At the beginning of September, Brussels residents witnessed a political backpedal. Euro 5 diesel vehicles will probably be able to drive in the capital until 2027, and not until 2025 as initially planned. Many had anticipated this change, but now regret it. “I sold my car urgently for next to nothing.”
600,000 is the number of vehicles that do not comply with the new rules of the new Brussels low-emission zone. 600,000 cars represent approximately 10% of the vehicle fleet in Belgium. Many people wanted to anticipate the ban on Euro 5 on the streets of the capital. A change, often rushed, which causes losses, but also regrets. Some of them testify.
“I went from a Jaguar to a Smart”
Marc is one of these unfortunate far-sighted people. This young 70-year-old retiree has always been a car lover. “I’ve always loved driving nice cars. I love comfortable cars, a bit of a show-off. Leisure cars.” For several years, he has been crisscrossing Brussels with his Jaguar. However, a year ago, he went to a second-hand dealership to part with it. “I loved it, but I thought it wouldn’t fit into Brussels anymore. It only had 100,000 kilometres. It was like new.” Marc reluctantly finds a buyer. His Euro 5 interests a Luxembourger. “I was able to negotiate, but not much. I let it go for €7,900, whereas when I bought it new I paid €60,000. I’m disgusted.” At the same time, the pensioner invests in a small Smart car costing €17,000. Day and night.Imagine going from a beautiful Jaguar to a small city car. The crazy thing is that my used Smart cost me twice as much as the resale price of my Jaguar.
Faced with the extension of Euro 5, regret, but also anger, invade Marc.How can you change your mind only four months before the deadline? Politicians don’t think about all those who anticipated. I am not in a worrying financial situation, but I am thinking about all those who invested or released a budget urgently.”
Now Marc will have to make do with his little city car. “I love it. It’s practical, but I can’t help but think about how cheap my old car was when I sold it. I’m sure with the two-year extension, I would have sold it for a lot more. I might have even kept it.”
“I sold my car for a song instead of having it repaired”
Mother of two children, Sarah is not from Brussels. Her family is based in Gembloux, in the province of Walloon Brabant. However, trips to the capital are daily. An authorized car is essential for her, whether it is to visit her parents or to go to work. “I had been driving a Citroën Picasso for ten years. This car was ideal for me. It was big enough to be a family car, but also small enough to park in the city.” However, in mid-April, the dashboard detected a problem. “I have to change the particle filter. It’s nothing serious.” As the introduction of the low emission zone approaches, his mechanic does not advise him to repair it.“He tells me to reinvest in a less polluting car. There is no point in spending money on a vehicle that will soon be replaced.”
The car’s recovery is derisory. “The garage took it back from me for €1,500. It’s not much, since it was supposed to be unroadworthy.” To replace it, Sarah reinvested in a new vehicle. “The full price is €22,000. In the end, I paid €18,000. Obviously, with two children, it’s an expense I would have preferred to avoid.” Since the extension of the low emission zone, Sarah regrets. “Of course I should have had my car repaired. No one could have predicted this political backpedaling.”
“I lost €20,000”
Independent for many years, the car is Luc’s work tool. As manager of a transport company, he therefore closely follows the introduction of low-emission zones. A year ago, he took the lead. He sold his Citroën Berlingo Euro 5 for a new Volkswagen Caddy. A change of vehicle that has a cost. “My Berlingo had only 63,000 kilometers and I only got €5,100 for it.” His new utility vehicle costs him almost six times as much. “€29,000 excluding VAT, that’s the price of the Caddy. I estimate I lost €20,000 in this change that was made too early.”
“Clearly, politicians do not realise the consequences of postponing the deadline for the low-emission zone. They certainly think that this will satisfy the people of Brussels, but not at all. Many of us have got ourselves into debt unnecessarily.”
Diesel abandoned
The testimonies of Luc, Sarah and Marc do not surprise Galleri Murat, a dealer in Zaventem. “It’s very sad for them. However, they are already lucky to be able to resell their cars. I have diesel vehicles on my lot, but it’s impossible to sell them. Nobody wants them.” The low sale price makes sense, despite the low mileage on the odometer. “Those who are doing good business at the moment are those who live outside the capital. They buy nice cars for next to nothing. In Brussels, almost no one has a Euro 5 anymore.”
For his part, the manager hopes that the postponement of the low emission zone will allow him to sell off his small stock. “I hope so, but I have no illusions. No one is going to buy me a car, even at a low price, to change it in two years.”
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