Destinations / Belgium
Driving in Belgium as a visitor
Usually yes. Belgium expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Belgium expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 120 km/h motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Right of way | Priority to the right at unmarked junctions. |
|---|---|
| In the car | Reflective vest and warning triangle required. |
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| City zones | Low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. |
On the road in Belgium
At the pump
Stations sell 95 (E10) and 98 unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG; most are self-service with card-only automated pumps common after hours, and prices run roughly 1.60-1.80 euros per litre.
After a crash
Dial 112 for police/ambulance. Complete the European Accident Statement (constat amiable) with the other driver - the Belgian insurers' Crashform app can file it electronically - and call police if there are injuries, disputes or a foreign/uninsured vehicle.
Sources: theaa.com · parking.brussels · 112.be · eccbelgium.be
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Belgium?
Usually yes. Belgium expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Belgium accept?
Belgium recognises the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Belgium ask for one?
Brussels desks request an IDP for licences issued outside the EU/EEA.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.