Driving on Belgian motorways: all the rules

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Motorways are the safest roads per kilometre, but also the roads where a mistake costs the most. In the Belgian theory test, motorway questions are often scored as serious faults: merging, overtaking, breakdowns, the hard shoulder. Here are all the rules, in the order of a journey.

Key points

Between 70 and 120 km/h

Maximum speed 120 km/h, minimum 70 km/h, unless signs say otherwise.

Merge without stopping

The slip road is for reaching traffic speed; you give way to vehicles already on the motorway.

Breakdown: safety first

Hazard lights, high-visibility vest, warning triangle 100 metres back, everyone behind the barrier.

Who may use the motorway, and how fast

A motorway starts at sign F5 and ends at sign F7. Pedestrians, cyclists, mopeds, farm tractors and vehicles unable to reach the minimum speed are not allowed. The speed limit is 120 km/h in all three regions and the minimum speed is 70 km/h. Lorries over 3.5 tonnes are limited to 90 km/h.

Speeds on Belgian motorways
Vehicle	Maximum	Note
Car, motorcycle	120 km/h	Unless a sign shows a lower limit
Lorry > 3.5 t	90 km/h	50 m gap if > 7.5 t or > 7 m long
Car with trailer	120 km/h	A lower limit may apply depending on the trailer
All vehicles	Minimum 70 km/h	Except in heavy traffic

Merging, driving, overtaking

Merging: use the whole slip road to reach traffic speed, signal left, and give way to vehicles already on the motorway.
Zip merging: when a lane ends, vehicles merge alternately, one by one, at the point where the lane disappears. It is compulsory in Belgium.
Keep right: drive in the right-hand lane whenever possible; the other lanes are for overtaking.
Overtaking: on the left. When traffic moves in parallel queues, going faster in a right-hand queue is not overtaking.
Exiting: signal right in good time and slow down on the exit lane, not on the motorway.

What is forbidden on a motorway

Reversing or making a U-turn, even after missing an exit.
Crossing the central reservation or using service crossings.
Driving on the hard shoulder, unless signs or officers allow it.
Stopping or parking, except at service areas or in a breakdown.

Missed your exit? Carry on to the next one. Reversing on a motorway is one of the most heavily punished offences.

Breakdown or accident: the right sequence

Switch on your hazard lights and, if possible, pull onto the hard shoulder. Put on your high-visibility vest before getting out, let passengers out on the right and have them wait behind the safety barrier. Place the warning triangle at least 100 metres behind the vehicle (30 metres on other roads), then call for assistance. In a traffic jam, leave a corridor free for emergency vehicles.

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.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the motorway speed limit in Belgium?

120 km/h in all three regions, unless a sign shows a lower limit. Lorries over 3.5 tonnes are limited to 90 km/h.

Is there a minimum speed on Belgian motorways?

Yes, 70 km/h, unless traffic conditions make it impossible.

How far back should the warning triangle be on a motorway?

At least 100 metres behind the vehicle. On other roads, 30 metres is enough.

Is zip merging compulsory in Belgium?

Yes. When a lane ends, vehicles take turns to merge at the point where the lane disappears.

What if I miss my exit?

Drive on to the next exit. Reversing and U-turns are strictly forbidden.