47 rules
I bought a car / I drive
The traffic rules people are fined for most often, and how they differ from habits in other countries.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I cross a solid (continuous) white line to turn left into a shop or petrol station across the road? — No. A solid white line is not only about overtaking. You must never cross it to turn left, to enter a property across the road or to make a U-turn.
- ☐ Not allowed: What happens if I drive after smoking cannabis? — Driving under the influence of drugs is forbidden, and there is zero tolerance. If your saliva test is positive, you cannot drive for at least 12 hours. Your licence can be taken away for 15 days and the case goes to court.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I look at my phone while I wait at a red light? — No. You must not hold or use your phone while driving, not even at a red light or in a traffic jam. This is a 3rd-degree offence and your licence can be taken away for 15 days.
- ☐ Not allowed: Will I get a fine if I drive through on amber or just as the light turns red? — Yes. Crossing the stop line on red is a 3rd-degree offence. Driving through on amber when you could have stopped safely is a 2nd-degree offence. Junctions are monitored by cameras.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I honk and block the road in a wedding convoy? — No. Driving in a convoy is allowed. But stopping traffic, honking for no reason, dangerous manoeuvres and firing shots in the air are forbidden.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I overtake on the right when a car in the left lane is driving slowly? — 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.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I use a car with expired insurance or an overdue inspection for a short trip? — 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.
- ☐ Not allowed: I live in Belgium. Can I drive a car with foreign number plates here? — As a rule, no. Anyone entered in the population register in Belgium must register the vehicle they use in Belgium. There are limited exceptions, such as a hire car, a company car, or a car lent to you free of charge for no more than 1 month.
- ☐ Not allowed: I scratched a parked car and nobody saw. Can I just drive off? — No. If you know you were involved in an accident, leaving so that the facts cannot be established is a criminal offence (vluchtmisdrijf / délit de fuite), even if the accident was not your fault. If the owner is not there, leave your name and address or report it to the police.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I leave my dog in the car for a short while? What is the penalty for abandoning or hitting an animal? — Leaving an animal in a hot car where it is in danger, abandoning it and causing it unnecessary suffering are all forbidden. In all three regions, this can lead to a court penalty and a ban on keeping animals.
- ☐ Not allowed: What happens if I cause someone's death or injury on the road? Do alcohol, a phone or a red light make the penalty heavier? — Causing someone's death on the road through serious carelessness is a criminal offence (level 3). If you went through a red light, had a phone in your hand, were drunk or were driving far too fast, it is level 4: 5 – 10 years in prison.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I park briefly on the pavement, on a cycle path or in front of a garage? — No. Parking on the pavement or on a cycle path is a 2nd-degree offence. Parking in front of a garage or house entrance is also forbidden; it makes no difference if it is only for a short time.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I park in a disabled parking space for a few minutes? — No. Without a disabled parking card you cannot park there, not even for one minute. This is a 2nd-degree offence; your vehicle can be towed.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I park briefly in an electric vehicle charging space, a loading bay or at a taxi rank? — No, unless your vehicle is the type shown on the sign. Charging spaces are only for electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and if there is a charging point, the vehicle must be plugged in. Loading bays and taxi ranks are also off limits for other uses.
- ☐ Not allowed: Can I leave the engine running while I pop into a shop? Can I leave the engine running in a stationary car? — No. Before you get out of the car, you must take steps to prevent accidents and theft. Leaving the engine idling in a stationary vehicle is also forbidden unless it is necessary.
- ☐ Not allowed: On the motorway, may I keep driving in the middle or left lane when the right lane is free? — As a rule, no. On the motorway, unless traffic is dense, you keep as far right as possible. After overtaking, you move back to the right as soon as it is safe. Not doing so is a 2nd-degree offence (€128); not keeping right in general is 1st degree (€64).
- ☐ Required: I am on a main road. Do I have to give way to a car coming out of a small street on my right? — Yes, most of the time. If there are no signs or traffic lights, you must give way to every vehicle coming from the right, even from a small side street. Not giving way is a 2nd-degree offence.
- ☐ Required: When a lane closes, where should I merge, and how do I make way for an ambulance? — When traffic is very slow and a lane closes, you merge in turn (like a zip) just before the narrowing. On roads with two or more lanes, when traffic is jammed, you must make an emergency corridor for ambulances and fire engines.
- ☐ Required: Is it compulsory to wear a seat belt in the back seat and to put my child in a child seat? — Yes. Everyone in the front and back must wear a seat belt. A child shorter than 1,35 m must sit in an approved child seat. Not wearing a seat belt is a 2nd-degree offence; not putting a child in a child seat is a 3rd-degree offence.
- ☐ Required: What are the speed limits in Belgium in town, outside town and on the motorway? — 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.
