Can I overtake on the right when a car in the left lane is driving slowly?
In short
No, as a rule you overtake on the left. You may pass a vehicle that is signalling to turn left, or a tram, on the right. In heavy traffic, if the right-hand lane happens to move faster, that does not count as overtaking.
Video transcript
The car ahead of you in the left lane is slow. The right lane is empty. Not allowed: Overtaking on the right is forbidden. You always overtake on the left. The right way: Stay behind; when the car moves right, pass on the left. Cars turning left and trams are exceptions. Fine notice (2nd-degree offence): Overtaking on the right: 128 €; Speeding up when passed: 191 €; At court: 200 € – 2.500 €.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- You overtake (inhalen / dépassement) on the left.
- Exception: if the vehicle in front has signalled that it will turn left and has moved to the left, you may pass it on the right.
- You pass a tram travelling along the road on the right. If there is not enough room on the right, or it is blocked, and nothing is coming the other way, you may pass on the left.
- In heavy traffic, when vehicles are moving side by side in their lanes, the right-hand lane moving faster does not count as overtaking. This applies on one-way roads with several lanes and on roads with at least two lanes in each direction.
- When someone is overtaking you on the left, do not speed up, and keep as far to the right as you can.
- A motorbike may pass between the vehicles in a queue of stopped or slow-moving vehicles at no more than 50 km/h and no more than 20 km/h faster than the queue; this does not count as overtaking.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Overtaking on the right is a 2nd-degree offence: on-the-spot fine of 128 € (since 1 July 2026). Speeding up while being overtaken is a 3rd-degree offence: 191 €.
Legal basis:KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, a), 13° (Justel)KB 30.9.2005, art. 3, 8° (Justel)
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence. If the case goes to the police court (politierechtbank / tribunal de police), the fine for a 2nd-degree offence can be about 200 € – 2.500 €.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 (Justel)Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 + KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, a) 13° (Justel)
What does this level mean? Traffic offence, degree 2: On-the-spot payment €128; in court €200 – €2,500; the court may suspend the licence for 8 days – 5 years. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The judge can impose a driving ban of 8 days to 5 years
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §1, 3° (Justel)
- If you have held your (category B) licence for less than 2 years, a driving ban is not mandatory for this offence, but the judge can still impose one
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §5 (Justel)
- In an accident, the driver who overtook on the right is usually held to be at fault
Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.5, 6.6 §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?
Drivers expect to be overtaken on the left and check their left mirror. A car coming up on the right stays in their blind spot, so someone changing lanes does not see it and a crash follows.
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
- 14 / 14 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 14 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Sollama soldan yapılır; sağdan sollama yasak
Verkeersreglement art. 16.3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sola döneceğini gösterip sola yanaşan aracı sağdan geçmek serbest
Verkeersreglement art. 16.3, lid 2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Tramvay sağdan geçilir; dar geçitte / engelde soldan geçilebilir
Verkeersreglement art. 16.9 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Paralel şerit akışında sağın hızlı akması sollama sayılmaz (art. 9.4/9.5)
Verkeersreglement art. 16.2 ve 9.5 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sollanan sürücü sağa çekilir, hızlanamaz
Verkeersreglement art. 16.7 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Art. 16.3 ihlali 2. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, a), 13° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Art. 16.7 ihlali (sollanırken hızlanmak) 3. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 3, 8° (Justel) - Found in an official source
2. derece anında ödeme 128 € (1 Temmuz 2026'dan beri)
FOD Mobiliteit – Onmiddellijke inningen: verhoging 1.7.2026 - Found in an official source
2. derece mahkeme para cezası kanunda 160–2.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Kanundaki tutar 1,25 ile çarpılır (2,5 ek ondalık) → 200–2.500 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 + KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, a) 13° (Justel) - Found in an official source
2. ve 3. derece ihlalde hâkim 8 gün – 5 yıl ehliyetten men verebilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §1, 3° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ehliyeti (B) 2 yıldan yeni olana men zorunlu ve sınav şartı
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §5 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Motosiklet kuyrukta en fazla 50 km/s ve 20 km/s farkla arada geçebilir; sollama sayılmaz
KB 1.12.1975 art. 16.2bis (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yasak sağdan sollama kural ihlalidir = kusur
BW Boek 6, art. 6.5, 6.6 §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?