As the holder of a Belgian driving licence, may I drive a vehicle abroad while subject to a driving ban?

If you have been convicted by a Belgian court and disqualified from driving, and that measure is currently being enforced, the disqualification generally applies within Belgian territory. However, whether you may drive a vehicle abroad must be assessed in light of the applicable regulations and the validity of your driving licence. In other words, during the period of disqualification imposed by the court, you may not drive a motor vehicle in Belgium that falls within the scope of the disqualification, except where the court has expressly provided for exceptions concerning certain categories of vehicles. If you are stopped by the police while the driving ban is in force, you risk an additional conviction before the police court.

The penalties provided for by law are not insignificant.

Article 48 of the Belgian Road Traffic Act provides for penalties for driving a motor vehicle while disqualified from driving. The applicable penalties depend on the date of the offence and the legislation in force at that time. More severe penalties may also apply in cases of repeat offences.

But what if you have already booked a trip abroad during the period of disqualification? Can you drive a vehicle abroad without risking an additional conviction?

In principle, a disqualification from driving imposed by a Belgian court applies within Belgian territory. However, this does not automatically mean that you are permitted to drive abroad. You must also comply with local regulations and hold a valid driving licence recognised in the country concerned.

As you may be required to surrender your driving licence to the registry of the court that convicted you, you should check in advance whether you have the necessary documents to drive abroad and whether you are legally permitted to do so.

An international driving permit is not automatically a solution. It supplements the national driving licence but does not replace it. Furthermore, a person who has been disqualified from driving cannot obtain an international driving permit while the disqualification remains in force.

For information about international driving permits, you can contact the relevant department of your local municipal administration.

What if I hold a foreign driving licence and have been disqualified from driving in Belgium?

As explained above, a disqualification from driving imposed by a Belgian court generally applies within Belgian territory.

The enforcement of the disqualification, the notification or formal service of the decision, and the date on which the disqualification period begins depend on the applicable regulations and the specific circumstances of your case. Your place of residence and the manner in which the decision is communicated to you may also be relevant.

You should not assume that the disqualification cannot be enforced simply because you do not have a registered address in Belgium.

If you re-enter Belgian territory after your conviction, the competent authorities may notify you of the decision and take the necessary enforcement measures.

To avoid uncertainty regarding the enforcement of the disqualification, you are advised to contact the registry of the court that imposed it and establish which formalities you must complete.

You should carefully comply with any instructions and deadlines communicated to you. Whether and when you are required to surrender your foreign driving licence must be determined in accordance with the applicable regulations and the circumstances of your case. In any event, you are prohibited from driving a motor vehicle in Belgium for as long as the disqualification remains in force.

What if I hold a Belgian driving licence and am banned from driving abroad?

You should first consult the local regulations of the country concerned and comply with the driving ban imposed there.

A driving ban imposed abroad does not automatically have the same consequences as a disqualification from driving imposed by a Belgian court. Any consequences for your right to drive in Belgium must be assessed separately.

The applicable European and international regulations must also be taken into account. Directive (EU) 2025/2206 establishes a framework for the cross-border enforcement of certain driving disqualifications. Member States must adopt and publish the necessary measures by 26 November 2028. These measures will apply from 26 November 2029.

If you were required to surrender your Belgian driving licence as a result of a driving ban imposed by a foreign court, you should not automatically apply for a replacement licence upon returning to Belgium and assume that you are once again permitted to drive.

In such circumstances, contact the competent Belgian authority and, where necessary, the foreign authority that retained your licence. Before driving again, verify that you hold a valid driving licence and are legally entitled to drive a motor vehicle in Belgium.