Driving in Belgium

Basic Legal Requirements

Driving Licence

When driving in Belgium, you will need to ensure you bring both parts of your driving licence - the Photocard plus the Paper Counterpart (D740). If you do not have a Photocard yet, only the paper copy is required, but you will need Photo ID, such as a Passport

You must be the holder of a full driving licence (not a provisional), and have passed your test. Even if you have already passed your full test, you must be at least 18 years old.

If your visit is for less than 90 days, you will not require an International Driving Permit. If you are intending to drive in Belgium for more than 90 days, apply for the International Driving Permit through the Post Office. The international driving permit is in addition to your driving licence, so you will need to carry both copies.

While a photocopy may be useful if your licence is lost, you should carry the original with you.

Car Documents

You should carry your vehicles Registration Certificate (V5C) with you, which should be updated to show your correct details. For security reasons, it's best NOT to leave the Registration Certificate in the vehicle while it is parked - it makes it harder to a thief to resell the vehicle if they do not have the documentation.

While a photocopy may be useful if your Registration Certificate is lost, you should carry the original with you.

Insurance

It is compulsory to have at least third-party insurance for Belgium, as for the UK. Most UK insurance policies will allow an element of European driving, often for a limited period.

Before leaving the UK, it is a good idea to contact your insurer, and check what your existing cover allows. You should request a 'Green Card' which is an internationally recognised form of proof of insurance. You should carry proof of insurance with you while driving. You may also need to arrange insurance for any trailers.

If your existing insurance does not provide European cover for the period required, most insurance brokers will have a suitable policy covering Belgium, and will provide Green Card.

Your Vehicle

Your headlights will need to be adjusted to ensure that they do not dazzle oncoming users.

Standard halogen headlights and Autobulbs Xenon HID Conversion kits can be modified by the use of a stick on Headlight Beam Adaptors. Vehicles with factory fitted Xenon HID headlights may find there is an adjuster either on the headlights themselves or on the dashboard - check your manual for details. If there is no adjuster, you may need to visit a dealer for them to make the adjustments, and again to change them back after your visit.

Reflective Jackets or vests are a legal requirement - you should have one for each passenger in the vehicle. At the moment this does not apply to motorbikes or trikes. The jackets should comply to the EN471 standard. In the event of a breakdown or accident, anyone outside the vehicle must wear one of the reflective jackets.

There is a requirement for every vehicle to carry a fire extinguisher. It is recommended that you also carry a first aid kit, but it is not mandatory - they are generally a useful safety item to carry in your vehicle if you have the space.

A Warning Triangle is also required. In the event of an accident or breakdown, the triangle should be set up by the side of the road, at least 50 meters in the direction of of the traffic. If you have broken down in the outer lane of a dual carriageway or motorway, or attempting to place the warning triangle would place you in danger, do not use it. Remember to collect your warning triangle before leaving!

Children under 12 years old must use an appropriate booster seat or modification - this includes two seater vehicles. All passengers must use seat belts if fitted

You may have a number plate that already has a valid 'GB' mark. If you do not, you will need to apply a GB sticker to the back of your vehicle.

It is recommended (but not required) that you carry a spare bulb kit suitable for your vehicle. While HID bulbs last longer than their halogen counterparts, it makes sense to carry at least one spare Xenon HID bulb suitable for your headlights.

Driving - Legal Requirements

Lights

Dipped headlights are required on motorcycles during the day, and all vehicles when there is poor visibility, such as when it is raining

Speed Limits

Speed limits can be modified by local signs, but the usual ones are:

• Near Schools: 19 mph or 30 km/h
• Built- up areas: 31 mph or 50 km/h
• Outside built- up areas: 55 mph or 90 km/h
• Motorways: 75 mph or 120 km/h

Traffic Priorities

In general, traffic coming from the right has priority. Roundabouts can be especially tricky. The default on roundabouts is that traffic joining the roundabout has priority - this is the opposite of the UK. Be aware that if the junction is unmarked, then traffic coming from the right has priority. This is critical where you are on a main road, and a vehicle pulls our from a turning on the right - they have priority!

On roundabouts, if you see a sign saying "Vous n'avez pas la priorité" (“You do not have priority”) or "Cédez le passage" (“Give way”) then traffic already ON the roundabout has priority. These are more common in built up areas. Always take care on roundabouts and assume other vehicles may not give way, even if you do have right of way!

If there are signs with an orange diamond with white borders, you have priority. These are generally seen on faster national roads and dual carriageways.

