2027 Car Vignette: How Much Could Your Vehicle Cost?

As of now, the 2027 car vignette is not an enacted French tax. An annual charge proposed by the Institute for Mobility and Transitions (IMT) could range from around €30 to €910 depending on the vehicle and household. Separately, Belgium is preparing a digital road vignette for May 2027, with a proposed annual price of €90 to €125.

To understand how a 2027 car vignette might affect your budget, first identify which scheme is being discussed. The following scenarios use only figures that have actually been mentioned: there is no official rate schedule from which to calculate a reliable individual bill.

How much might you pay for your car?

The IMT proposal would consider much more than fuel type: powertrain, weight, emissions and age, as well as the owner's income and place of residence. For electric cars, the environmental score, battery manufacturing origin and energy efficiency would also matter. These factors mean the registration certificate alone cannot determine the amount.

Scenarios by driver profile: what can actually be estimated

Small electric car, low-income household: around €30 a year in the minimum-charge example presented for the IMT proposal. This is not a guaranteed rate for every electric car.
180-horsepower combustion-engine SUV made outside Europe, affluent household: up to €910 a year in the maximum-charge example. Horsepower alone does not explain this amount.
Recent petrol city car: potentially affected, but the charge cannot be calculated without a detailed rate schedule and household information.
Older diesel: also potentially affected; age and emissions would be factors, but no specific surcharge can be stated.
Family hybrid: no specific hybrid rate has been established; weight, emissions and household circumstances would factor into the proposed calculation.
Heavier electric car or wealthier household: do not automatically assume the €30 minimum, since other factors would be considered.

These cases mainly illustrate the difference between a documented example and an invented quote. Assigning €200 to a ten-year-old diesel or €75 to a hybrid might look helpful, but it would mean inventing a rate schedule. A credible calculator must also be able to say “amount undetermined.”

How should you use these figures for budgeting?

Keep three reference points in mind: around €30 for the example of an electric car owned by a low-income household, up to €910 for the very specific combustion-engine SUV described above, and approximately €140 in 2030 as the IMT's estimated average for a combustion-engine vehicle. That average is not a 2027 rate.

The IMT also cites an average of around €260 in 2035 for a combustion-engine vehicle. These averages are not individual charges.

Why is this French charge being proposed?

The IMT published its proposal on 29 September 2026 to explore how to fund roads as electrification reduces some fuel-related tax revenue. According to figures reported from its research, road-related taxation generated €67.5 billion in 2025, including €27.7 billion from excise duty on petroleum products.

According to the IMT, the revenue shortfall could reach €8 billion in 2030 and €22 billion in 2035. The institute estimates that a new charge would need to raise €9 billion. It proposes replacing certain existing business taxes, notably those on company vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.

The proposal would also cover vans, trucks, buses and two-wheelers. It is not a requirement currently in force. Another figure of €125 is circulating for a separate French proposal, but without a sufficiently clear institutional basis.

Belgian vignette, Crit'Air and Germany: how do costs differ?

Confusion arises because “vignette” describes very different schemes. Some grant access to urban zones; others would charge for road-network use or vehicle ownership. Here is a practical comparison for French motorists.

France, Crit'Air: €3.85 for the official certificate, according to the government issuing service. It identifies the vehicle's environmental category, particularly for local driving restrictions; it is not the IMT's proposed annual charge.
France, IMT proposal: around €30 to €910 per year in the published profile examples. No adopted rate schedule currently establishes what you would pay.
Belgium, proposed road vignette: €90 to €125 for an annual option, depending on vehicle category, from 1 May 2027 if the scheme is finalized. It would apply to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, including those registered in France.
Germany, Umweltplakette: generally €10 to €20 for an environmental sticker valid in the relevant German zones, according to Roole.
Belgium, low-emission zones: Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent already apply local rules requiring free registration of foreign number plates, separate from the planned road charge.
Barcelona: Roole reports a €7 fee for a number-plate registration procedure; do not treat the French vignette as a Europe-wide pass.

For travelers, the distinction matters: having Crit'Air in France does not remove the need to check rules abroad. Germany has Umweltzonen, Italy has limited-traffic zones (ZTL), and Belgium has LEZs. The French Crit'Air sticker is not automatically recognized under these systems.

A practical example: driving to Belgium

Imagine a French-registered car traveling through Belgium in 2027. Its owner might need to distinguish two procedures: the possible national road vignette and the registration required to enter certain urban zones. The €90–€125 figure relates to the proposed annual road vignette, not free registration of foreign number plates in LEZs.

Belgium's arrangements have not been finalized. Published reports mention automated number-plate checks and an administrative penalty of around €70 for nonpayment. This figure should be treated as provisional, not as a fine already in force.

What should you check before 2027?

The best preparation is not to buy a new vignette today. Instead, distinguish existing requirements from hypothetical plans, then gather the information needed to make a considered decision.

Identify your vehicle: note its powertrain, year, horsepower and weight; these details would matter if the IMT proposal were incorporated into legislation.
Check your regular journeys: distinguish local Crit'Air restrictions from proposals for annual taxation, especially if you travel through several urban areas.
Plan European trips: consult the rules for each country and city on your route rather than assuming a French sticker is enough.
Watch for official announcements: wait for legal details, any exemptions and an identified payment portal before providing personal or banking information.
Avoid buying in advance: French motorists are not currently required to take any steps for Belgium's future vignette; beware of unofficial websites.

If a French charge based on the IMT concept were eventually adopted, it would be digital and linked to the vehicle registration: nothing would need to be stuck on the windscreen. Beware of sellers offering “2027 vignette” stickers.

My budgeting advice is simple: do not turn extreme examples into certain bills. For now, write “cost unknown, proposal not adopted” beside your vehicle. If you plan to drive in Belgium, however, keep the proposed road charge on your pre-departure checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027 car vignette mandatory in France?

No. No final adoption of a new French annual vehicle charge for 2027 has been established. The €30–€910 range comes from a proposal by the Institute for Mobility and Transitions, not a tax currently payable.

Will an older diesel or a hybrid cost more?

The French proposal would take age, emissions, weight and powertrain into account. But no detailed schedule allows a reliable comparison between an older diesel and a hybrid; any precise amount would be speculative.

Do you need to buy a Belgian vignette for May 2027?

Not yet. Belgium is considering a digital road vignette from 1 May 2027, with a proposed annual price of €90 to €125, but the details still need to be finalized and French drivers are not being asked to register or pay in advance.

Does the French Crit'Air sticker work elsewhere in Europe?

No. It does not replace foreign national or local schemes. Before traveling, check the rules for German environmental zones, Belgian LEZs and Italian limited-traffic zones in particular.