Driving Differences: Belgium vs Luxembourg Explained
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Luxembourg, understanding the contrasts in regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and penalty enforcement, shaping the driving experience in each nation. Familiarizing yourself with these variations ensures a safer and more enjoyable trip in these European countries.
Lanes
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Not typically used. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Not typically used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
luxembourg:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 75 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 75 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
luxembourg:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
luxembourg:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
luxembourg:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Luxembourg |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
Documentation
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; must have a valid national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory; regular intervals |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
Alcohol
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
luxembourg:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Varies; severe penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes; fines often collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; usually a specific period |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period