Driving in Belgium

Driving licence

Driving licences issued abroad can be used in Belgium only by visitors who have reached the minimum ages required for holders of Belgian licences for the same category of vehicle.

A foreign driving licence does not entitle the holder to drive a motor vehicle in Belgium until the age of 18yrs old.

Significant documents

Vehicles from the UK may be imported into Belgium for up to six months in any period of twelve months. When driving in Belgium the following documents should be carried:

Utter, valid driving licence*

• Proof of insurance (third party or above)
• Proof of ID (Passport)
• Proof of ownership (V5C Certificate)

Visitors driving in Belgium are required by law to carry the following items. Hefty on-the-spot fines can be issued for failing to carry specific items:

• Reflective jackets (must be worn if involved in a breakdown or an accident or alongside a road where stopping or parking is prohibited)
• Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with four wheels or more)
• Headlamp slat deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the plank by hand)
• Very first aid kit & fire extinguisher (vehicles registered in Belgium must carry both, but this is not compulsory for vehicles registered abroad)
• Motorcyclists: Motorcyclists railing in Belgium, including foreigners, must wear protective clothing, i.e.: gloves, jacket with long sleeves, pants with long gams or overall, and boots protecting the ankles.

Children under three are not permitted on motorcycles. Children inbetween three and eight may be carried as passengers in a special seat, only on motorcycles up to 125cc.

Rules of the road & regulations

Rules of the road

Overtaking & passing

When overtaking a cyclist or moped rider there should be a distance of least one metre inbetween them and the overtaking vehicle.

Among the cases where it is prohibited to overtake, the following require special mention:

• At level crossings displaying the St. Andrew’s cross sign, not tooled with gates or light signals
• At intersections where right arm priority is applicable, and at any other intersection for those drivers who must give right of way
• If the driver to be overtaken is himself overtaking a vehicle with more than two wheels, except when there are three lanes or more for traffic in the direction followed
• When the driver to be overtaken is approaching a pedestrian crossing (or stopping at a pedestrian crossing) or a crossing for cyclists and motorcyclists at places where traffic is not managed by a policeman or by traffic lights
• Overtaking is not permitted on traffic ramps.
• In case of rain, snowfall or other adverse weather conditions, mighty goods vehicles (7.Five t and over) may not overtake on motorways or dual carriageways. However, they may overtake an agricultural vehicle (tractor) or any vehicle using a special lane for slow moving vehicles.
• Outside built-up areas, goods vehicles over Three.Five t may not overtake on roads where there are two lanes for traffic in the direction followed. However, they may overtake an agricultural vehicle (tractor) or any vehicle using a special lane for slow moving vehicles.

When the size of the carriageway makes passing difficult, the driver may use the side of the footway provided that pedestrians are not put in any danger.

Priority

Priority must be given to all vehicles coming from the right, except where the driver coming from the right is driving the wrong way in a one-way street.

However, vehicles on rails (trams) always have priority over all other users, whether on the right or on the left.

In built up areas, a driver must slow down or stop for bus drivers who have indicated that they intend driving away from the bus stop.

Vehicles coming out from a path or mess track must give way to road users on a surfaced road.

Road users must instantaneously stir to the side and give way as soon as they are warned of the treatment of an emergency vehicle by means of the special siren. They must stop if necessary.

Priority at roundabouts must be given to vehicles already in the roundabout. All roundabouts in Belgium are signposted with “give way” signs.

Priority at pedestrian crossings

When approaching a pedestrian crossing where traffic is not managed by traffic lights or by a traffic officer, drivers must slow down and give way to pedestrians already on the crossing or who are about to step on it.

Zip merging

On roads with several lanes of traffic in the same direction, in congested road conditions, drivers driving on a lane that is coming to an end or where traffic is to be interrupted must proceed driving until they get to the point where the lane starts to close up, and then merge into the adjacent lane, where traffic will proceed.

Drivers driving on the lane that remains open must give way, in turns and just before the other lane finishes, to drivers merging in.

If there are lanes closing on both sides of a central lane, priority when merging must be given very first to one vehicle on the right lane and then to one vehicle on the left lane.

Warning of treatment

Warning signals must be as brief as possible.

Audible warnings such as using the horn should not be given unless there is no other way of avoiding an accident.

Outside built-up areas, the horn may be used as a warning to road users of the intention to overtake

Inbetween nightfall and dawn, except in the case of imminent danger, you should flash your headlights instead of using the horn.

Seat belts

Any person must wear a seat belt whenever one is fitted on the front and rear seats in all vehicles registered in Belgium or abroad.

Travelling with children

A child less than 1.35 metres in height travelling in a car, van or lorry, must be seated in a child seat or child restraint.

Where a child restraint/seat is not available, a child aged three years and over, measuring less than 1.35 metres, must travel in the rear seat of the vehicle using a seat belt or other safety device affixed to the seat.

If the child is under three years old, they may not be transported in a vehicle without a child restraint/seat, except in a taxi.

