What are the advantages of leasing an electric car in Belgium?

My brother-in-law called me in January to ask whether he should sign his EV lease before year-end. He ran an SME with 12 employees, had three company cars expiring, and his accountant had vaguely told him "the rules were about to change." I spent an hour explaining why waiting until January 2027 would cost him several thousand euros.

In 2026, leasing an EV in Belgium isn't a lifestyle choice — it's a rational financial decision. Here's why, with the numbers to back it up.

Advantage 1 — 100% deductibility, a window that's closing

Since 1 January 2026, a simple rule applies to Belgian companies: only 100% electric vehicles are tax-deductible. ICE cars, PHEVs, and mild hybrids: 0% deductibility for any new lease or purchase.

For an EV, deductibility remains at 100% in 2026, then gradually decreases:

Source: SPF Finances Belgium, 2026 vehicle tax reform

On a Škoda Enyaq iV 80 at €43,990, a lease signed in 2026 represents €10,998 in tax savings at a 25% corporate tax rate. In 2027, that drops to €10,448. In 2028: €9,878. Every year you wait costs you.

Advantage 2 — Benefit-in-kind: the argument employees love

The benefit-in-kind (ATN) is the taxable value an employee declares for private use of their company car. For an EV, the calculation uses the minimum CO2 coefficient of 0.82 — the lowest provided by Belgian regulations.

Concrete comparison for a vehicle with a €45,000 catalogue value:

An employee using an EV pays €683 to €831 less in tax per year on their benefit-in-kind, compared to a diesel of the same value. Over 4 years, that's €2,700 to €3,300 in personal tax savings avoided — a net benefit the employee feels directly on their payslip.

Advantage 3 — Zero depreciation risk, zero resale hassle

With an operating lease (LLD), you return the car at the end of the contract. The resale value is not your problem — the leasing company handles it. In a fast-moving EV market, this advantage is tangible.

Electric technology evolves fast. A 400 km real-world range was considered average in 2022. By 2026, it's the baseline. By 2028, standards will have shifted again. With a 3–4 year lease, you exit before your model becomes technologically outdated.

Depreciation on entry-level EVs can be steep. A 2019 Renault ZOE was worth €22,000 new. By 2023, the same cars were selling for €8,000–10,000 used — a depreciation of over 55% in 4 years. With an operating lease, that risk is entirely borne by the leasing company.

EV leasing is also buying the option to switch in 3 years to the next version. With electric tech evolving this fast, that option is worth a lot. When you buy, you carry the depreciation risk. With an operating lease, the leasing company does.

Advantage 4 — Registration tax and road tax: the forgotten savings

In Belgium, 100% electric vehicles benefit from regional exemptions that add up:

Registration tax (TMC): €0 in Flanders (BIV exempted for zero-emission vehicles) and €0 in Brussels-Capital for EVs. In Wallonia, the registration tax is not zero for electric cars: it's calculated on the vehicle's fiscal horsepower, with amounts significantly lower than for ICE cars, but not zero. An equivalent ICE SUV pays between €1,100 and €2,500 at registration depending on the region and emissions.

Annual road tax: greatly reduced for EVs. In Flanders, an EV's road tax is around €40–80/year. For a diesel SUV of the same size: €800–1,200/year. Over 4 years of leasing: savings of €3,000–4,500.

CO2 solidarity contribution (monthly employer charge): for an EV, only the minimum contribution applies (~€28–35/month). For an ICE car at 140 g CO2: between €120 and €180/month. Over 48 months of leasing: savings of €3,600–6,960 for the employer.

Advantage 5 — Social leasing: electric mobility from €40/month

For low- to middle-income households, Belgian social leasing is a unique opportunity. Launched by the federal government, it offers 33 new EV models with maintenance and insurance included, from €40/month (Renault Twingo E-Tech) to €200/month (Tesla Model Y).

This programme transforms an impossible purchase (a Tesla Model Y at €48,000) into a commitment of a few dozen euros per month — subject to income conditions. It's structurally different from standard leasing: the state covers part of the cost to accelerate the electric transition.

What EV leasing doesn't solve

Leasing doesn't eliminate every obstacle. Two points to watch:

Home charging remains a prerequisite. Without a charger at home or at the office, public charging costs can cancel out fuel savings. EV lease calculations typically assume 70–80% of charging happens at home.

End-of-lease return fees can surprise you. Scratches, tyre wear beyond normal, interior damage — leasing companies charge at return. Prepare from day one: protect the loading sill, keep tyres in good condition, keep maintenance records.