Helmets

Helmets are compulsory at all times on scooters, mopeds and motorcycles. Visors with a more than 50% tint are illegal in Belgium as in the UK, so ensure you have a spare, or wear sunglasses under your visor.

Overtaking

Overtaking is only on the left (the outside lane). You must not overtake a stationary tram that passengers are entering or leaving, and the both the tram and passengers have priority over other vehicles.

Warning with Horn and Lights

As in the UK you should not use the horn except to warn of danger, and it should not be used at all in built up areas. With lights, the official rule is that they should only be used to warn others of your presence.

GPS, Speed Cameras and Phones

You must NOT use any form of radar detector. We are not currently sure of the legal position with GPS unit and speed camera sites in Belgium.

Hand held mobiles phones cannot be used while driving - use a handsfree system or earpiece.

Alcohol

Drink driving in Belgium is similar to most European countries. 50mg or more alcohol per 100ml of blood will result in a fine and points. Significantly more will result in much larger fines and loss of your licence. Note that this is slightly lower than the 80mg blood alcohol allowed in the UK, so the safest option is not to drink at all when you are driving.

Be aware that you may still have alcohol in your blood if you have been drinking the evening before.

Police and Fines

Police in Belgium can and will issue on the spot fines for a range of offences including:

• Not carrying licence, vehicle documents or insurance documents
• Lights not working or dazzling other road users
• Speeding and other motoring offences
• Not carrying hi-vis reflective jackets, a warning triangle or fire extinguisher
• Children not in appropriate seats
• Driving in a bus lane
• Using a hand held mobile phone while driving

As a visitor, you can decline to pay the fine immediately, but you risk having your car seized until you make payment. Note that on-the-spot does not necessarily mean you make payment immediately, but accept the fine. Fines for parking can be paid at the local town hall or post office.

If you do get stopped by the police, remember to remain polite. If you are abusive you can and will be arrested on the spot, and may find yourself facing more than a on-the-spot fine.

Driving Tips

• Drive on the right! It's easy to forget to drive on the right when changing roads, exiting motorways, going on to roundabouts or starting for the first time in the morning. Put a sticker on your dashboard, teach the kids to chant 'drive on the right' every time you get in the car or even wear one driving glove to remind yourself.
• Go round roundabouts ANTI-Clockwise.
• Remember to reverse the directions you look, especially on roundabouts. Your instinct when turning left will be to only look to the right, but as you have to cross both lanes, remember to look both directions. This is particularly tricky when crossing dual carriageways and joining roundabouts. Reversing the directions you check will also help when you are a pedestrian - remember to look right before stepping off the kerb.
• Right of way can be tricky If unsure, assume the other vehicles are going to carry on, especially if they are trucks! Diamond-shaped orange signs with a white border on some roads indicate that you have priority. The same sign with a thick diagonal black line through it means that you no longer have priority.
• Always come to a complete stop before the solid stop lines on junctions. Police patrols will notice if you stop over the line or do not come to a complete halt.
• Unless otherwise posted, town speed limits apply from the town name sign to the town exit sign (the town name with a line through it)
• Petrol (91 and 98 Ron) and diesel are widely available, and LPG is available is some areas. Note that some petrol stations are totally automated (and many are at night), and require payment by credit or debit card. Not all UK cards issued by UK banks will work, so check with them before travelling. If you cannot use your card, either travel on and try to find a manned petrol station, or offer cash to another (local) motorist in exchange for them making payment on their card.
• Leaded petrol is not available. The best option may be to take along supplies of fuel additive, although this is available locally.
• Spares and parts for some vehicles may be hard to locate in Belgium, especially for imported or more unusual cars. It is worth checking the basic wear items like tyres, brakes and windscreen wipers, and carry a spare bulb kit and fuses suitable for your vehicle. Remember to check the spare wheel or inflation kit as well.
• If you are towing and use a mirror extender, check yours can be used on the left to maximise visibility when driving on the right.
• If you have UK breakdown assistance, it may well provide limited European cover. If it does not (or you do not have breakdown cover) consider getting this for the duration of your holiday. Recovering your vehicle from Belgium could be expensive, and repairing it locally may be difficult to arrange.
• Road conditions are normally good throughout Belgium. Upgraded headlight bulbs or a Xenon HID headlight conversion give longer viewing distances at night.
• Do not park within 15m of a bus stop or tram stop, or you risk having your vehicle towed away.

Useful Links

• European travel equipment: Autobulbs European driving accessories and spare bulbs
• VisitBelgium.com: Official Tourist website for Belgium (in English)
• Wikipedia.org/Belgium: Wikipedia entry on Belgium