- ☐ Required: Do I have to stop at a pedestrian crossing if the pedestrian has not stepped onto the road yet? — Yes. At a pedestrian crossing, you must also give way to a pedestrian who is about to cross. Not giving way to a pedestrian is a 3rd-degree offence.
- ☐ Required: How much space must I leave when I pass a cyclist? — You must leave at least 1 metre in built-up areas and at least 1,5 metres outside them. In a cycle zone (fietszone), you may not overtake cyclists at all.
- ☐ Required: Do I need to register before driving into Brussels or Ghent in a car with foreign number plates? — Yes. Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have a low emission zone (LEZ). A car with foreign plates must be registered (free of charge), even if it meets the standards (Dutch plates excepted). It is best to register before you set off. Entering without registering will get you a fine.
- ☐ Required: Baby and child car seats: which children must use one, and may a child sit in the front? — A child under 18 who is shorter than 135 cm must sit in a suitable child car seat. Children may sit in the front, but if a rear-facing baby seat is fitted in the front, the front airbag must be switched off.
- ☐ Required: If I see someone injured or in danger in the street, do I have to help? — Yes. Knowingly failing to help someone in serious danger is a criminal offence (level 2). You do not have to put yourself in danger; calling 112 also counts as helping.
- ☐ Required: Do I need a licence, a helmet and a number plate for a speed pedelec (an e-bike that goes up to 45 km/h)? — Yes. In law, a speed pedelec is a moped (bromfiets klasse P / cyclomoteur classe P). You must be at least 16 and you need an AM or B licence, a helmet, registration and an SP number plate.
- ☐ Required: Do I have to wear a helmet and special clothing on a motorbike or a moped? — Yes. On a motorbike or a moped, both the rider and the passenger must wear a helmet. On a motorbike, gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers and boots that protect the ankles are also compulsory.
- ☐ Required: The police stopped me for a traffic check: which documents must I show, and can I refuse a breath test? — Yes, you must show your driving licence, and the vehicle documents must be in the vehicle. You cannot refuse a breath test: deliberately refusing it carries the same penalty as an alcohol level of 0,8 per mille or more.
- ☐ Required: I came from abroad for a visit and I have no address in Belgium: do I have to pay a traffic fine on the spot? — Yes. A driver with no address in Belgium must pay the fine immediately or leave the same amount as a deposit. If you do not pay, the vehicle is held and can later be seized.
- ☐ Required: I received a speed camera fine at home, but I was not driving: what should I do? — You must identify the actual driver within 15 days. If you do not, the law presumes that you committed the offence. Showing that you were not the driver but not identifying the driver is also a level 2 crime; if the vehicle is registered to a company, failing to identify the driver is a level 1 crime.
- ☐ Depends: I had one or two beers. Can I drive? — Not if the alcohol in your blood is above 0,5 per mille (0,22 mg/l in your breath). For professional drivers the limit is 0,2 per mille. The safest choice: if you have been drinking, do not drive at all.
- ☐ Depends: How long can I drive in Belgium with my foreign (non-EU) driving licence? — Your licence from outside the EU is valid for the first 185 days after you register your residence (domicilie / domicile) in Belgium. After that, driving with that licence counts as driving without a licence.
- ☐ Depends: I had an accident: do I need to call the police, and what should I do? — The police do not need to come to every accident. If there is only material damage and you agree with each other, it is enough to fill in the European accident report together. If someone is injured or you do not agree, call the police. Leaving the scene before the facts have been recorded, when you know you were involved in the accident, is a crime.
- ☐ Depends: Do I have priority when I change lanes, and do I have to indicate? — 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.
- ☐ Depends: What happens if I do not use a parking disc in a blue zone or do not pay for paid parking? — A parking disc is compulsory in a blue zone, and the time limit is usually 2 hours. Many municipalities charge a parking fee (retributie) instead of issuing a fine. If you do not pay, extra costs are added and the debt can be passed on for enforcement.
- ☐ Depends: My car has been towed. Who pays, and how do I get my car back? — If you parked wrongly, you pay the towing and storage costs. The local police will tell you where the car is. You may also get a parking fine.
- ☐ Depends: Can I leave my caravan, trailer or broken-down car in the street for weeks? — No, not for long. Trailers, caravans and vehicles that no longer run may be parked in the street for at most 24 hours in a row. For heavy vehicles in built-up areas, the limit is 8 hours.
- ☐ Depends: In a traffic jam, can I filter between the cars on my motorbike, and can I use the hard shoulder? — Under certain conditions. You may filter between stationary or slow-moving vehicles at no more than 50 km/h and no more than 20 km/h faster than them. Riding on the hard shoulder is forbidden.
- ☐ Depends: Do I need a licence, a number plate and insurance to ride a moped (scooter)? — Under certain conditions. You do not need a licence for a class A moped (at most 25 km/h); for a class B moped (45 km/h) you need an AM licence. Both need a number plate and insurance.
