In a week dedicated to cars and the roads in Belgium, our Experts help with your queries concerning driving licenses. and Morris Frazier on Importing your car to Belgium

Re: Driving license change


Dear Expatica,

I would like to change my Spanish driving license into a Belgian one since I am resident in Belgium and the current one will expire soon. I went to the city agency and they took my Spanish one and sent it to the police. In 4-6 weeks they will call me to get my new Belgian driving license but according to them I cannot drive during these 4-6 weeks.

This makes no sense to me since my driving license is valid and I have a paper stating that the police have it.

I cannot believe I cannot drive my car. Is this correct?

Every foreigner that changes his/her driving license stays 6 weeks without driving??

Could you explain to me if there are any alternatives for me to drive, please?

Thanks in advance and best regards

Daniel Ruiz Romera

Dear Daniel

1 The usual procedure is not to exchange a driving license issued in one of
the EU countries.Normally the Town Hall representatives will only keep a
copy of the license(and you will sign a statement)

2 The shortest way is to get a new driving license in Spain: valid in
Belgium not necessary to exchange.

3 If you wish to get a new driving license in Belgium and replace the
Spanish one, you must unfortunately wait 4 too 6 weeks etc.Nevertheless,
normally you may drive if you hold a copy of your valid driving license and
the document stating that the current one has been sent to the Police.

Best regards

Tanel



___________

Dear Editor,

From your website I got a very useful tips for living in Belgium. Just, I want to ask one question about driving license, I am an Indian citizen living in Belgium with a resident permit so for driving a car in Belgium should I have to apply for a new driving license? If yes then I have another question that  I got my resident permit one week before so before receiving driving license how can I drive a car in Belgium or in Eu-countries?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards

Arpan y. shah



Dear Arpan,

We refer to your recent e-mail to expatica.

In general, there are 2 possibilities for a foreigner who is in possession of a driving licence to obtain a Belgian / European driving licence:

- the driving licence can be exchanged for a Belgian / European driving licence in case of a bilateral agreement between the country where the driving licence has been obtained and Belgium;
- in case there is no bilateral agreement, a examination needs to take place.

Since there is no bilateral agreement between India and Belgium with regard to the validity of driving licences, an Indian driving licence can not be exchanged for a Belgian / European driving licence.

In order to obtain a Belgian / European driving licence as Indian citizen, the following procedure needs to be followed:

1. Take a theoretical exam

You will need to schedule an appointment with an recognized examination center in order to take a theoretical examination for your driving
licence.

2. Take a practical exam

When you succeed for the theoretical examination, you will be able to immediately schedule an appointment to take the practical examination.

In order to enable the examination center to allow you to start your practical exam, the following documents will be required:

- your valid Belgian residence permit;
- proof of succeeding the theoretical exam;
- your actual valid Indian driving licence.

3. Application and collection of your Belgian / European drivers licence

When you have succeeded the theoretical and practical examination, you will receive a document that allows you to apply for your Belgian / European driving licence at your commune of residence.

Inge van Ammel
Matthias Lommers 

Lawyers Lynn Bogaert and Matthias Lommers work for Belgian law firm Laga, located at www.laga.be or contactable by phone: 02 800 7000.

To have your questions answered on Expatica, you can send an email to feedback@expatica.com.

Disclaimer: Although we verify the reliability of the information given, such information is general and neither Laga nor Expatica may be held responsible in any way for any possible error that might occur or for any use or interpretation that could be made of this information without the assistance of Laga.

[Copyright Laga and Expatica 2006]
Subject: Expat news