Driving in Belgium, RAC Drive

Driving in Belgium

Driving licence

Driving licences issued abroad can be used in Belgium only by visitors who have reached the minimum ages required for holders of Belgian licences for the same category of vehicle.

A foreign driving licence does not entitle the holder to drive a motor vehicle in Belgium until the age of 18yrs old.

Significant documents

Vehicles from the UK may be imported into Belgium for up to six months in any period of twelve months. When driving in Belgium the following documents should be carried:

Utter, valid driving licence*

• Proof of insurance (third party or above)
• Proof of ID (Passport)
• Proof of ownership (V5C Certificate)

Visitors driving in Belgium are required by law to carry the following items. Hefty on-the-spot fines can be issued for failing to carry specific items:

• Reflective jackets (must be worn if involved in a breakdown or an accident or alongside a road where stopping or parking is prohibited)
• Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with four wheels or more)
• Headlamp slat deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the plank by hand)
• Very first aid kit & fire extinguisher (vehicles registered in Belgium must carry both, but this is not compulsory for vehicles registered abroad)
• Motorcyclists: Motorcyclists railing in Belgium, including foreigners, must wear protective clothing, i.e.: gloves, jacket with long sleeves, pants with long gams or overall, and boots protecting the ankles.

Children under three are not permitted on motorcycles. Children inbetween three and eight may be carried as passengers in a special seat, only on motorcycles up to 125cc.

Rules of the road & regulations

Rules of the road

Overtaking & passing

When overtaking a cyclist or moped rider there should be a distance of least one metre inbetween them and the overtaking vehicle.

Among the cases where it is prohibited to overtake, the following require special mention:

• At level crossings displaying the St. Andrew’s cross sign, not tooled with gates or light signals
• At intersections where right forearm priority is applicable, and at any other intersection for those drivers who must give right of way
• If the driver to be overtaken is himself overtaking a vehicle with more than two wheels, except when there are three lanes or more for traffic in the direction followed
• When the driver to be overtaken is approaching a pedestrian crossing (or stopping at a pedestrian crossing) or a crossing for cyclists and motorcyclists at places where traffic is not managed by a policeman or by traffic lights
• Overtaking is not permitted on traffic ramps.
• In case of rain, snowfall or other adverse weather conditions, intense goods vehicles (7.Five t and over) may not overtake on motorways or dual carriageways. However, they may overtake an agricultural vehicle (tractor) or any vehicle using a special lane for slow moving vehicles.
• Outside built-up areas, goods vehicles over Three.Five t may not overtake on roads where there are two lanes for traffic in the direction followed. However, they may overtake an agricultural vehicle (tractor) or any vehicle using a special lane for slow moving vehicles.

When the size of the carriageway makes passing difficult, the driver may use the side of the footway provided that pedestrians are not put in any danger.

Priority

Priority must be given to all vehicles coming from the right, except where the driver coming from the right is driving the wrong way in a one-way street.

However, vehicles on rails (trams) always have priority over all other users, whether on the right or on the left.

In built up areas, a driver must slow down or stop for bus drivers who have indicated that they intend driving away from the bus stop.

Vehicles coming out from a path or mud track must give way to road users on a surfaced road.

Road users must instantly stir to the side and give way as soon as they are warned of the treatment of an emergency vehicle by means of the special siren. They must stop if necessary.

Priority at roundabouts must be given to vehicles already in the roundabout. All roundabouts in Belgium are signposted with “give way” signs.

Priority at pedestrian crossings

When approaching a pedestrian crossing where traffic is not managed by traffic lights or by a traffic officer, drivers must slow down and give way to pedestrians already on the crossing or who are about to step on it.

Zip merging

On roads with several lanes of traffic in the same direction, in congested road conditions, drivers driving on a lane that is coming to an end or where traffic is to be interrupted must proceed driving until they get to the point where the lane starts to close up, and then merge into the adjacent lane, where traffic will proceed.

Drivers driving on the lane that remains open must give way, in turns and just before the other lane finishes, to drivers merging in.

If there are lanes closing on both sides of a central lane, priority when merging must be given very first to one vehicle on the right lane and then to one vehicle on the left lane.

Warning of treatment

Warning signals must be as brief as possible.

Audible warnings such as using the horn should not be given unless there is no other way of avoiding an accident.

Outside built-up areas, the horn may be used as a warning to road users of the intention to overtake

Inbetween nightfall and dawn, except in the case of imminent danger, you should flash your headlights instead of using the horn.

Seat belts

Any person must wear a seat belt whenever one is fitted on the front and rear seats in all vehicles registered in Belgium or abroad.

Travelling with children

A child less than 1.35 metres in height travelling in a car, van or lorry, must be seated in a child seat or child restraint.

Where a child restraint/seat is not available, a child aged three years and over, measuring less than 1.35 metres, must travel in the rear seat of the vehicle using a seat belt or other safety device linked to the seat.

If the child is under three years old, they may not be transported in a vehicle without a child restraint/seat, except in a taxi.

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