- ☐ Depends: Can I ride a 125 cc motorbike with my B licence? At what age can I get a motorbike licence? — Under certain conditions. If you have held your B licence for at least 2 years, have completed the 4-hour training and have code 372 on your licence, you can ride a motorbike of up to 125 cc. For a more powerful motorbike, you need an A2 or A licence.
- ☐ Depends: Can I take a passenger or a child on the back of my motorbike or moped? — Under certain conditions. The passenger must have a seat and keep their feet on the footrests. Children under 3 may not be carried at all, and children under 8 may not be carried on a motorbike over 125 cc.
- ☐ Depends: How close to a junction, a pedestrian crossing or a bus stop can I park? — Watch the distances. Even stopping on a pedestrian crossing or less than 5 m before it is forbidden. At a junction, you may not stop less than 5 m from the edge of the side road either. You may not park within 15 m on either side of a bus stop.
- ☐ Depends: Can I park on the left-hand side of the street or double-park for a short time? — Double parking is never allowed, not even just to stop. You may park on the left-hand side only in a one-way street. In some streets you have to change sides halfway through the month.
- ☐ Depends: Can I park in a paid or blue zone in my own street with a residents' card (bewonerskaart)? — Yes, if your municipality issues this card. To get one, you usually have to be registered at an address in that area. Prices and rules vary from municipality to municipality.
- ☐ Depends: Who issues parking fines? What is the difference between a municipal fine (GAS) and a police fine, and how do I contest one? — A parking fine can be issued by the police or by the municipality. A municipal fine (GAS) is a fixed amount: 58 € or 116 €. You can contest both, but the procedures differ.
- ☐ Depends: The police offered me an on-the-spot fine for a traffic offence: what happens if I do not pay? — You do not have to pay, but if you don't, things can get worse. The public prosecutor's office can offer a higher settlement, which may be followed by a payment order increased by 35% or a case at the police court.
- ☐ Depends: Can the police withdraw my driving licence on the spot? What happens if I drive while it is withdrawn? — 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.
Do not do this (16)
TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 3
Can I cross a solid (continuous) white line to turn left into a shop or petrol station across the road?
No. A solid white line is not only about overtaking. You must never cross it to turn left, to enter a property across the road or to make a U-turn.Open the rule TrafficNot allowedWhat happens if I drive after smoking cannabis?
Driving under the influence of drugs is forbidden, and there is zero tolerance. If your saliva test is positive, you cannot drive for at least 12 hours. Your licence can be taken away for 15 days and the case goes to court.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 3Can I look at my phone while I wait at a red light?
No. You must not hold or use your phone while driving, not even at a red light or in a traffic jam. This is a 3rd-degree offence and your licence can be taken away for 15 days.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 3Will I get a fine if I drive through on amber or just as the light turns red?
Yes. Crossing the stop line on red is a 3rd-degree offence. Driving through on amber when you could have stopped safely is a 2nd-degree offence. Junctions are monitored by cameras.Open the rule TrafficNot allowedCan I honk and block the road in a wedding convoy?
No. Driving in a convoy is allowed. But stopping traffic, honking for no reason, dangerous manoeuvres and firing shots in the air are forbidden.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 2Can I overtake on the right when a car in the left lane is driving slowly?
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.Open the rule TrafficNot allowedCan I use a car with expired insurance or an overdue inspection for a short trip?
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.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 2I live in Belgium. Can I drive a car with foreign number plates here?
As a rule, no. Anyone entered in the population register in Belgium must register the vehicle they use in Belgium. There are limited exceptions, such as a hire car, a company car, or a car lent to you free of charge for no more than 1 month.Open the rule TrafficNot allowedI scratched a parked car and nobody saw. Can I just drive off?
No. If you know you were involved in an accident, leaving so that the facts cannot be established is a criminal offence (vluchtmisdrijf / délit de fuite), even if the accident was not your fault. If the owner is not there, leave your name and address or report it to the police.Open the rule Nature and animalsNot allowedCan I leave my dog in the car for a short while? What is the penalty for abandoning or hitting an animal?
Leaving an animal in a hot car where it is in danger, abandoning it and causing it unnecessary suffering are all forbidden. In all three regions, this can lead to a court penalty and a ban on keeping animals.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3What happens if I cause someone's death or injury on the road? Do alcohol, a phone or a red light make the penalty heavier?
Causing someone's death on the road through serious carelessness is a criminal offence (level 3). If you went through a red light, had a phone in your hand, were drunk or were driving far too fast, it is level 4: 5 – 10 years in prison.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 2Can I park briefly on the pavement, on a cycle path or in front of a garage?
