premium published. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 0/10 | English URL returns 404. |
| Service (20%) | 6/10 | Direct insurer with online, phone and office channels listed on product pages. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 7/10 | Quote and subscription online stated; documents for newcomers not stated. |
| Digital (5%) | 7/10 | Online calculator and subscription; Ethias app advertised on homepage. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0404.484.654 (checked 2026-11-02).
5. AXA Belgium 4.3/10
Ranked 5 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Drivers who want to buy online but keep a broker for claims.
AXA Belgium sells through brokers and also online. How you buy: Online or through an AXA broker. The online process is short: Yes, price in 5 minutes, subscribe online, and the contract arrives by e-mail. The page does not list the documents a newcomer must provide.
The product page highlights a pick-up and delivery replacement vehicle service when your car goes to the garage after a claim. Claims can be declared and followed online through MyAXA or handled by your broker. That mix works well if you want to buy online but have someone to call when something happens.
AXA does not publish premiums or a low-mileage tariff (not published), and nothing is said about foreign history (not published). The English version of the site does not exist: No (axa.be/en returns 404). If you go through a broker, many work in English, but that depends on the office.
AXA also carries the risk for Yuzzu, so the two are related, but they price and sell differently. AXA suits drivers who want an online contract with a broker in reserve for claims. It does not suit people who need to read the contract in English.
- How you buy
- Online or through an AXA broker
- Online price calculator
- Yes, price in 5 minutes, subscribe online
- Product pages in English
- No (axa.be/en returns 404)
- Low-mileage pricing
- not published
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- not published
What works
- Online subscription
- Broker available
Watch out
- No English pages
- No published prices
How this 4.3/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 5/10 | No premium published; page lists Pick-up & Delivery replacement vehicle service, nothing price-comparable. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 0/10 | English URL returns 404; FR/NL only. |
| Service (20%) | 6/10 | Broker support for claims and questions plus MyAXA online claim tracking, per product page. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 7/10 | Page says you can get a price in 5 minutes, subscribe online and receive the contract by email; documents required not stated. |
| Digital (5%) | 7/10 | Online subscription and online claim filing/tracking stated. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0404.483.367 (checked 2026-11-02).
6. P&V 4.2/10
Ranked 6 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: People who prefer a personal adviser and an appointment.
P&V is a Belgian insurer that works through its own network. How you buy: P&V adviser in one of 160 agencies (office, video, phone, at home). There is no online price: No calculator seen; 'contact an adviser' / book appointment. You book an appointment, get your offer from an adviser, then sign electronically and pay online.
For a newcomer this personal route has real value. An adviser can look at your foreign documents, explain the cover and answer the questions the websites leave open. P&V also lists a round-the-clock assistance line. Its legal protection in car insurance has two ceilings depending on the type of dispute, and it advertises discounts depending on fuel type and other factors, without publishing the base premium.
The weak points: you cannot see a price before talking to someone, and the website is in French and Dutch only (No (pv.be/en returns 404)). Whether the adviser can work in English depends on the agency. Low mileage: not published. Foreign history: not published.
P&V suits people who prefer to sit with an adviser, in person or by video, and want help with their file. It does not suit those who want to compare prices online first.
- Online price calculator
- No calculator seen; 'contact an adviser' / book appointment
- Product pages in English
- No (pv.be/en returns 404)
- Low-mileage pricing
- not published
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- not published
What works
- Dense agency network
- Video or home appointments
Watch out
- No online price
- No English pages
How this 4.2/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 5/10 | Discounts up to 40% advertised depending on fuel type and other factors; no premium published; legal-protection ceiling 25,000 or 125,000 € depending on dispute. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 0/10 | English URL returns 404. |
| Service (20%) | 7/10 | 160 agencies, appointment in agency, by video, phone or at home; 24/7 assistance line 02/229.00.10. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 5/10 | Needs an adviser, then e-signature and online payment possible. |
| Digital (5%) | 5/10 | Electronic signature and online payment stated; no online quote. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0402.236.531 (checked 2026-11-02).
7. Baloise 4.0/10
Ranked 7 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Experienced drivers with a clean record who work with a broker.
Baloise Belgium, part of the Helvetia Baloise group, sells car insurance only through independent brokers. How you buy: Through an independent broker. A calculator gives an indicative premium (Yes (prime calculator)), but the contract goes through the broker.
