The idea is simple: a new electric car, a monthly rent from 100 euros, no deposit, subject to income conditions. That is the principle of social leasing, a scheme that has proved itself in France since 2024 and is starting to roll out in several European countries. In Belgium, people have been talking about it for months. But in practice, not much is happening.
Yet the pressure is building. Last week, Ecolo published a detailed proposal. The High Council of Finance delivered its opinion in December 2025. And the Arizona government itself has included the measure in its coalition agreement. So why is it not moving forward?
What it is, and why everyone is interested
Social leasing is long-term rental subsidised by the state, aimed at households that cannot afford a new electric vehicle. The monthly rent is around 100 to 200 euros depending on the model. No deposit. And at the end of the contract, if the driver wishes, they can buy the car at its residual value, between 5,000 and 8,000 euros depending on the model.
For Belgium, the interest is twofold. On the one hand, there is a real injustice to correct: electric cars make up only 6.44% of the Belgian car fleet, and 81.8% of that growth is driven by company cars. In other words, electric driving in Belgium is still mainly a perk for employees who have a company car and enjoy the favourable tax treatment that comes with it. The others, those who buy on their own budget, mostly stay with combustion-engine cars or ageing used cars.
On the other hand, there is the pressure of low emission zones. Social leasing would make it possible to target low-income households living in rural or peri-urban areas or near the LEZs, where public transport is inadequate and dependence on a private car is unavoidable. In other words, that is exactly the profile of some of the drivers in Walloon Brabant.
How it works out in France, the model everyone is watching
France launched its first social leasing scheme in January 2024. Within a few weeks, applications had overwhelmed the platforms. The pilot project covered 50,000 vehicles and was a clear success within a few months. Since then, two more editions have been launched. For June 2026, France plans to relaunch the scheme, doubling the number of vehicles on offer and widening the target group.
The typical beneficiary in France lives in a semi-rural area, drives 50 to 80 km a day to get to work, and for them a car is anything but optional. At the time, the scheme was reserved for people with a reference taxable income below 15,400 euros a year who drive more than 8,000 kilometres a year. A home carer who drives 60 km there and back every day to see her clients, and who was struggling with petrol costs, suddenly gets access to a new car for less than a tank of fuel a week. It is very concrete.
In Belgium, it is in the coalition agreement. But...
Social leasing is indeed in the federal coalition agreement 2025-2029. The government committed to “examine a support mechanism for social leasing of electric vehicles, targeting workers whose income is below a certain threshold”. In political language, “examine” is often the first word in a long list of postponements.
And indeed, in early 2026, the reality is less exciting. Bart De Wever warned from the outset that there would be “no measure” without identified funding, “no money” being the phrase used. The High Council of Finance, for its part, gave a rather unfavourable opinion on the scheme in December 2025, taking the view that income criteria are not necessarily the best indicators and that the budgetary cost needed tighter control.
That did not stop Ecolo from presenting a detailed proposal for a pilot project in April 2026. According to Gilles Vanden Burre, a pilot project would cost 70 million euros, with charging remaining at the beneficiaries’ expense. The opposition is “very angry and very worried” about what it sees as inaction, and points out that the European Commission has been recommending this type of measure since spring 2025.
“Things are starting to move… except in Belgium.” Gilles Vanden Burre, Ecolo, April 2026
What is actually holding it back
There are several obstacles, and not all of them are political. The first is indeed budgetary: social leasing at 100 euros a month for a car worth 25,000 implies a public subsidy of around 2,000 to 3,000 euros per vehicle per year. For a pilot project of 10,000 vehicles, that comes to between 20 and 30 million euros a year. There are funding options, however, notably through the European Social Climate Fund, which could cover a significant part of the budget.
The second obstacle is practical. For social leasing to work, there must be affordable electric vehicles to offer. In 2024, the choice was still limited. In 2026, that is changing: the Renault Twingo E-Tech, the Citroën ë-C3 and the Fiat Grande Panda are entering more accessible price ranges, around 20,000 to 23,000 euros. These small models built in Europe are exactly what a social leasing scheme needs to be economically viable.
The third obstacle is charging infrastructure. Offering an electric car to someone who lives in a house with no garage and no charging point in their street creates a new problem for them rather than solving one. Social leasing should therefore primarily target households that can charge at home or have reliable access to a charging point near where they live.
⚠️ What changes with the 2026 tax rules: while social leasing remains in limbo, another very real change affects professionals. Since 1 January 2026, combustion-engine company cars are no longer tax deductible. Electric company cars, however, remain 100% deductible this year. For a self-employed person or an SME in Walloon Brabant, 2026 is the last year to take advantage of this maximum tax window.
What it would change for private buyers in Belgium
If social leasing becomes a reality in Belgium, who would really benefit? Taking the French model as a guide, we can sketch the typical profile: a low-income worker, male or female, who depends on a car to get to work, lives outside the large urban areas served by public transport, and currently drives an ageing combustion-engine car whose maintenance and fuel costs weigh heavily on the budget.
| Parameter | Social leasing (if introduced in Belgium) |
|---|---|
| Monthly rent | €100 to €200 depending on the model |
| Deposit | None |
| Duration | 3 years (long-term rental) |
| Charging | Paid by the beneficiary |
| Buy-back possible at end of contract | Yes, residual value between €5,000 and €8,000 |
| Proposed eligibility criterion | Income below a threshold to be defined + regular use for work |
| Likely models | Renault Twingo E-Tech, Citroën ë-C3, Peugeot e-208, Fiat Grande Panda |
💡 Worth watching: the Arizona government has been examining the measure for several weeks in a working group. No decision was announced at the Council of Ministers on 17 April 2026. The measure is still “under review”. If it were to move forward, an announcement before summer 2026 would be needed for the first allocations to take place before the end of the year.
And if it does not happen for a long time, what do you do?
That is the practical question many Belgian drivers are asking, especially those affected by the Brussels LEZ or who simply want to cut their fuel bill. The reality is that Belgium has no social leasing today, and it will not be here tomorrow morning.
What does exist, however, is a used electric car market that is starting to take shape. The first electric vehicles from professional lease fleets are gradually reaching the second-hand market, often with full service histories and batteries still in very good condition. At prices approaching 15,000 to 20,000 euros for recent models. It is not 100 euros a month, but it is a concrete alternative that is accessible today, without waiting for an uncertain political decision.
FAQ
No, not yet. The measure is in the Arizona coalition agreement 2025-2029, but it is still “under review” at the office of Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke. No launch date has been announced. The High Council of Finance gave a cautious opinion on the scheme in December 2025, and Bart De Wever warned that there would be no measure without clearly identified funding.
In France, the scheme allows low-income households to rent a new electric vehicle for a reduced monthly rent, usually around 100 euros, with no deposit. The contract lasts three years. At the end, the beneficiary can buy the car at its residual value. Charging is at their own expense. The scheme started in January 2024, applications overwhelmed the platforms within a few weeks, and a third edition is planned for July 2026 in France.
According to the proposals in circulation, the scheme would target workers whose income is below a set threshold, who use their car to get to work and who do not yet have an electric vehicle. Some proposals also mention priority for people living in rural or peri-urban areas with no credible public transport alternative, which would directly concern some of the drivers in Walloon Brabant.
Yes. The used electric car market is starting to grow in Belgium, with vehicles from professional lease fleets at increasingly affordable prices. A battery health check before purchase makes this type of transaction safer. It is a concrete alternative today, without depending on a political decision that is still uncertain.