CarPass in Belgium: everything you need to know in 5 minutes

If you're buying or selling a used car in Belgium, the CarPass is a document you need to know about. Mandatory since 2006, it is the main protection against odometer fraud.

What is the CarPass?

The CarPass is an official document issued by the Car-Pass non-profit organisation. It contains the history of a vehicle's mileage readings, recorded at each technical inspection, at an approved garage, or during a roadside assistance intervention.

Who must provide it?

Any professional selling a used vehicle in Belgium is legally obliged to provide a valid CarPass to the buyer. The document must be less than two months old at the time of sale. For private sales, the CarPass is not mandatory but strongly recommended.

How to read it?

The CarPass presents a chronological table of mileage readings. You can easily spot an anomaly: if the mileage decreases between two readings, it's a sign of odometer fraud. The document also indicates whether any alerts have been issued.

How much does a CarPass cost?

The price of a CarPass is approximately 6 euros. It's a negligible investment compared to the risk of buying a vehicle whose odometer has been tampered with. A vehicle showing 80,000 km when it has actually covered 180,000 will have significantly greater maintenance needs.

What to do if in doubt?

If the seller refuses to provide a CarPass or if the document shows inconsistencies, don't take the risk. An honest professional seller will have no problem providing this document. Its absence is a warning sign.