Baloise publishes the most detailed product rules of the companies in this guide. Once you reach its best bonus-malus level you keep it, unless you have repeated at-fault claims. An optional cover keeps your level after a claim. The omnium deductible depends on the insured value. And there is a published low-mileage reduction: Licence 5+ years, max 1 at-fault claim in 5 years: -20% (≤5,000 km), -10% (5,001-10,000), -5% (10,001-15,000). If you drive more than declared, an extra deductible applies to liability and omnium claims.
The problem for many newcomers is the condition attached to that discount: it requires a licence held for several years and a clean record, and Baloise does not say whether foreign licence years count. Foreign history: not published.
The site is in French and Dutch: No (baloise.be/en redirects to a 404 page). Your experience will depend largely on the broker you choose, so ask for one who speaks English if you need it.
Baloise suits experienced drivers with a clean record who work with a broker. A new arrival with a recent licence, or no Belgian broker yet, will find it harder to use.
- How you buy
- Through an independent broker
- Online price calculator
- Yes (prime calculator)
- Product pages in English
- No (baloise.be/en redirects to a 404 page)
- Low-mileage pricing
- Licence 5+ years, max 1 at-fault claim in 5 years: -20% (≤5,000 km), -10% (5,001-10,000), -5% (10,001-15,000)
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- not published
What works
- Lifetime BM -2 protection
- Low-mileage discount
Watch out
- Broker only
- No English pages
How this 4.0/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 6/10 | Bonus-malus -2 kept for life once reached; optional BM Safe keeps bonus-malus after a claim; omnium deductible choice 250/500 € by insured value. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 0/10 | No English pages. |
| Service (20%) | 5/10 | Broker-only distribution with online broker search; 24/7 assistance mentioned with BM Safe. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 4/10 | Online calculator, but contract goes through a broker. |
| Digital (5%) | 4/10 | Calculator online; no direct online subscription stated. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0400.048.883 (checked 2026-11-02).
8. AG Insurance 3.8/10
Ranked 8 of 8 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Newcomers who want a broker or their BNP Paribas Fortis branch to arrange cover in French or Dutch.
AG Insurance sells through two channels: Independent broker or BNP Paribas Fortis branch. It has an online car simulator (Yes (simulation)), but to get an actual offer AG sends you to a broker or a BNP Paribas Fortis branch.
The product page lists assistance in Belgium and abroad, but no premium and nothing on mileage pricing (not published) or foreign history (not published). The English site does not exist: No (FR/NL only).
For a newcomer the strength is the network. If you already bank with BNP Paribas Fortis, a branch adviser can arrange car insurance at the same time as your account, and brokers selling AG are everywhere in Belgium. The weakness is that everything else depends on that intermediary: language, speed and how your foreign history is presented.
AG suits newcomers who already have a broker or a BNP Paribas Fortis branch they like, and who are happy to deal in French or Dutch. It is not the choice for someone who wants to compare online and sign alone.
- Online price calculator
- Yes (simulation)
- Product pages in English
- No (FR/NL only)
- Low-mileage pricing
- not published
- Foreign licence / claims history (as stated)
- not published
What works
- Large broker and bank-branch network for advice
Watch out
- No English pages
- No online direct subscription; offer via intermediary
How this 3.8/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 5/10 | No car premium published; product page lists assistance in Belgium and abroad but nothing to compare on price. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 0/10 | No English version found; the /en URL lands on a FR/NL chooser. |
| Service (20%) | 6/10 | Sold through independent brokers and BNP Paribas Fortis branches, so face-to-face advice is available; no published opening hours checked. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 4/10 | Online simulation exists, but AG says to contact a broker or BNP Paribas Fortis to get an offer. |
| Digital (5%) | 4/10 | Online simulator; subscription itself goes through an intermediary. |
Regulator: FSMA, 0404.494.849 (checked 2026-11-02).
If you are importing a car or bringing one from abroad
If you move to Belgium with a car registered in another country, you will eventually have to register it in Belgium, and Belgian registration needs a Belgian insurance contract. Belfius Direct’s FAQ describes the steps for a used car bought abroad: present it to customs for the E705 form, then register it with the foreign registration certificate and the purchase invoice. The official rules on when a resident must register a foreign car are set by the Federal Public Service Mobility; check them on the FPS Mobility site before you plan the move.
Ask the insurer early. You will need the chassis number and the car’s details for the quote, and the insurer usually takes care of the registration request once the contract is in place.
