Belgium (BE)
Belgium is a small but densely populated federal kingdom at the crossroads of Western Europe, split across three linguistic regions — Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and bilingual Brussels — and famed for its medieval cities, world-class beer and chocolate, and its role as the de facto capital of the European Union.
Driving in Belgium
Licence exchange, road rules, fines, buying a car, and cycling.
Belgium drives on the right. The country has a high car ownership rate but also severe traffic congestion in Brussels and Antwerp. Belgium has the "priority-to-the-right" rule (priorité de droite / voorrang van rechts) at all unmarked intersections — unique in strictness and a major cause of accidents for foreign drivers. Since 2021, Brussels city centre has reduced speed limits to 30 km/h. Low Emission Zones (LEZ) operate in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, and other cities. Belgium's driving behaviour is notoriously unpredictable — always be vigilant.
Driving Licence Exchange
EU driving licences are fully valid in Belgium and do not need to be exchanged. Non-EU licences must be exchanged within 12 months of registering as a Belgian resident.
No exchange required. Your EU driving licence remains valid throughout your Belgian residence. When it expires, renew it at your commune (it will be renewed as a Belgian licence).
EU licences are fully recognised. However, if your licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (e.g., Greek), carry a certified translation.
UK, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand
Exchange required within 12 months of registering at the commune. Apply at your commune with: your foreign licence, a translation (if required), your Belgian eID, and payment. These countries have bilateral exchange agreements with Belgium.
Belgium has exchange agreements with the UK, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and many others. US licences can be exchanged in some regions. Check the full list at mobilit.belgium.be. If no agreement exists, you must pass the Belgian driving test.
If your country has no exchange agreement with Belgium, you must take the full Belgian theory test (written exam) and practical driving test. You may drive on your foreign licence + International Driving Permit for 12 months while preparing for the tests.
Theory test in Dutch, French, or German. Many driving schools offer lessons in other languages. Practical test at an approved examination centre.
Road Rules
30 km/h in residential zones (zones 30) and Brussels city centre; 50 km/h in built-up areas (unmarked); 70–90 km/h on regional roads; 120 km/h on motorways (autosnelweg / autoroute). On some Flemish regional roads, 90 km/h is the limit unless signed otherwise.
0.22 mg/L (breath) / 0.5 g/L (blood) standard limit. 0.1 g/L for new drivers with less than 2 years' experience (Probationary licence). Zero tolerance policy for professional drivers.
Strictly prohibited while driving without hands-free set. First offence: €174 fine. Holding a phone while driving: immediate fine, possible licence suspension. Belgium has expanded its mobile phone enforcement via police radar vehicles.
Mandatory for all occupants in all seats. Fine: €174. Children under 135cm must use an approved child restraint system regardless of age.
Children under 135cm or 36kg must use an appropriate child restraint. Rear-facing seats recommended for children under 15 months.
Brussels LEZ (since 2018): minimum Euro 5 petrol (2026); Euro 6 diesel required for new entrants; motorcycles: minimum Euro 3. Ghent LEZ: similar standards. Antwerp LEZ: active. Mechelen and Leuven expanding. Check your vehicle's admissibility at lez.brussels, lez.gent.be, or slimnaarantwerpen.be. Daily LEZ passes available for non-compliant vehicles (max 8/year). Fines for unauthorised entry: €350.
Traffic Fines (Bußgeldkatalog)
Belgium has a comprehensive traffic fine system. Fines are set at federal level and can be paid online. Repeated serious offences or accumulation of points (since 2018 points system) can result in licence suspension. Unpaid fines can result in vehicle impoundment.
| Offence | Fine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone use while driving | €174 | 2 points |
| Speeding 10–20 km/h over limit | €61–€206 | 2 points |
| Speeding 21–30 km/h over limit | €206–€528 | 4 points |
| Speeding 31–40 km/h over limit | €528+ | 6 points (possible suspension) |
| Drink driving (0.5–0.8 g/L) | €174–€1,600 | 6 points |
| Running a red light | €174+ | 4 points |
| Not giving priority to the right | €174 | 2 points |
| Not wearing seatbelt | €174 | 2 points |
| Parking in a disabled bay without badge | €300–€1,500 | — |
| Driving without insurance (BA) | €1,000–€4,000 + vehicle impoundment | — |
Buying a Car
Belgium has a well-developed second-hand car market. Most transactions are through dealerships (erkend autohandelaar) or private sale via AutoTrader, AutoScout24, or 2dehands.be. Belgian consumers are protected by the Sale of Goods Act for dealership purchases (2-year warranty on used cars). Private sales are "as-is."
