Do I have priority when I change lanes, and do I have to indicate?
In short
You may change lanes, but it counts as a "manoeuvre". You must give way to other vehicles and indicate in good time. If the road is clear, keep to the right-hand lane.
Video transcript
You're driving in the right-hand lane. A car is coming up behind you in the left lane. It depends: Changing lanes is allowed, but it's a manoeuvre: you give way to other vehicles and signal in time. The right way: Indicate, let the car pass, then change lanes. If the road is clear, keep to the right-hand lane. Traffic fine: Not giving way: 128 €; Not indicating: 64 €; Crossing a solid line: 191 €.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Changing lanes is a manoeuvre (manoeuvre / manœuvre). Anyone making a manoeuvre must give way to other road users.
- Indicate in good time before you change lanes. Switch off the indicator once you have changed lanes.
- As a rule, keep close to the right-hand edge of the road. The left lane is for overtaking; once you have overtaken, move back into the right lane when it is safe.
- In built-up areas, on one-way roads with several lanes and on roads with at least two lanes in each direction, you may choose the lane that best suits where you are going.
- Zip merging (ritsen), where vehicles merge in turn, does not count as a manoeuvre. You may not cross a solid (continuous) white line to change lanes.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Not giving way when changing lanes is a 2nd-degree offence: on-the-spot fine of 128 €. Not moving back into the right lane after overtaking is also a 2nd-degree offence: 128 €. Not indicating, or generally not keeping close to the right-hand edge, is a 1st-degree offence: 64 €. Crossing a solid line is a 3rd-degree offence: 191 €.
Legal basis:KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, a), 11° (Justel)KB 30.9.2005, art. 2-4 + Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §2 (Justel)
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence. In the police court, the fine can be about 200 € – 2.500 € for a 2nd-degree offence and about 100 € – 2.500 € for a 1st-degree offence.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 (Justel)Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 + KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, a) 11° (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
- For a 2nd-degree offence, 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 a 2nd-degree offence, but it is for serious offences such as crossing a solid line (3rd degree)
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §5 (Justel)
- In an accident, the driver who changed lanes is often held to be at fault, as they were the one making a manoeuvre
Legal basis:KB 1.12.1975, art. 12.4 (Justel)
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?
A sudden lane change takes the driver behind you by surprise. Indicating shows in advance what you are about to do. The keep-right rule keeps the left lane free for overtaking.
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
- 17 / 17 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 17 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Şerit değiştirmek manevra; manevra yapan yol verir
Verkeersreglement art. 12.4 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sinyal zamanında verilir, işlem bitince kapatılır
Verkeersreglement art. 13 (kullanıcının andığı art. 39 otobüslerle ilgilidir; doğru madde 13) (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sağ kenara yakın gitme; solladıktan sonra sağa dönme
Verkeersreglement art. 9.3.1 ve 16.6 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yerleşim yerinde tek yönlü çok şeritli / 4+ şeritli yollarda serbest şerit seçimi
Verkeersreglement art. 9.4 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Fermuarda şerit değiştirmek manevra sayılmaz
Verkeersreglement art. 12.4, lid 3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Art. 12.4 lid 1 ihlali 2. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, a), 11° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Art. 13 ve 9.3.1 2./3./4. derece listelerinde yok → 1. derece (Wegverkeerswet art. 29 §2)
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2-4 + Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Düz çizgiyi geçmek (art. 72.2) 3. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 3, 45° (Justel) - Found in an official source
1. derece anında ödeme 64 €
FOD Mobiliteit – Onmiddellijke inningen: verhoging 1.7.2026 - 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) 11° (Justel) - Found in an official source
1. derece mahkeme para cezası kanunda 80–2.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Kanundaki tutar 1,25 ile çarpılır (2,5 ek ondalık) → 100–2.500 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 + KB 30.9.2005 (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
Şerit değiştirmek manevradır; manevra yapan diğer yol kullanıcılarına öncelik vermek zorunda
KB 1.12.1975, art. 12.4 (Justel)
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?