Can the police withdraw my driving licence on the spot? What happens if I drive while it is withdrawn?
In short
Yes, in certain serious situations your licence can be withdrawn on the spot, normally for 15 days. Driving during this period is a serious offence and leads to a driving ban of at least 3 months.
Video transcript
At a check, the breath analysis shows 0.5 per mille of alcohol. The police take your licence on the spot. It depends: In serious cases your licence can be taken on the spot; as a rule, for 15 days. Driving during that time is a serious crime. The right way: Don't drive for 15 days: use public transport, a taxi or another driver. You can ask the prosecutor for an early return. Driving while withdrawn (Level 2 offence): Fine: 2.000 € – 20.000 €; Driving ban: At least 3 months; Also: Car can be immobilised.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- The public prosecutor (procureur des Konings / procureur du Roi) can order the immediate withdrawal of your licence (onmiddellijke intrekking / retrait immédiat). In cases involving speeding, alcohol or drugs, an authorised police officer can also take this decision.
- The main situations listed in the law are: 0,22 mg/l (0,5 per mille) or more of alcohol in a breath analysis, refusing a breath test, and a positive drug test. They also include an accident causing serious injury or death through a serious error, and leaving the scene to avoid identification.
- Your licence can also be withdrawn for speeding: for going more than 20 km/h over the limit in built-up areas, 30 zones, school zones, residential areas (woonerf) and shared spaces (erf). On other roads, the threshold is 30 km/h.
- You must hand over your licence when the police ask for it. It is normally returned after 15 days. The public prosecutor can ask the police court to extend this to at most 3 months. You can also ask the public prosecutor to return your licence earlier.
- If the court has imposed a driving ban (verval van het recht tot sturen / déchéance du droit de conduire), driving during the ban is also a level 2 crime. If you drive without a licence, while your licence is withdrawn or during a ban, the police can immobilise your vehicle (immobilisering / immobilisation).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Driving while your licence is withdrawn is a level 2 crime: the law sets a fine of 1.600 € – 16.000 €; with the surcharge multiplier (×1,25), the amount payable is 2.000 € – 20.000 €. Driving despite a court ban is also a level 2 crime: the law sets a fine of 4.000 € – 16.000 € the first time (with ×1,25: 5.000 € – 20.000 €). For a repeat offence within three years, a level 3 penalty and 8.000 € – 32.000 € can be imposed. Not handing over your licence when asked is a separate level 1 crime. The withdrawal itself is not a penalty but a safety measure.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 30 §3 (Justel)Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 58 (Justel)
- Court / prison
- A level 2 crime can also lead to a prison sentence. The court must also impose a driving ban of at least 3 months and at most 5 years, or for life.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 30 §3 (Justel)
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- You bear the costs and risks of the immobilised vehicle. If the vehicle belongs to someone else, the owner can get it back free of charge.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 58bis §2 (Justel)
- The immobilisation can last until your licence is returned or until the court rules that the ban has ended
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 58bis §3 (Justel)
- If you do not hand over your licence, it can be seized on the public prosecutor's orders
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §3 (Justel)
- For someone who needs a vehicle for their work, a licence withdrawal or a driving ban means losing their job
What do these terms mean?
- 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?
A driver who is drunk, on drugs or driving far too fast is an immediate danger to themselves and others. A court decision can take months; withdrawing the licence keeps that person off the road straight away. The heavy penalty for driving while the licence is withdrawn makes sure the measure is effective.
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
- 20 / 20 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 16.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 20 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Hemen el koymayı savcı emreder
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Hızda ve alkol/uyuşturucu (art. 60 §3, 61ter §1) durumlarında yardımcı savcı sıfatlı polis memuru da emredebilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Alkol ≥0,22 mg/l ve test reddi (art. 60 §3) ile uyuşturucu (art. 61ter §1) halleri
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1, 1°; art. 60 §3; art. 61ter §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Tespitten kaçmak
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1, 2° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ağır hatayla ölümlü veya (2./3. derece) yaralanmalı kaza
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1, 3° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Hız: yerleşim/30/okul/woonerf/erf'te >20 km/s; diğer yollarda >30 km/s
Wegverkeerswet, art. 55 §1, 5° (Justel; W 2005-07-20/52, in werking 31.3.2006) - Found in an official source
Polis isteyince ehliyeti teslim zorunlu
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
15 gün sonra iade (mahkeme uzatmadıysa); savcı resen veya talep üzerine daha erken iade edebilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 56 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Uzatma en fazla 3 ay, polis mahkemesi kararıyla
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55bis §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Men sırasında sürmek seviye 2 + 3 ay–5 yıl/ömür boyu men; para cezası 4.000–16.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 48 §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ehliyetsiz (art. 30 §1), el konmuşken (art. 30 §3) ve men varken (art. 48) araç kullanmada araç bağlama
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 58bis §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
El konmuşken sürmek seviye 2; 1.600–16.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 30 §3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ehliyeti teslim etmemek seviye 1
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 58 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Seviye 2'de hapis mümkün (6 ay – 3 yıl)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Zorunlu men en az 3 ay – 5 yıl veya ömür boyu
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 30 §3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Bağlama masrafı ve riski ihlalciye; sahip ihlalci değilse masrafsız geri alır
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 58bis §2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Bağlama, ehliyet iade edilene veya men sona erene kadar
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 58bis §3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Teslim edilmeyen ehliyete savcı el koydurabilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Hız: yerleşim/30/okul/woonerf >20 km/s; diğer >30 km/s
Wegverkeerswet art. 55 §1, 5° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Mahkeme menine rağmen sürmek ilk seferde aynı ceza (1.600–16.000)
Wegverkeerswet art. 48 §1 (Justel; yürürlük 01-09-2026)
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?