What are the speed limits in Belgium in town, outside town and on the motorway?
In short
If there is no sign: 50 km/h in built-up areas (in Brussels the general rule is 30 km/h); outside built-up areas 70 km/h in Flanders and 90 km/h in Wallonia; 120 km/h on the motorway. If a sign shows something else, follow the sign.
Video transcript
You're in a built-up area with no sign. The road is empty, and you feel like speeding up. Required: With no sign: built-up areas 50 (Brussels 30), outside: Flanders 70, Wallonia 90, motorway 120 km/h. The right way: If there's a sign, follow the sign. Around schools and in cycle zones, it's 30 km/h. Speeding ticket: First 10 km/h over: 58 €; Each extra km/h: 7 € – 12 €; Far too fast: Police court.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- In built-up areas the general limit is 50 km/h; in the Brussels Region the general rule is 30 km/h.
- School areas and cycle zones (fietszone / zone cyclable) are 30 km/h.
- Outside built-up areas the limit is 70 km/h in Flanders and 90 km/h in Wallonia.
- On the motorway the limit is 120 km/h.
- Speed cameras and average speed checks (trajectcontrole / contrôle de trajet) are common.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- For the first 10 km/h over the limit, the on-the-spot fine is 58 €. After that, each extra km/h adds 12 € in built-up areas, 30 zones and school areas, and 7 € on other roads (+ 10,67 € administrative fee). Since 1 July 2026 these amounts are the same in all three regions.
Legal basis:KB 19.4.2014, art. 2, 2° (Justel)
- Court / prison
- Going more than 40 km/h over the limit (more than 30 km/h in built-up areas and 30 zones) cannot be settled with an on-the-spot fine. It goes straight to the police court. At court, the fine is 100 € – 5.000 €.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet art. 29 §3 (Justel); 80–4.000 € ×1,25 = 100–5.000 €
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- If you are caught well over the limit, your licence can be taken away
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1 5° (Justel)
- If you go more than 40 km/h over the limit (more than 30 km/h in built-up areas, 30 zones and school areas), the court will normally give you a driving ban of at least 8 days.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 36, 34 §1, 29 §4 (Justel)
- In a fatal accident, you risk a heavy prison sentence. Ask a lawyer about the level of the penalty.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 107, 107/1
What do these terms mean?
- On-the-spot payment
- A fixed amount offered by the police. If you pay, the case is closed and does not go to court. If not, the prosecutor takes over; the amount can rise and the case can go to court.
- Police court
- The court for traffic offences and appeals against GAS fines. Despite the name, it is not part of the police; an independent judge decides.
Why does this rule exist?
When the impact speed rises from 30 to 50 km/h, the risk of death for a pedestrian rises sharply. Lower limits protect children and older people, especially near schools.
Where can you go?
- Municipal driving licence serviceExchanging a foreign driving licence and other licence matters
- Free first-line legal adviceIf you have been summoned to the police court (juridische eerstelijnsbijstand / aide juridique de première ligne)
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 10 / 10 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 10 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Yerleşim yeri 50, Brüksel 30
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 11.1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Okul çevreleri 30 km/s
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 2.37, 22quater, 22novies (Justel) - Found in an official source
Bisiklet bölgeleri (fietszone / zone cyclable) 30 km/s
KB 1 december 1975 (verkeersreglement) (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yerleşim dışı Flandre 70, Valonya 90
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 11.2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Otoyol 120
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 11.2, 1° a) (Justel) - Found in an official source
İlk 10 km/s aşım 58 €; sonra her km/s için 12 € (yerleşim yeri, 30 bölgesi, okul çevresi) veya 7 € (diğer yollar)
KB 19.4.2014, art. 2, 2° (Vlaams, Waals en Brussels Gewest, yürürlük 1.7.2026) (Justel) - Found in an official source
40 (yerleşimde 30) km/s'ten fazla aşım mahkemeye; 100–5.000 €
Wegverkeerswet art. 29 §3 (W 25.5.2026, yürürlük 1.9.2026) (Justel) — 80–4.000 € ×1,25 = 100–5.000 € - Found in an official source
Büyük aşımlarda ehliyete el konabilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1 5° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Mahkemede men verilebilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 36, 34 §1, 29 §4 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Trafikte ölüme sebebiyet seviye 3; aşırı hız (40 km/s üstü) verzwaarde: seviye 4
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 107, 107/1
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?