Do you have plans to study or work in Belgium? Then, you may want toget a Belgian driving license.A Belgian driving license is an official document that authorizes you to drive a vehicle in Belgium. Driving license in Belgium can be obtained after finishing a driving school and passing a two-stage test; the theory test and practical test. However, If you are only in Belgium temporarily, you can use your international driving license.

The legal age to get a driving license inBelgium is 18 years. The age limit varies depending on the vehicle you wish to drive. Thoseaged 21-24are permitted to drive the economy and compact cars, while those 25 and older have a more liberal choice for the vehicles they choose to drive. The minimum age for renting a car in Belgium is 21 years old. If you want to know more on how to get a Belgian driving license in Belgium here, then this detailed guide is for you.

Categories of Belgian Driving License

A motorcycles and mopeds (Driving license categories AM, A1, A2, A).

B cars, tractors and work vehicles (Driving license categories B, BE, W).

C vans and trucks over 3,500kg (Driving license categories C, C1, CE, C1E).

D buses (Driving license categories D, D1, DE, D1E).

CD trucks and buses (Driving license categories C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, D1E).

TMT truck module (must have passed D test).

BMT bus module (must have passed C test).

Driving Without a License in Belgium

Some vehicles do not require adrivers licenselike;

• certain mobility devices,
• certain two-wheelers and tricycles,
• slow-moving vehicles and certain vehicles for the disabled.

In the category oftwo-wheelers, Class A mopedsdo not require adrivers license. Motorized vehicles for people with disabilities that run at a walk do not require adrivers license. In the case of some slow-moving vehicles, whether or not you need adrivers licensedepends on your age.

Is My Driving License Valid in Belgium?

If you are from a European Union nation, European Economic Area or a non-EU nation with agreements with Belgium, then yourlicense is validand can be used for driving in Belgium. The countries under the European Union acknowledged by Belgium are:

• Austria
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of Cyprus
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

Also recognized are those who are members of the European Economic Area;

• Iceland
• Norway
• Liechtenstein

For U.S. citizens, using anAmerican driving licensein Belgium is permitted. However, some car rental companies might require an International Drivers Permit for Belgium before renting, so it is best to get one to be sure.

Depending on your nationality and how long you intend to stay in Belgium, you can use your internationaldriving license for a certain period, or exchange it for a Belgian driving licence. There are agreements in place with certain countries where you can exchange your foreign driving license for a Belgian one. If your home country isnt on the exemption list, then you will have to take a driving test within one year.

EU/EEA Driving License in Belgium

If you are moving to Belgium from countries within the European Union or European Economic Area, then you dont need to exchange yourdrivers license. However, you should register your license with the driving license department in Belgium, in case of loss or theft. If a license from an EU country is lost or stolen, the replacement will be a Belgiandriving licence.

You can also exchange an EU driving license for a Belgian one, this can serve as a local form of identification. EU licenses are valid for 10 years, however, if you hold a driving license that has an unlimited validity period issued by another EU country, you may be required to renew your license 2 years after officially registering your place of residence in Belgium.

To exchange a European driving license for a Belgian one, you need:

• ID paper obtained in Belgium
• Passport
• Recent identity photograph
• Double-sided copy of your foreign driving license
• Application fee

Non-EU Driving License in Belgium

Non-EU citizens can use their foreign driving license in Belgium for a short period or up to 6 months. You will need a Belgian driving license if you plan to stay long-term or once you have registered as an official Belgian resident. You will get a 1-year grace period if you need to pass a Belgian driving test. Driving without a license in Belgium is an offense. So, you must carry yourdrivers licenseat all times, together with your International Driving Permit (IDP), which contains a translation of your license. An international driving license has a lifetime of three years.

To exchange a foreign driving license (outside Europe) for a Belgian one, you need:

• Identity photographs
• Foreign driving license
• A translation of your foreign driving license
• Residence permit
• Application fee

How to Get a Belgian Driving License

Beside Dutch, French and German, you can alsoapply for a Belgian driving licensein English. Belgian driving licenses are valid for 10 years. Processing times for Belgian driving licenses can vary; anywhere from 1 or 2 weeks up to a couple of months is possible. As a result, you will receive a temporary license in the meantime.

Requirements For Getting a Belgian driving license

In order to get a Belgiandriving licence, you need to fulfill these conditions;

• Have a Belgian residence card.
• Be 17 years of age for the theoretical test, 18 for applying for your permanent drivers licence.
• Pass a vision test.
• Pass a theory examination.
• Pass a practical examination.
• Declare that you are not banned from driving, or that you have passed a reintegration test after a ban.
• Declare that you are physically fit to drive a vehicle or have a doctors certificate.

You will need the following documents to apply for a Belgiandrivinglicence;

• Proof of identity
• Provisional driving license
• Proof of the fee payment
• Proof of insurance
• Vehicle Registration documents

Taking The Belgian Driving Test

To get a Belgian driving license, you must pass both a theoretical exam and a practical driving test at an official test center. Driving lessons are available from a wide variety of driving schools. You can find all the local test centers in Belgium where you can take the test in French and Dutch. You first need to pass the theory test, which can be taken from age 17. If you dont speak French, Dutch, or German, some driving schools in Belgium run driving theory test in English.

Belgian Driving Theory Test in English

If you want to take the test in a language other than Dutch, French, or German, you may be able to request the assistance of a translator (chosen by the test center), however, there are some restrictions.Brussels,for example, banned translators in 2017; now, pre-recorded translations are available in the most frequently spoken languages. Flanders, on the other hand, allows translators but only for French, German, and English.

Driving test centers around Belgium that offer interpreters sometimes organize a special day when speakers of the same language can be put together. If you require an interpreter, you must book a test at one of the below centers:

Brussels: Schaerbeek, Anderlecht

Walloon: Wandre, Couillet

Flanders: Bree, Alken, Deurne, Sint-Denijs-Westrem.

The Belgium theory driving test takes about 30 minutes. It is a multiple choice test with 50 questions about traffic signs, rules, speeding, safety etc. Based on real situations that can occur in traffic. You can either get lessons in a driving school or study yourself for the theory test. If you get lessons you dont have a limit of times you can retake the test. If you self-study you can retake the test in case of failure only twice. After that you need to follow lessons to do the test again. Once you pass you get a brochure with details about your practical test. Your passed theory exam is valid for three years.

Some people complain that their success is dependent on the ability of the translator, so lots of study helps. You can find study books (translated into English) and online courses to help. To request to take the Belgium driving license theory test in English, the waiting times vary but can be up to a month. So you have to book early.

Temporary license

After successfully passing the theory test, you can apply for a provisional driving license. You can do this by visiting the city hall to apply for a temporary license valid for either 18 months or 36 months.

18 months:If you practice with a minimum of 20 hrs of lessons in a recognized driving school you can apply for a temporary license valid for 18 months at the city hall, then you can drive without an instructor.

36 months:If you practice with a private instructor you can apply for a license valid for 36 months. An instructor can be a family member or friend. However this instructor needs to be a Belgian resident in possession of a Belgian or European driving license for at least 8 years. Private instructors are obliged to take a 3 hrs preparatory training with a driving school or certified instructor. This training is valid for 10 years. You can have one or two instructors appointed. One of them must always be present, seated in front of your vehicle, when you drive during the time of your temporary license.