Driving in Belgium vs. Germany: Key Differences Explained
When venturing through Belgium and Germany, understanding the distinct regulations and practices on the road is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key disparities include speed limits, lane usage rules, and the approach to emergency vehicles. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances will enhance your driving experience and promote safety while exploring these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
germany:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
germany:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
germany:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
germany:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
germany:
Common
Signals
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Indicates the light is about to change to green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
germany:
German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory, every 2 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on rear license plate |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial, varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
germany:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
germany:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
germany:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
germany:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | €30 to €60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | €90 to €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
germany:
€30 to €60
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
germany:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
germany:
Common
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay