Reading monthly registration statistics always calls for a bit of perspective. A raw figure without context can wrongly alarm or reassure. May 2026 is a good example: at first glance, a 2.1% drop in new car registrations compared with May 2025. But as FEBIAC itself points out, May 2026 had two fewer working days than May 2025. Adjusted for this calendar effect, the market would be roughly flat. That is not brilliant, but it is very different from a real decline.
The real story of this May lies elsewhere. It lies in the rise of business fleets, in a quiet reshuffle of powertrains, and in a few signals on the used side that are worth pausing on.
The figures for May 2026
33,625 = new cars registered in May 2026, i.e. -2.1% vs May 2025
185,232 = cumulative registrations over the first 5 months of 2026, i.e. -4.1% vs 2025
53% = share of business customers in May registrations, rising steadily
2,811 = two-wheelers registered in May 2026, +5.9% compared with May 2025
Over the first five months of the year, the market is at -4.1% compared with the same period in 2025. That is a real decline, but Traxio and FEBIAC put it into perspective: early 2025 had been inflated by a post-Motor Show catch-up effect, and the two missing working days in May mechanically weigh on the totals. The underlying trend, according to FEBIAC data, remains that of a market that is stabilising, far from the speculative surges of the start of the decade.
Business fleets are back in control
This may be the most structural signal of early 2026. In March, business customers accounted for 50% of new car registrations. In April, 51%. In May, 53%. This gradual return of fleets is no coincidence: it is largely the result of the Arizona tax reform, which has made combustion-engine company cars non-deductible since January 2026 and keeps 100% deductibility for EVs. Companies that had postponed their fleet renewal decision are starting to make up their minds before the maximum tax window starts to close in 2027.
For private buyers, the dynamic is different. After a very strong first quarter, when they accounted for 48.8% of registrations against 41.7% for 2025 as a whole, their share is easing in May as business buyers regain the upper hand. This is not private buyers pulling back, rather a rise in fleets that mechanically rebalances the proportions.
Powertrains: electric pauses, petrol regains ground
For several years, the electrification curve of Belgian registrations moved in only one direction. In 2026, that progress is pausing. EVs accounted for around 35% of cumulative registrations in the first quarter, a high figure but one that is growing more slowly than in 2024 and 2025. Petrol, meanwhile, is regaining share, particularly among private buyers, who remain more cautious about investing in a new electric car.
This stabilisation was expected. The first wave of electrification was largely driven by company fleets under the influence of taxation. Private buyers do not benefit from the same incentives and continue to weigh things up differently. According to Traxio’s Forecast 2026-2030 study, lasting coexistence between powertrains, petrol, hybrid and electric, looks set to become the reality of the Belgian market for the years ahead.
💡 The quiet shift among brands: the May data confirm what has been visible since the start of the year. Brands such as BMW, Skoda and Tesla are posting strong growth, while traditional European brands and the Japanese are under growing pressure from new entrants, notably Chinese ones. This rebalancing of market shares has direct implications for the resale values of the various brands in the medium term.
What the used car market is saying right now
This is where the reading becomes more interesting, and a little more complex. The Belgian used car market remains structurally solid. More than 620,000 used cars change hands every year in Belgium, roughly twice the volume of the new car market. That underlying fact has not changed.
But two signals deserve attention right now. The first is the pressure on used diesel prices, especially Euro 5. With the Brussels LEZ banning these vehicles since January 2026, sellers who delay putting their diesel on the market are seeing their room for manoeuvre shrink. A Euro 5 diesel sold today still finds buyers outside the LEZ zones, but its pool of potential customers shrinks every month. Waiting until autumn to sell your Euro 5 diesel in the hope of a better price risks being a poor strategy.
The second signal is the influx of first-generation EVs onto the used market. Lease fleets built up between 2019 and 2022 are reaching the end of their contracts in large numbers. Belgium’s used EV market, which was marginal just two years ago, is suddenly very well stocked. In the short term, this is putting pressure on the prices of these vehicles. For buyers, it is a real window of opportunity. For those reselling a used EV right now, the market is more competitive than expected.
⚠️ A word on used car prices in general: after a period of sharp increases in used car prices between 2021 and 2023, the market has gradually normalised. Sellers who set their prices based on the 2022 peak are struggling to find buyers. In 2026, a realistic used car price is one based on actual transactions over the last 6 to 12 months, not on the highs of three years ago.
What this means if you are selling your car this summer
The summer market is not the best for selling used cars. Buyers are less available, sales take longer, and some segments see liquidity drop during June, July and August. That is no reason to panic, but it is a factor to build into your sales plan.
For a Euro 5 or Euro 6 diesel, the window to sell at the best price is still open, but it is narrowing. The Brussels restrictions on Euro 5 have already weighed on prices, and uncertainty over the timetable for fines has not helped. Selling now rather than waiting for autumn is a decision many diesel owners are starting to make.
For a recent petrol car in good condition, the market is solid. Demand from private buyers who have not yet made the switch to electric remains strong in this segment, and prices are holding up well.
For a first-generation used EV, expect a more competitive market than last year. Supply has risen significantly, and buyers now have a choice. A battery diagnostic showing good condition and a full service history remain the best arguments to stand out.
“The used car market will play a key role in the transition. Petrol cars will remain an important part of the private car fleet until the end of the decade, particularly in the lower and mid-range segments.” Traxio, Forecast New Cars Registrations 2026-2030 study
What this means if you are buying a car this summer
For a buyer, the May-June 2026 context is fairly favourable. Used car prices have normalised after the post-Covid excesses. The supply of used EVs has grown. And diesel sellers under LEZ pressure are often more willing to negotiate than before.
The trap to avoid is buying a Euro 5 diesel at a knock-down price without working out the practical implications. If you regularly drive into Brussels, this vehicle will cause you problems in the short term, even if the fine has yet to arrive officially. And if you resell it in 2 or 3 years, you will in turn be the seller under pressure.
✅ The right opportunity right now: used EVs aged 3 to 5 years with a good service history and a favourable battery diagnostic. Prices have dropped 40 to 50% compared with new, supply is plentiful, and for a commuter from Walloon Brabant into Brussels, it is often the most attractive combination in terms of total cost and LEZ compatibility.
FAQ
The 2.1% drop in registrations in May 2026 is mainly a calendar effect: the month had two fewer working days than May 2025. Adjusted for this effect, the market would be almost stable. Over the first five months combined, the 4.1% decline is real, but it needs to be seen in the context of early 2025, which had benefited from a strong catch-up effect after the Motor Show.
It is the direct result of the Arizona reform. Since January 2026, combustion-engine company cars are no longer tax-deductible, which is pushing companies to speed up the switch of their fleets to electric while 100% deductibility is still in force. This window starts closing from 2027, which is creating a noticeable sense of urgency in business purchasing decisions in 2026.
Yes, better now than waiting. Euro 5 diesels have been officially banned from the Brussels LEZ since January 2026, which is gradually shrinking their pool of potential buyers. Summer is a quieter period for used car sales, and in autumn, other sellers in the same situation could come onto the market at the same time. Selling now at an adjusted price is generally better than waiting for a hypothetical stabilisation that is not on the cards.