Belgium on a Swiss Licence — IDP, No Vignette & Priority-Right

Coming from Switzerland, Belgium feels physically similar — right-hand traffic, the same 0.05 alcohol limit, comparable motorway speeds. Two differences matter, and one of them actually saves you money.

No vignette — Belgian motorways are free

At home, the Swiss motorway vignette is an annual ritual. In Belgium there’s nothing to buy: car drivers use the motorway network toll-free, no sticker, no app, no box on the windscreen. Don’t go hunting for a vignette desk at the border — there isn’t one for cars. (Lorries pay a separate distance charge, but that’s not your rental.)

Bring the IDP, and expect priority from the right

Switzerland sits outside the EU, so carry an International Driving Permit with your Swiss licence and passport — recommended, and rental desks look for it. On the road, Belgium enforces priorité à droite more firmly than Swiss junctions, which are usually clearly signed. At an unmarked crossing, a car from your right has priority, even where you feel you’re on the main road; locals pull out expecting it. The yellow priority diamond marks where you keep priority — without it, give way right. The Brussels ring (R0) is the sharpest test.

Speeds and the rest

Limits are 120 on motorways (matching Switzerland), 70–90 rural, 50 in town, 30 across central Brussels, with heavy average-speed cameras; 10 km/h over is around EUR 53, which you can check on the Speeding Fine Calculator. Confirm your paperwork via the Driving Permit Checker and read the full rules on our Belgium driving guide. The car needs a triangle, vest, first-aid kit and extinguisher; petrol is about EUR 1.90/litre, emergency 112.