No. Parking on the pavement or on a cycle path is a 2nd-degree offence. Parking in front of a garage or house entrance is also forbidden; it makes no difference if it is only for a short time.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 2Can I park in a disabled parking space for a few minutes?
No. Without a disabled parking card you cannot park there, not even for one minute. This is a 2nd-degree offence; your vehicle can be towed.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 1Can I park briefly in an electric vehicle charging space, a loading bay or at a taxi rank?
No, unless your vehicle is the type shown on the sign. Charging spaces are only for electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and if there is a charging point, the vehicle must be plugged in. Loading bays and taxi ranks are also off limits for other uses.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 1Can I leave the engine running while I pop into a shop? Can I leave the engine running in a stationary car?
No. Before you get out of the car, you must take steps to prevent accidents and theft. Leaving the engine idling in a stationary vehicle is also forbidden unless it is necessary.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 2On the motorway, may I keep driving in the middle or left lane when the right lane is free?
As a rule, no. On the motorway, unless traffic is dense, you keep as far right as possible. After overtaking, you move back to the right as soon as it is safe. Not doing so is a 2nd-degree offence (€128); not keeping right in general is 1st degree (€64).Open the ruleYou must do this (14)
TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 2
I am on a main road. Do I have to give way to a car coming out of a small street on my right?
Yes, most of the time. If there are no signs or traffic lights, you must give way to every vehicle coming from the right, even from a small side street. Not giving way is a 2nd-degree offence.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 1When a lane closes, where should I merge, and how do I make way for an ambulance?
When traffic is very slow and a lane closes, you merge in turn (like a zip) just before the narrowing. On roads with two or more lanes, when traffic is jammed, you must make an emergency corridor for ambulances and fire engines.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 3Is it compulsory to wear a seat belt in the back seat and to put my child in a child seat?
Yes. Everyone in the front and back must wear a seat belt. A child shorter than 1,35 m must sit in an approved child seat. Not wearing a seat belt is a 2nd-degree offence; not putting a child in a child seat is a 3rd-degree offence.Open the rule TrafficRequiredWhat are the speed limits in Belgium in town, outside town and on the motorway?
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.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 3Do I have to stop at a pedestrian crossing if the pedestrian has not stepped onto the road yet?
Yes. At a pedestrian crossing, you must also give way to a pedestrian who is about to cross. Not giving way to a pedestrian is a 3rd-degree offence.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 3How much space must I leave when I pass a cyclist?
You must leave at least 1 metre in built-up areas and at least 1,5 metres outside them. In a cycle zone (fietszone), you may not overtake cyclists at all.Open the rule TrafficRequiredDo I need to register before driving into Brussels or Ghent in a car with foreign number plates?
Yes. Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have a low emission zone (LEZ). A car with foreign plates must be registered (free of charge), even if it meets the standards (Dutch plates excepted). It is best to register before you set off. Entering without registering will get you a fine.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 3Baby and child car seats: which children must use one, and may a child sit in the front?
A child under 18 who is shorter than 135 cm must sit in a suitable child car seat. Children may sit in the front, but if a rear-facing baby seat is fitted in the front, the front airbag must be switched off.Open the rule Criminal lawRequired· Criminal Code, level 2If I see someone injured or in danger in the street, do I have to help?
Yes. Knowingly failing to help someone in serious danger is a criminal offence (level 2). You do not have to put yourself in danger; calling 112 also counts as helping.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 1Do I need a licence, a helmet and a number plate for a speed pedelec (an e-bike that goes up to 45 km/h)?
Yes. In law, a speed pedelec is a moped (bromfiets klasse P / cyclomoteur classe P). You must be at least 16 and you need an AM or B licence, a helmet, registration and an SP number plate.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 1Do I have to wear a helmet and special clothing on a motorbike or a moped?
Yes. On a motorbike or a moped, both the rider and the passenger must wear a helmet. On a motorbike, gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers and boots that protect the ankles are also compulsory.Open the rule TrafficRequiredThe police stopped me for a traffic check: which documents must I show, and can I refuse a breath test?
Yes, you must show your driving licence, and the vehicle documents must be in the vehicle. You cannot refuse a breath test: deliberately refusing it carries the same penalty as an alcohol level of 0,8 per mille or more.Open the rule TrafficRequiredI came from abroad for a visit and I have no address in Belgium: do I have to pay a traffic fine on the spot?
Yes. A driver with no address in Belgium must pay the fine immediately or leave the same amount as a deposit. If you do not pay, the vehicle is held and can later be seized.Open the rule TrafficRequiredI received a speed camera fine at home, but I was not driving: what should I do?
You must identify the actual driver within 15 days. If you do not, the law presumes that you committed the offence. Showing that you were not the driver but not identifying the driver is also a level 2 crime; if the vehicle is registered to a company, failing to identify the driver is a level 1 crime.Open the ruleIt depends (17)
TrafficDepends