Can I use a car with expired insurance or an overdue inspection for a short trip?
In short
No. A motor vehicle may only be used on the road if it has compulsory motor insurance. Its inspection certificate must also be valid. Driving without insurance is a criminal offence dealt with by the courts.
Video transcript
Your car insurance ran out yesterday. You are only going to the shop. Not allowed: A motor vehicle may only go on the road with compulsory motor insurance. The inspection certificate must be valid too. The right way: First renew the insurance and get the inspection done. Then set off. Outcome: Driving uninsured: Offence for the court; Also: Car, plate can be seized; The court: Can ban you from driving.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Every motor vehicle needs compulsory motor liability insurance (BA-autoverzekering / assurance RC auto). Taking out this insurance is the vehicle owner's duty.
- A driver who knows the vehicle is uninsured is also punished. The police can immobilise the vehicle or seize the vehicle and its number plate.
- If you come to Belgium in a vehicle registered abroad, you may be asked for an international insurance certificate (green card / groene kaart / carte verte).
- The periodic roadworthiness test (technische keuring / contrôle technique) is a matter for the regions. A car usually has its first test when it is 4 years old.
- In Flanders, since 1 September 2026, all cars have been tested every 2 years. In Brussels and Wallonia, the frequency may differ; ask the testing centre.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Driving without insurance: since 1 September 2026, the amount in the law has been increased under the new Criminal Code (level 1). The police court sets the amount. Driving without a valid inspection certificate also leads to a fine.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1 + WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 22vlaanderen.be – Wanneer naar de technische keuring?
- Court / prison
- The text of the law provides for 8 days – 6 months in prison. Since 1 September 2026, art. 78 of the new Criminal Code makes this a level 1 offence, and there is no prison at level 1. The police court decides the penalty.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 78 §1 8°, 36
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The court can impose a driving ban of 8 days – 5 years or for an unlimited period, and can order the vehicle to be confiscated
Legal basis:WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 24 (Justel)
- In an accident, the Common Motor Guarantee Fund (Gemeenschappelijk Motorwaarborgfonds / Fonds commun de garantie automobile) compensates the victim and then recovers the money from the vehicle owner
Legal basis:WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 19bis-11 §1 8°, 19bis-14 §5 (Justel)
- If you have an accident in a car without a valid inspection, the insurer still pays for the victim's losses; but if the missing inspection caused the accident, it can recover the money from you
Legal basis:vlaanderen.be – Wanneer naar de technische keuring?
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 road accident can change someone's life and income. Compulsory insurance makes sure the victim is compensated, even if the driver at fault has no money. The inspection checks the brakes, tyres and lights.
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
- 13 / 13 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 13 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Motorlu araçlar yalnızca sigorta varsa trafiğe çıkabilir; sigorta yükümlülüğü sahibinde
WAM-wet 21 november 1989, art. 2 §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sürücü sigortasızlığı biliyorsa cezalandırılır
WAM-wet art. 22 §1, lid 2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Polis aracı bağlayabilir / araca ve plakaya el koyabilir
WAM-wet art. 20 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yurt dışında kayıtlı araç için uluslararası sigorta belgesi istenebilir
WAM-wet art. 2 §2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
İlk muayene 4 yaşında (Vlaanderen)
vlaanderen.be – Wanneer naar de technische keuring? - Found in an official source
İlk muayene 4 yaşında (Bruxelles/Wallonie)
KB 15.03.1968 technische eisen, art. 23ter (gewestelijke versies Brussel en Wallonië) — wegcode; Justel art. 23ter henüz karşılaştırılmadı (23bis yalnız keuring türlerini tanımlar) - Found in an official source
Vlaanderen'de 1 Eylül 2026'dan beri tüm otomobiller 2 yılda bir
vlaanderen.be, Technische keuring wordt eenvoudiger en minder frequent vanaf september 2026 - Corrected according to the source
Sigortasız sürmek: 100–1.000 € para cezası (kanun metni)
Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1 + WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 22 - Found in an official source
Geçerli muayene belgesi olmadan polis kontrolünde para cezası
vlaanderen.be – Wanneer naar de technische keuring? - Corrected according to the source
8 gün – 6 ay hapis (kanun metni)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 78 §1 8°, 36 - Found in an official source
Ehliyetten men 8 gün–5 yıl veya süresiz; müsadere
WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 24 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Fon sigortasız aracın mağdurunu öder ve sahibinden geri ister
WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 19bis-11 §1 8°, 19bis-14 §5 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Muayenesiz araçla kazada sigorta ödemeyi reddedebilir
vlaanderen.be – Wanneer naar de technische keuring?
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?