United Kingdom → Belgium

Driving in Belgium when you know the UK

Differences first, worst-to-get-wrong first. Rules that match are folded away at the bottom.

Driving to Belgium from the UK: what to check before you go

These are the key destination rules to check first. The comparison below shows every verified difference. Follow local signs and instructions on the road.

Which side of the road do you drive on in Belgium?: In Belgium you drive on the right.
What is the speed limit in Belgium?: 120 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on country roads, 50 km/h in towns and cities and 20 km/h in residential and living zones. Those are the national default limits, which apply where no sign says otherwise.
What is the drink driving limit in Belgium?: The legal limit in Belgium is 0.5 g/l.
What do you have to carry in your car in Belgium?: You must carry a warning triangle, a high-visibility vest, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.

Read the full driving rules in Belgium and the required car equipment in Belgium .

Looking to rent a car? Rental agencies often have there own rules on driving ages and equipment, make sure you check with them before you travel.
We earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.

What's different (12)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

UK · homeLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationRightFrom the RAC's list of the European exceptions: the UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta drive on the left, and every other European country drives on the right.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

UK · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destination120 km/h — about 75 mphUnless a sign says otherwise, which on the Brussels ring it often does.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

CriticalVaries by region

UK · home60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destination90 km/h — about 56 mph90 in Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region. Flanders is 70 — see below.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Flanders70 km/h — about 43 mph20 km/h lower than Wallonia and Brussels, on the same kind of road. The change is not announced at the regional border.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

UK · home30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Wales20 mph — about 32 km/hThe default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destination50 km/h — about 31 mphDrops to 30 near schools and in streets with cycle paths, which covers a large share of city centres.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalStricter than at homeVaries by region

UK · home80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Scotland50 mg/100ml — about 0.5 g/lChecked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destination0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100mlChecked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

What you must carry in the car

Critical

UK · homeNothing — no equipment is legally requiredNothing is legally required. Drivers arriving from most of continental Europe expect a triangle and a vest to be compulsory here; they are not.Checked 20 Aug 2026

Belgium · destination

Warning triangle
High-visibility vest
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit

Four items, which is more than most of Europe asks for. The extinguisher and the first aid kit are the ones visitors do not expect — check a hire car has both before you drive away. They go with the car's number plate rather than the driver, so they are required in a Belgian-registered car, hire cars included, and not in a car you drove in on foreign plates. One vest is required, for the driver, and must be worn if you leave the car on a motorway; vests for passengers are advised rather than required.Checked 19 Aug 2026 · official source

Youngest age you may drive

Important

UK · home17 yearsChecked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destination18 yearsThe practical test itself cannot be taken before 18.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Largest motorbike or scooter you may ride on a car licence

Important

UK · home

Engine up to 50 cc

A full car licence lets you ride a moped up to this engine size without L plates or a moped test. If you passed your car test on or after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a compulsory basic training (CBT) course. Anything larger needs CBT and the motorcycle tests. The Highway Code's Annex 2 defines the two-wheeled moped class by a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) rather than by engine size; that figure is not on the page cited here. Stated for licences issued in Great Britain; the source does not say whether foreign car licences get the same allowance.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Belgium · destination

Engine up to 50 cc
Power up to 4 kW
Top speed up to 45 km/h

A Belgian category B licence includes category AM automatically, and the ministry's AM page defines the class it covers (bromfiets klasse B) as a two-wheeler with an engine of at most 50 cc and a design speed of between 25 and 45 km/h; the 4 kW limit is the power of an electric motor. The same inclusion is stated on the ministry's category B page. Riding a 125 cc motorbike (category A1, up to 11 kW) on a B licence needs code 372 added to the licence: B held for at least 2 years and issued after 30 April 2011, plus 4 hours of practical lessons at an approved driving school. Code 372 is valid in Belgium only. The ministry pages do not say whether foreign car licences get the moped allowance.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

What a rider must wear or carry

Important

UK · homeNothing beyond a helmetNo law requires protective clothing beyond the helmet. Eye protection is advised, and if worn it must meet an approved standard.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Belgium · destination

Gloves
Protective jacket
Boots

Article 36 of the traffic code. Rider and passenger of a motorbike must wear gloves, a jacket with long sleeves, long trousers or an overall, and boots or ankle boots that protect the ankles. Long trousers are also required but are not in this list. The clothing rule is for motorbikes; it does not apply to mopeds.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Riding between lanes of slow traffic