- 1.Research vehicles at autoscout24.be, 2dehands.be, or Toyota/VW/BMW dealer networks
- 2.Arrange a pre-purchase inspection at an approved centre (e.g., Touring Autoinspectie)
- 3.Negotiate price — market pricing available on various valuation tools
- 4.Complete the vehicle transfer form (Document de cession / Overdrachtsformulier) available at DIV (Vehicle Registration Service)
- 5.Obtain Belgian car insurance (BA auto minimum) before driving the vehicle
- 6.Register the vehicle with the DIV (Vehicle Registration Service) via a registration plate centre
- 7.Pay the road tax (verkeersbelasting / taxe de mise en circulation) and annual road tax
- •Valid technical inspection certificate (keuring / contrôle technique) — required at point of sale
- •Confirm no outstanding finance or lien on the vehicle (via Carfax or DIV check)
- •Verify the chassis number (VIN) against the registration document
- •Check for accident history and service records
Registration tax (BIV/TMC): varies by CO2 emissions (€0–3,000+ in Brussels; different formulas in Flanders/Wallonia). Annual road tax: €100–600/year. Monthly insurance: €30–80/month (BA only). Technical inspection: €40–60 every 1–4 years depending on vehicle age.
Registration, Insurance & Tax
All vehicles used on Belgian roads must be registered with the DIV (Dienst Inschrijvingen Voertuigen / Service d'Immatriculation des Véhicules) via a licensed registration centre. New plates and registration documents are issued. Belgium requires a Belgian IBAN for vehicle registration (linked to your eID). Registration takes 1–5 working days.
Third-party motor liability insurance (BA auto / assurance responsabilité civile auto) is mandatory for any vehicle driven on Belgian roads. Minimum coverage: unlimited for bodily injury; €100 million for property damage. Driving without BA insurance: immediate fine and vehicle impoundment. Belgium uses the "bonus-malus" (no-claims discount) system — your premium reduces by one level each claim-free year (up to 22 levels).
Belgium levies a registration tax (BIV/TMC) at the time of first registration and an annual road tax (verkeersbelasting / taxe de circulation). Amounts vary significantly by region (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels each have different formulas) and are based on CO2 emissions, engine power, and vehicle age. Electric vehicles are exempt from BIV in Flanders and benefit from reduced road tax.
Mandatory technical inspection (autokeuringen / contrôle technique) required for all vehicles: first inspection after 4 years from registration; then every 2 years until age 5; annually from age 5. Cost: €40–65 per inspection. Approved centres throughout Belgium (GOCA, Car-Pass affiliated centres). Certificate must be current for vehicle sale and is checked during police controls.
Cycling
Belgium, particularly Flanders, has outstanding cycling infrastructure. Flemish cycling highways (fietssnelwegen) connect major cities. Brussels is improving but still lags. Belgium's cycling culture is strong — the country produces Tour de France and Classics champions. Cycling to work is tax-incentivised: a tax-free allowance of €0.35/km from employer is possible.
- •Cyclists must use designated cycle lanes where available
- •Helmet is not legally mandatory for adults (but recommended); mandatory for children under 12 in Flanders from 2026
- •Lights and reflectors are mandatory at night and in poor visibility
- •Cyclists have priority over cars on marked cycle paths
- •Traffic lights apply equally to cyclists unless a separate cyclist phase is indicated
- •Download the Fietsplanner app (VDAB cycling route planner) or use Google Maps cycling mode
- •Invest in a quality lock (two locks recommended in Brussels — theft rates are high)
- •Villo! (Brussels) and Blue-Bike (intermodal with NMBS) are good for exploring before buying
- •Cycling along canals and in forest parks (Forêt de Soignes / Zoniënwoud) is a popular weekend activity