Buy or lease a car in Belgium 2026
Compare the total cost over time between buying your car (cash or credit) and leasing/renting it. Free, transparent calculation.
Comparison period
≈ 4 years
This is not the engine’s actual horsepower, fiscal horsepower is a much smaller number (usually between 4 and 15), shown in box P.6 of your vehicle registration certificate.
Buying
Your own estimate, we never guess a market value.
Leave at 0 if you are buying with cash.
Leasing / renting
Enter the purchase price and the lease payment to compare both options.
Buying or renting: a real total-cost question
The displayed purchase price and the lease payment aren't directly comparable, both options need to be brought back to a total cost over the same period. On the buying side: the price paid minus what the vehicle will still be worth at resale, plus any car loan, plus the annual circulation tax. On the leasing side: the sum of the monthly payments, plus the circulation tax if it isn't already included in the plan.
What this comparator does not do
It does not calculate maintenance, insurance, or fuel, costs that depend too much on your profile for a single scale, and are broadly comparable between both options. It also does not guess a resale value: you estimate it yourself, using your own benchmarks (Argus rating, comparable listings at the chosen horizon).
What about a company car?
This comparator is meant for a personal purchase or lease. For a vehicle provided by an employer with private use, it is the benefit in kind (BIK) that determines the taxation, independent of the financing method chosen by the company.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tool calculate an exact resale value?
No. The resale value is always your own estimate, there is no official depreciation scale for vehicles, and we never guess a market price. Use a conservative estimate (Argus rating, comparable listings) for a realistic result.
Why does the benefit in kind (BIK) not appear in the comparison?
The benefit in kind (BIK) is a tax that only applies to a vehicle provided by an employer with private use, not to a personal purchase or lease. If you are comparing a company car, see our separate BIK calculator.
Are maintenance and insurance included?
No, deliberately not. These costs depend too much on your profile (age, no-claims bonus, chosen garage) for a single rate, and are broadly comparable between an equivalent purchase and lease, including them approximately would distort the comparison more than clarify it.
Is the circulation tax always added?
By default, yes, on both sides (it applies to any registered vehicle, bought or leased). If your lease offer is a "full service" plan that already includes this tax, tick the provided box to avoid counting it twice.
Is the calculation valid in Flanders?
The circulation tax part follows the same scope as our dedicated calculator: Wallonia and Brussels only. Flanders applies a separate scheme (CO2-based tax) not covered here.
Related tools