If you drive very little
City dwellers in Brussels, Antwerp or Ghent often use the car only at weekends. Three insurers in this guide publish a mileage-based approach: Belfius Direct prices per kilometre, Yuzzu and Baloise give a reduction under a declared distance, and Ethias says its tariff takes mileage into account. Ask each one how the distance is checked and what happens if you exceed it. A mileage discount with an extra deductible for overruns can cost more than a standard policy if your plans change.
If you need everything in English
Only KBC Brussels publishes its car insurance page in English. Everywhere else, the realistic way to work in English is through a person: a broker or agency adviser who speaks it. When you contact a broker, say at the start that you need explanations in English, and ask for a written summary of the cover and exclusions. The contract that binds you will usually still be in French or Dutch.
Step by step: insuring a car in Belgium
- Collect your history. Ask every insurer you had abroad for a claims statement covering recent years, in English if possible. If you had a Belgian contract before, request your claims certificate.
- Have the car details ready. Chassis number, make, model, power, first registration date, and the address where the car is kept.
- Request at least three quotes, mixing an online insurer, a bank or agency, and a broker. Use the same cover, deductible and declared mileage in each.
- Ask in writing how your foreign history and licence years are counted, and whether any guarantee depends on them.
- Choose the cover. Liability is compulsory; add legal assistance, and mini or full omnium if the car’s value justifies it.
- Sign and check the start date. If you switch, make sure the old contract ends the day the new one starts. Some insurers send the cancellation for you.
- Register the car if it is new to Belgium; the insurer usually files the registration request.
- Keep the insurance certificate in the car and the contract documents somewhere you can find them after an accident.
Our verdict
For most English-speaking newcomers, KBC Brussels is the first quote to get: it is the only insurer here with English car insurance pages, you can apply online, and agents and branches back it up. If you drive little and are comfortable in French or Dutch, Belfius Direct and Yuzzu are the strongest online alternatives, with mileage-based pricing; Yuzzu also gives the clearest guidance to people arriving with a history abroad. Ethias and AXA are solid direct or online options for French and Dutch speakers. If you want a person to build the file with you, P&V’s agencies or a broker selling Baloise or AG are the route, at the cost of slower, offline quotes. Whatever you choose, compare real quotes with your own details and get the insurer’s answer on your foreign record in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is car insurance compulsory in Belgium?
Yes. The owner of every vehicle must have motor third-party liability (RC Auto) insurance. Driving without it is punishable by a fine, prison and seizure of the vehicle. Source.
Will my no-claims bonus from abroad count?
No insurer in this guide publishes a rule on foreign bonus-malus. Belfius Direct asks for claims certificates from every insurer of the last 5 years, and Yuzzu tells people who lived abroad to request claims-history documents from their former foreign insurers. Ask for a written answer before signing. Source.
Is there one bonus-malus scale for all insurers?
No. Since the uniform system ended, each insurer applies its own bonus-malus or rating grid, sometimes with Jokers. Source.
What if nobody will insure me?
After three refusals or excessive quotes, contact the Bureau de Tarification; it sets a premium and appoints an insurer. Source.
Can I get car insurance in English?
Of the insurers checked, only KBC Brussels has its car-insurance product page in English. The others checked publish in French and Dutch only. Source.
Where do I complain about my insurer?
First to the insurer's complaints service, then to the Insurance Ombudsman (Square de Meeûs 35, 1000 Brussels, +32 2 547 58 71). Source.
Official sources
- Wikifin (FSMA): who must have motor liability insurance, checked 2 November 2026
- Wikifin (FSMA): bonus-malus, checked 2 November 2026
- Wikifin (FSMA): Bureau de tarification, checked 2 November 2026
- FSMA Check your provider, checked 2 November 2026
- Insurance Ombudsman annual report 2025, checked 2 November 2026
- www.wikifin.be: Every vehicle owner must by law hold motor third-party liability (RC Auto) insurance; driving uninsured is a criminal… (checked 2 November 2026)
- www.wikifin.be: There is no longer a uniform bonus-malus system in Belgium; each insurer chooses its own system, some with 'Jokers'. (checked 2 November 2026)
- www.wikifin.be: If at least three insurers refuse you RC Auto or quote an excessive premium, you can apply to the Bureau de Tarificat… (checked 2 November 2026)
- www.ombudsman-insurance-annualreport.be: The Insurance Ombudsman received 1,697 car-insurance requests in 2025 (+15%); 59% of analysed cases ended with a posi… (checked 2 November 2026)
- www.fsma.be: Touring Assurances was renamed Yuzzu on 02/09/2019; Touring itself is now registered only as a non-life insurance agent. (checked 2 November 2026)