Bicycle financing at 0% APR

The electric bicycle market

Are you thinking about buying an electric bicycle? You are not alone. In 2023, for the first time, sales of electric bicycles surpassed those of traditional bicycles in our country. Furthermore, nearly half of Belgians report intending to buy an electric bicycle in the near future. This is revealed by a market study conducted by TRAXIO, the mobility federation.

Tips for buying an electric bike

You can find a multitude of electric bikes, with various options in terms of style, riding, range, ...

The main elements to consider are: the location of the motor, the battery capacity, the type of braking, comfort and, of course, the price.

Advantages of the electric bike for commuting.

The many advantages of electric bikes, speed pedelecs, and sporty electric bikes encourage consumers to consider these less polluting alternatives to the car.

Regarding commuting, here are the main advantages of the electric bike or electric scooter or e-step:

• Some places are more accessible by bike, especially when there is no public transport.
• In traffic jams, electric bikes prove to be faster than the car.
• The electric bike  easily combines with other means of transport such as the train or bus. comme le train ou le bus.
• No more parking problems in the city: you can take your bike to the office and leave your electric bike – with a good lock – in a bike rack. Electric charging systems are also often available to employees.
• These two-wheelers require less effort than traditional bikes. Thanks to their electric motor, you won't arrive at the office in a sweat.

Bike allowance and mobility budget.

Travel between your home and workplace by bike, including electric models, benefits from a favourable tax regime.

To provide you with financial support, your employer can grant you a bike allowance. This allowance is not mandatory unless it is provided for by a collective agreement or in the company's regulations.

Additionally, your employer may choose to implement a mobility budget, allowing for the replacement of a company car with a more environmentally friendly alternative, such as an electric bike.

Incentives for the purchase of an electric bike.

Although you are not entitled to a tax advantage when purchasing an electric bike, you may receive a grant under certain conditions.

These are regional or local competencies aimed at promoting access to eco-mobility. To find out if you are eligible, visit the websites of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport and your municipality.

Benefit from a grant for the purchase of a bike in Brussels.

If you live in the Brussels-Capital Region, be aware that the Brussels government has planned a grant to encourage its residents to swap their car for more ecological. This ‘Brussel'Air’ grant is linked to household income and amounts to, depending on the case, €505, €705 or €1,010.

Benefit from a grant for the purchase of a bicycle in the Walloon Region.

In Wallonia too, the government supports residents who switch to cycling before 31 December 2024 with the regional grant for the purchase of a bicycle.

This grant applies to almost all types of bicycles: classic or electric, new or second-hand. Depending on the type of bicycle and your situation, the amount is 20%, 30% or 40% of the purchase price, with ceilings ranging from €50 to €1,250.

The bicycle in question must be used for at least 40% of the commuting trips or trips intended for job searching. An exception: cargo bikes must be used daily (taking children to school, doing shopping, …).

Benefit from a grant for the purchase of a bicycle in Flanders

In Flanders, the grants for the purchase of a bicycle are a municipal competence. Thus, in Ghent, you can apply for a grant of up to €500 if you cancel your registration plate before 31 October 2025 and exchange your car for a new electric bicycle, a speed pedelec or an electric scooter.

Les financements pour l’achat de votre vélo électrique.

Vous songez à acheter un vélo électrique, ou un vélo électrique sportif, mais préféreriez ne pas trop toucher à vos économies ?

Sachez que certains organismes de crédit proposent un financement vélo à taux avantageux. Un prêt vélo est un prêt à tempérament, à taux d'intérêt fixe et durée déterminée. Un montant fixe est prélevé sur votre compte chaque mois, pendant toute la durée du crédit. Il existe également d’autres types de prêts qui vous permettront l’achat de votre vélo électrique.

Que vous envisagiez un vélo électrique ou un vélo électrique sportif, faites d'abord une simulation. Il est important de comparer les conditions appliquées par les divers organismes qui proposent des financements pour votre vélo. Attention, les taux d'intérêt ne sont pas les seuls éléments à prendre en compte. Voici quelques questions à vous poser si vous souhaitez contracter un financement vélo :

• Le prêt vélo est-il assorti de conditions relatives au montant minimum que vous devez emprunter et au montant maximum que vous pouvez emprunter ?
• Dans quel délai is the loan available after your application? And what is the repayment period?
• Do you need to provide some documents as proof  beforehand?
• What is the interest rate for the bike loan? What is the annual percentage rate  or  APR  (an annual percentage of the total loan amount)?
• Does the interest rate vary depending on the type of bike you wish to purchase?
• What is the percentage of the purchase price? Can you borrow more than the cost of the bike, for example to pay for its insurance?