Buyers of used cars will be much better informed thanks to the new Car-Pass.
As from 1 March 2019, the buyer of a second-hand car will be able to see on the Car-Pass document which European emission standard the car complies with, how much CO2 it emits, whether the vehicle still has to undergo an inspection after an accident. The Car-Pass will give buyers a clear picture of the mileage history as well as information that could influence the decision whether or not to purchase the car. The buyer needs to be informed about the emission standard because it conditions the access to low emisision zones. The CO2 value is a base for taxation and an indicator for the fuel consumption.
The new law also aims to make it more difficult to commit fraud with imported vehicles. That is why the text also contains a provision obliging manufacturers and importers as from 1 January 2020 to inform Car-Pass of the odometer readings available to them when the vehicle is imported into Belgium. These can also be the odometer readings of so-called connected vehicles, which send their data directly to the manufacturer. As from this date the Car-Pass document will also mention if any recall actions still have to be carried out. They can have a decisive influence on road safety and environmental performances.
With this extra information the buyer will have a clearer picture of the used car "of his dreams" and will be better protected from any unpleasant surprises afterwards.
Recent news
Annual report 2018 - Number of imported pre owned cars increases, so does the risk for odometer fraud.
In 2018, 819,345 Car-Pass documents were issued, 1 out of 10 for imported vehicles. The number of Car-Passes issued for imported vehicles has increased by 50% over the past 3 years. To counter odometer fraud with those vehicles, as from 1 January 2020, the manufacturers and importers must share the odometer readings registered in their central database with Car-Pass when a pre-owned vehicle is imported into Belgium.
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Buyers of used cars will be much better informed thanks to the new Car-Pass.
The Belgian Parliament has approved a modification of “the Car-Pass law”. Extra information will be added on the Car-Pass, to better inform buyers of used cars.
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European Parliament calls Commission to tackle odometer manipulation
The European Parliament approved with a vast majority a set of recommendations to the European Commission to crack down on odometer tampering of used vehicles. It pleads for technical requirements for vehicles to prevent odometers from being easily manipulated, but it also emphasises that all Member States should have national mileage registers and engage in cross-border exchange of data from those registers.
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Car-Pass annual report 2017
The figures in the annual report 2017 prove the efficiency of the Car-Pass system.
When buying a Belgian used car, the probability that the odometer has been rolled back is less than one out of 500. Since Car-Pass and the Dutch RDW have been exchanging mileage information, the number of fraud cases with imported cars from Holland, dropped with 42%. According to the EP, the introduction of a Car-Pass system in all EU Member States is the most efficient solution to deal with odometer fraud and could save European consumers EUR 8,51 billion per year.
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