Good to know

UK · homeAllowedNo law bans filtering. The Highway Code tells riders to take care and keep their speed low when filtering in slow-moving traffic, and tells drivers to expect it.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Belgium · destinationAllowed, with restrictionsArticle 16.2bis of the traffic code. A motorbike may ride between two lanes or queues of stopped or slow traffic. The rider may not go faster than 50 km/h, and may not go more than 20 km/h faster than the traffic in those lanes. On motorways and on roads for motor traffic only, the rider must use the gap between the two left-hand lanes. This applies to motorbikes, not mopeds.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Smallest motorbike allowed on the motorway

Good to know

UK · home

Engine at least 50 cc
Power at least 4 kW

The rule is set by engine size, not vehicle class: riders of motorcycles under 50 cc (4 kW) must not use motorways, so a machine of exactly 50 cc is allowed. The Highway Code gives the power figure in brackets as the equivalent of the engine size rather than as a separate test. Riders holding only a provisional motorcycle licence must not use motorways either.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Belgium · destination

Top speed at least 70 km/h

Article 21.1 of the traffic code bans mopeds (bromfietsen) from motorways by vehicle class, and separately bans any vehicle or combination that cannot reach 70 km/h on a flat road. The article states no engine size, so 70 km/h is the only threshold written. Article 2 defines a moped as at most 50 cc, 4 kW and 45 km/h by design, so every moped also fails the speed floor; a two-wheeler that can reach 70 km/h is a motorbike and may enter. Article 21.2 then sets 70 km/h as the minimum speed to ride at.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Headlights on a motorbike in daytime

Good to know

UK · homeNot requiredDipped headlights in daylight are advised to make the rider easier to see, but they are not required.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Belgium · destinationRequired at all timesArticle 30bis of the traffic code. Motorbikes and two-wheeled mopeds must have the dipped headlight and the red rear light on at all times, also in daylight. The main beam may not be used in daylight.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (23)

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

UK · homeNot requiredA full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Which side you overtake on

UK · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

UK · home70 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit in living and residential zones

UK · homeNot yet verified

Belgium · destination20 km/hIn a residential area people may walk and children may play anywhere on the road. You must stop for them.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

UK · home

Motorway — 60 mph
Dual carriageway — 60 mph
Country roads — 50 mph

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Turning at a red light

UK · homeNot allowedRed means stop for every direction. A separate green arrow is the only exception.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Age below which a child needs a child seat

UK · home12 yearsUntil age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

UK · home

Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Winter tyres

UK · homeNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

How you pay for motorways

UK · home

Toll booths
City charges

Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for professional drivers

UK · homeNot yet verified

Belgium · destination0.2 g/lChecked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

How long you may drive on your own licence

UK · home12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

When you must switch your headlights on

UK · homeNot requiredHeadlights are required at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Who has priority at a roundabout

UK · homeTraffic already on the roundabout goes firstGive way to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

UK · homeNo single national answer:

EnglandAllowedExcept London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026

WalesAllowedDiscouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Parking facing against the traffic

UK · homeAllowedBy day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

UK · home

A junction — 10 m

Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Low-emission zones

UK · homeIn many citiesLondon has its own ultra low emission zone. Clean air zones operate in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside, and Scottish cities have separate low emission zones. Most only charge vehicles that miss emissions standards.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Congestion charges

UK · homeIn some citiesLondon and Durham.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Emergency number

UK · home999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Whether police can fine you on the spot

UK · homeYes — visitors must pay at the roadsideFixed penalties are normally paid later, not at the roadside. A driver who cannot give a UK address must pay a deposit on the spot.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

What you should carry, but do not have to

UK · home

Warning triangle
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
High-visibility vest

Advised, not required. One motorway exception is worth knowing: do not set a warning triangle out on a motorway hard shoulder — get behind the barrier instead.Checked 20 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Typical fines

UK · home

Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Belgium · destinationNot yet verified

Same in both (6)

Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Who must wear a seatbelt — Everyone, in every seat official source
Height below which a child needs a child seat — 135 cm official source
Helmets on a motorbike or scooter — Required for rider and passenger official source
Hands-free phone calls — Allowed official source
Youngest age you may ride the smallest class of scooter — 16 years official source