Do you need an International Driving Permit in Belgium?

Yes. Belgium is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which recognises an International Driving Permit valid for up to 3 years when carried with your national licence.

Convention
1968 Vienna Convention
Permit valid up to
3 years
In force since
16 November 1988

Belgium and the road traffic conventions

ConventionStatusIn force sincePermit validity
1968 Vienna ConventionRatified16 November 19883 years
1949 Geneva ConventionRatified23 April 19541 year

Which vehicles your permit covers in Belgium

Belgium applies the vehicle classes set out by the 1968 Vienna Convention. Your permit only covers the classes that are already on your national licence, so a category you do not hold at home is not granted by the permit.

The English page of the International Driving Agency booklet, listing vehicle categories A to E
The English page of our booklet, showing the same categories an officer in Belgium would read.
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • BE, CE, DE

What each category covers under the 1968 Vienna Convention

What to carry when you drive in Belgium

An International Driving Permit never replaces your national licence. It is a standardised translation that local police and rental desks can read, and it is only valid alongside the licence it was issued against. Carry both, and keep your passport handy at rental pickup, since most rental companies ask to see all three before releasing a vehicle.

Our document reproduces your licence details across 12 languages in the booklet format the conventions describe, so an officer who reads none of them in your alphabet can still find your name, date of birth and vehicle classes:

  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese
  • Italian
  • German
  • Russian
  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • Japanese
  • Thai
  • Vietnamese
The inside cover of the booklet, listing the contracting states where the permit is recognised
The inside cover lists the contracting states. Belgium appears on it.

What the road rules say in Belgium

Minimum driving age
18 years

Common questions about driving in Belgium

How long is an International Driving Permit valid in Belgium?
Up to 3 years. Belgium joined the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 16 November 1988 by ratification, and that convention sets the maximum at 3 years from the date of issue, or until your national licence expires if that comes first.
Does the permit replace my driving licence in Belgium?
No. It is a translation of the licence you already hold and has no effect on its own. You must carry your original national licence with it at all times.

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Sources

  1. Convention on Road Traffic (Vienna, 8 November 1968) United Nations Treaty Collection, 91 parties. Checked 4 August 2026.
  2. Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva, 19 September 1949) United Nations Treaty Collection, 103 parties. Checked 4 August 2026.