Driving licenceBelgium

Yes. Anyone driving a motor vehicle on a Belgian public road must hold and carry a valid Belgian or legally recognised foreign licence for the vehicle category concerned, unless a specific legal training or examination exception applies.

Yes. The driver must carry the valid licence or legally equivalent document while driving on a public road.

The principal Belgian categories include AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E, DE and G.

Category AM principally covers certain mopeds, speed pedelecs and light motorised quadricycles, subject to their legal vehicle classification.

Belgium uses categories A1, A2 and A, with different age, power and training requirements.

Category B covers a motor vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of no more than 3500 kg, designed and constructed to carry no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver.

Yes. It generally permits a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of no more than 750 kg. A heavier trailer is also permitted when the combined maximum authorised mass remains no more than 3500 kg.

Category B with code 96 is required for certain combinations exceeding 3500 kg but not exceeding a combined maximum authorised mass of 4250 kg.

Category BE is required for certain category-B vehicle and trailer combinations exceeding the limits of ordinary category B or code 96.

Categories C1, C, C1E and CE apply to heavier goods vehicles and their combinations.

Categories D1, D, D1E and DE apply to minibuses, buses, coaches and combinations with trailers.

Category G is the Belgian category for specified agricultural and forestry vehicles.

The category-B theory test may be taken from the age of 17.

The practical category-B test may be taken from the age of 18.

A successful theory-test result is valid for three years. A valid theory result and provisional licence are both required when taking the practical test.

Belgium currently has provisional category-B licences M36, M18 and M12.

M36 may be obtained from age 17, requires one or two registered supervisors and is valid for 36 months. It is not renewable.

No. The learner may drive only while accompanied by one of the supervisors registered for that provisional licence.

M18 may be obtained from age 18, is valid for 18 months and allows independent practice after the applicant has obtained the required certificate of competence.

Yes. The qualifying training or test procedure differs between Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.

M12 is a one-time provisional licence that may be requested within three years after an M36 or M18 has expired. It requires a valid theory result, six hours of approved driving-school instruction and a supervisor and is valid for 12 months.

No. Belgian provisional category-B licences M36, M18 and M12 may be used only in Belgium.

A category-B provisional-licence holder may not drive from 22:00 until 06:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, the evenings before public holidays and public holidays themselves.

Yes. Driver training and examinations are regional competences, so Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels may impose additional training, minimum-practice or test requirements.

The bank-card-format Belgian driving licence has an administrative validity of no more than 10 years. A category or medical authorisation may have a shorter validity.

The holder should request renewal during the three months before its expiry date.

Yes, subject to their condition and legal validity. All old paper licences must ultimately be replaced by bank-card-format licences by 2033.

It must be replaced when it is lost, stolen, damaged or unreadable or when the holder no longer resembles the photograph.

The application is normally made through the municipality where the applicant is registered. Eligible category-A and category-B applications or renewals may also be available through BelDrive.

Eligible applicants generally include persons with normal residence in Belgium, normally demonstrated by registration for at least 185 days during the previous 12 months, qualifying students and holders of certain diplomatic or special identity cards.

Apply for a replacement through the competent municipal or online procedure. The licence should also be replaced when it is damaged or unreadable.

First report the theft to the police and then apply through the municipality. A stolen licence cannot currently be replaced through the ordinary BelDrive procedure.

No. A person who has been disqualified from driving may not drive the affected categories and must surrender the licence as legally required.

Yes. A medical-fitness assessment may impose a shorter validity period, vehicle adaptations or conditions recorded on the licence.

Code 95 proves professional competence and is required for most professional drivers using categories in groups C and D.

Professional competence is valid for five years and is normally renewed after 35 hours of periodic training, subject to the applicable requirements and exemptions.

Yes. A valid national licence issued by an EU or EEA country may normally be used in Belgium while it remains valid.

Usually not. Exchange becomes required in specified circumstances, including expiry, loss, theft or damage and where a licence without an administrative expiry date has been held for two years after Belgian registration.

No. A person may hold only one European national driving licence.

A valid recognised non-European national or international licence may be used under the applicable recognition and residence conditions. Residents should verify whether and when it must be exchanged.

No. The licence model must be recognised, valid and authentic and must satisfy the Belgian residence and issue conditions. Otherwise, Belgian theory and practical tests may be required.

No. Only the original qualifying national licence is considered for exchange; a provisional or international licence is not sufficient.

It is a standardised translation of a valid national licence intended for use in countries that recognise it.

Yes. The holder must also be able to present the valid national driving licence.

No. A valid Belgian national licence is normally sufficient in EU and EEA countries.

It is not intended for use in the country where it was issued or in the country where its holder resides. Belgian residents must use their valid national licence in Belgium.