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A straight road lined with bare poplars running between ploughed fields in Flanders under heavy overcast.

Belgium

Drives on the right · EUR · Emergency 112
LAST VERIFIED 2026-09-13

Driving in Belgium

Belgium has no road tolls for cars, which makes it one of the cheapest countries here to cross — and then it recovers the difference through enforcement and city access rules. Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent all operate low-emission zones, and they require registration rather than merely a compliant vehicle: an unregistered or non-compliant car can be fined on a single entry. They are three separate schemes, so clearing one does not clear the others. Brussels also runs a 30 km/h default across most of its streets, well below the 50 that applies to typical urban roads elsewhere in the country. Combined with one of the highest speed-camera densities in Europe, the capital is an easy place to collect a fine while driving in a way that feels entirely normal. Roundabout priority now goes to circulating traffic, but the rule changed within living memory and some drivers still behave as though entering traffic has priority — worth a moment's caution at unfamiliar junctions. Otherwise it is familiar: 50, 90 and 120 for limits, a 0.5‰ alcohol limit, priority to the right at unmarked junctions, and no winter tyre requirement.

Speed limits

Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
90 km/h
Motorway
120 km/h

Alcohol limits

General limit
0.5‰
Novice drivers
Same as general limit

Mandatory equipment

  • •Warning triangle
  • •Hi-vis vest

Winter tires & snow chains

No legal requirement for winter tires or chains, though recommended given variable winter conditions.

Tolls

System
No general toll

No general road tolls for passenger cars; a distance-based toll (viaTAG) applies to trucks and vans over 3.5 t only.

More things to know before you drive

Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited.
Child seats
Children under 135 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their height and weight.
Headlights
Not generally mandatory in daylight outside tunnels; recommended in poor visibility.
Low-emission & restricted zones
Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent all operate low-emission zones (LEZ) requiring vehicle registration and meeting emissions criteria — check each city before driving in, since non-compliant vehicles can be fined even for a single entry.
Right of way & roundabouts
Priority to the right at unmarked intersections; roundabouts give way to traffic already circulating (a change from older rules, so watch for drivers still behaving as if entering traffic has priority).
Parking
Paid parking zones are common in cities via meter or app; blue-zone areas may require a parking disc.
Speed cameras
Extensive fixed and mobile camera network — Belgium has one of the highest camera densities in Europe.

Good to know

Brussels-Capital Region has a general 30 km/h default speed limit (since 2021) on most streets, lower than the 50 km/h shown above for typical urban roads — check local signage in the capital.