Driving in Luxembourg vs. United Kingdom: Key Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, you'll discover significant variations that impact vehicle operation and traveler safety. From driving on opposite sides of the road to distinct speed limits and traffic signage, each nation has unique practices. Understanding these contrasts is essential for a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
luxembourg:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
luxembourg:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
luxembourg:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
luxembourg:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
luxembourg:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
luxembourg:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
luxembourg:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
luxembourg:
N/A
united kingdom:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 75 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 75 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
luxembourg:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
luxembourg:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
75 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
75 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
130 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
luxembourg:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
luxembourg:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Luxembourg | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
luxembourg:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
luxembourg:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
luxembourg:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must have a valid national license | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; regular intervals | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
luxembourg:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
luxembourg:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Test Refusal
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
united kingdom:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
luxembourg:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
luxembourg:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
luxembourg:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
luxembourg:
113
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Luxembourg | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €145 | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €145 | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; severe penalties | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines often collected immediately | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually a specific period | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
luxembourg:
Up to €145
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
luxembourg:
Up to €145
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay