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Self-Drive
Motoring holidays in Belgium.
Tips on driving abroad
in Belgium. Motoring rules and regulations in Belgium. Belgian motoring
laws.
Distances
from Channel Ports
International Driving Permit
Interactive Route
Planner
Relative Carbon
Emissions
Buy Road Maps of Belgium
Make sure you Drive Alive! Drive on
the right!
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Be especially careful when setting
off from service stations or restaurants on the left side of the road.
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Take care when overtaking - allow
more space between you and the car in front so you can see further down the
road ahead.
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Belgium has strict drink driving
laws, only allowing 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood -
stricter than the UK where the limit is 0.8.
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Seat belts front and rear are
obligatory everywhere.
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Speed limits, shown below, are
implemented rigorously. Radar traps are frequent. In Belgium heavy on-the-spot
fines can be levied.
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Remember - Speeding and other
traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines.
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Belgian motorways are toll-free.
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When on a roundabout, give way to
traffic entering from the left, unless signed otherwise.
A full UK driving licence is required. As in the UK, seat belts should be
worn front and rear. Below are motoring regulations relating to Belgium. 30 km/h
speed limit zones apply in many towns near
schools, hospitals, churches, etc, where children or elderly people could be
crossing. These limits are strictly enforced, and, unfortunately, not always
well-signed.
|
Speed Limits |
Motorway and dual carriageways |
Open Road |
Town |
Alcohol mg/ml |
|
Belgium |
120 km/h |
90 km/h |
50 km/h (30 near schools, hospitals, churches etc) |
0.5 |
Children
in cars: children under 3 cannot travel as front-seat passenger unless they
use a proper child restraint system. Children under 3 in the rear must use a
proper child restraint if one is available. Children over 3 and under 12 must
use appropriate restraints front and rear.
Documentation: always
carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate
of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you
carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in
your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to
drive.
Drinking
and driving: Don't do it. You will be fined up to 125� on the spot if the
level of alcohol in the bloodstream is between 0.05 per cent and 0.08 per cent.
You will also have to surrender your licence for 3 hours. You could be
prosecuted, which could result in a fine of up to 2,500�. Over this level and
fines shoot up to 10,000�, and you could face prosecution with a maximum
penalty of 6 months in prison and a 5 year suspension of your licence.
Fines: On the spot fines are issued. Ensure an official receipt is issued
by the officer collecting the fine. As a foreign motorist you could refuse to
pay the fine, but if you do you must offer a surety or run the risk of having
your vehicle impounded.
Fire extinguisher is mandatory in the
vehicle
First-aid kit is advised, but not compulsory.
Fuel:
All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG are available as well as lead
substitute additive. Leaded is getting hard to find. It is allowed to carry
petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they
probably won't work at automatic pumps, which are often the only pumps open
out-of-hours. It's a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be
travelling abroad. This ensures they don't suspend your card if they spot it
being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud
measure.
GB
sticker: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12
stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB
sticker when driving in European Union countries.
Headlamp converters are
compulsory.
Lights:
dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility. Motorcycles must use
dipped headlights during the day at all times.
Minimum
age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car and
motorcycle.
Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets.
Motor insurance: third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not
required but your insurer should be advised of your trip.
Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted.
Visibility Vests are now compulsory in
Belgium. They are also compulsory in Austria, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal
and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU). The
rules vary from country to country concerning number of vests required and
whether they should be carried in the car or boot. Common sense suggests that
there should be a vest for every occupant, and that the vests should be carried
in the car, and put on before getting out. Do this and you will not have a
problem.
Warning
triangle is compulsory.
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All information on this page is provided as a
service to our clients. It is intended as a guide to the more important rules
for the different countries to which we offer driving holidays. It is not meant
to be a comprehensive document. We try and keep the information on this page
up-to-date, but we cannot be held responsible in any way for any consequences
arising from any inaccuracies. If you find a mistake or would like to send us
some additional information, please email
us. Your co-operation is appreciated.
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