Consumer returns and warranty in Belgium (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In Belgium consumers have 14 calendar days to cancel a distance purchase (Book VI WER). There is no legal right to return a shop purchase. The legal guarantee runs for 2 years, and the seller must prove for the whole period that a defect was not there at delivery.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Right to cancel online purchasesReturning a purchase | Consumers have 14 calendar days to cancel a distance contract, without giving a reason and without costs other than those the Code provides. For goods the period starts the day after the consumer or a person named by the consumer physically takes possession of them. If the trader did not give the information on the right, the period ends 12 months after the original period. [1] |
| Returns from shopsReturning a purchase | When you buy in a shop the purchase is final. A shop may agree to an exchange or refund only if the seller chooses to, and then sets the conditions. [2] |
| Legal guarantee for defectsReturning a purchase | The seller is liable for any lack of conformity that appears within 2 years of delivery. New goods always have 2 years. For second-hand goods the term can be shortened by contract, but never below 1 year, and the seller must say so clearly. The buyer must report the defect as soon as possible and in any case within 2 months of finding it. [3] |
| Burden of proofReturning a purchase | If goods fail within the 2-year guarantee period, the defect is presumed to have existed at delivery. The seller must prove otherwise, for the whole 2 years. The buyer does not have to prove anything. [3] |
| Goods excluded from cancellingReturning a purchase | No right to cancel for: services fully performed after the consumer's express prior consent; financial-market-priced goods or services; goods made to the consumer's specification or clearly personalised; goods liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly; sealed goods unsuitable for return for health or hygiene reasons once unsealed; goods inseparably mixed with other items; alcohol priced now but delivered after 30 days with a market-dependent value; urgent repair visits requested by the consumer; sealed audio, video or software once unsealed; newspapers and magazines (not subscriptions); public auctions; and accommodation, transport, car rental, catering or leisure services for a fixed date. Downloaded digital content is excluded once supply began with the consumer's express consent. [1] |
Notes
- For online interfaces (website, app) the trader must also offer a withdrawal function that makes cancelling easy, according to FPS Economy.
Sources
- FOD Economie / SPF Economie: Het herroepingsrecht voor overeenkomsten op afstand (Boek VI WER) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- FOD Economie / SPF Economie: Herroepingstermijnen | FOD Economie (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- FOD Economie / SPF Economie: Garantie: uw rechten als consument | FOD Economie (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.