Car lights in Belgium: which lights, and when?

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Lighting questions come up in every Belgian theory exam: which lights at night, in fog, in rain, in a tunnel, when stopped? The Belgian highway code sets precise visibility limits that you need to know by heart.

Key points

Two limits to remember

Dipped beam as soon as visibility drops below 200 m; rear fog light only below 100 m.

Do not dazzle

Switch from main beam to dipped beam for oncoming traffic or when following a vehicle.

Hazard lights with purpose

They signal danger: a stationary vehicle, sudden slowing, a breakdown.

The different lights and what they do

A car has side lights (to be seen when stationary), dipped headlights (to light without dazzling), main beam (to see far), front and rear fog lights, hazard lights and indicators. Daytime running lights on recent cars do not replace dipped headlights at night: they do not light the rear of the car.

Which light for which situation?
Situation	Lights	Remember
Night, lit road	Dipped beam	Main beam is useless and dazzles
Night, unlit road	Main beam, dipped for oncoming traffic	Also when closely following a vehicle
Visibility under 200 m (rain, fog)	Dipped beam, day and night	The 200 m limit
Fog, snow, very heavy rain	Front fog lights allowed	In addition to dipped beam
Visibility under 100 m	Rear fog light allowed	Forbidden above 100 m: it dazzles
Stopped on an unlit public road at night	Side (parking) lights	Visible from both sides

Main beam: when must you switch it off?

Replace main beam with dipped beam for oncoming road users, when following another vehicle closely and when the road is sufficiently lit. The test is not an exact distance but the risk of dazzling someone.

Exam trap: flashing your headlights never gives priority. It only warns of danger or signals an intention to overtake, at night instead of the horn.

Fog lights: the most common mistake

Many drivers leave the rear fog light on in ordinary rain. That is forbidden: it is only allowed when fog, snow or very heavy rain reduces visibility to less than 100 metres. Above that, its strong light dazzles the driver behind and masks your brake lights.

Hazard lights and indicators

Hazard lights signal a stationary vehicle that creates a danger, sudden slowing (the end of a motorway queue) or a vehicle being towed. They do not allow you to park where parking is forbidden.

Indicators announce a manoeuvre: changing lanes, turning, pulling out of a parking space, leaving a roundabout. They give no priority: whoever manoeuvres must give way.

Practise this topic with real exam questions

Reading a rule is not enough: in the Belgian theory exam every question is asked on a photo of a real traffic situation, with answers that look deliberately alike. On PermisBelges, every topic of the highway code is practised with questions in the GOCA exam format, each one corrected and explained.

A free account gives access to the lessons, the free mock exams and progress tracking. Premium unlocks every exam simulation, detailed statistics per topic and targeted revision of your mistakes until exam day.

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Frequently asked questions

When must I use dipped headlights during the day?

As soon as visibility is below 200 metres, for example in rain or fog.

When can I use the rear fog light?

Only when fog, snow or very heavy rain reduces visibility below 100 metres.

Are daytime running lights enough at night?

No. They do not light the rear: at night you need dipped headlights.

Does flashing your headlights give priority?

No. It is a warning, never a way to give or claim priority.

When should I use hazard lights?

To signal a dangerous stationary vehicle, sudden slowing or towing.