Driving into Brussels in a hire car or a foreign-registered car takes a little planning. The whole Region is a low-emission zone (LEZ), most streets have a 30 km/h limit and parking rules change from zone to zone. This guide covers what you need to know, from LEZ registration to the best drives out of the city.
- LEZ: the entire Brussels-Capital Region, every day, around the clock
- Foreign plates: free online registration, to be done before you enter
- Speed: 30 km/h by default in the city, 120 km/h on motorways
- Official sites: lez.brussels (Brussels) and lez.vlaanderen (Antwerp, Ghent)
Information checked in September 2026. Rules change, so always check the official websites before you travel.
The Brussels low-emission zone (LEZ)
The Brussels LEZ covers all 19 municipalities of the Region. It applies at all times and is enforced by number-plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. The Brussels Ring (R0) is not part of it, but as soon as you leave the Ring and head into the Region, the rules apply.
Who needs to register?
Belgian-registered vehicles are recognised automatically. Foreign-registered vehicles generally have to be registered at lez.brussels before entering the zone. It is free and takes a few minutes online: you will need the number plate, the country of registration and the vehicle registration certificate. If your hire car has non-Belgian plates, ask the rental company whether it has already been registered; if not, do it before you cross into the Region.
Which vehicles are allowed?
Access depends on fuel type and Euro emissions standard. As of September 2026, recent vehicles (Euro 6, petrol or diesel) meet the criteria in force; it is mainly older diesels that are excluded. The tightening originally planned for 2025 was postponed to 2027, so if you drive an older vehicle, check the current timetable on lez.brussels.
Fines
A non-compliant or unregistered vehicle can be fined €350 in Brussels. The same vehicle will not be fined again within three months, but the first fine is easy to avoid.
Antwerp and Ghent: the Flemish LEZs
In Flanders, Antwerp and Ghent each have their own LEZ, with criteria set at regional level. Foreign vehicles generally need to be registered there too, through the official portal lez.vlaanderen. A Brussels registration does not cover Flanders, or the other way round, so if a day trip takes you to Ghent, register for both.
Speed limits and rules of the road
- Brussels ("Ville 30" / "Stad 30"): 30 km/h by default across the Region since 2021; some main roads remain at 50 or 70 km/h, only where signed.
- Motorways: 120 km/h.
- Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h in Wallonia, 70 km/h in Flanders, unless signed otherwise.
- Towns in Flanders and Wallonia: generally 50 km/h, often 30 km/h in centres.
Two Belgian habits catch visitors out. The first is priority to the right, which applies at any junction without signs saying otherwise, including in the city. The second is trams, which have priority in many situations. Speed cameras, both fixed and average-speed, are common, including in the Brussels tunnels. And remember: you drive on the right.
Parking in Brussels
Most streets in the centre and shopping districts have regulated parking: paid zones marked by signs and colour codes, and blue zones where a parking disc is required for a limited time. Rules and charges vary by zone and municipality; the regional parking agency's website, parking.brussels, explains them.
You can pay at the machine or, more easily, through a parking app (4411 and EasyPark are widely used). For dinner in the Pentagon, on Avenue Louise or around the Sablon, a covered public car park is usually the most relaxed option, especially in a high-value car.
Airports and stations: collecting the car
Brussels Airport (Zaventem)
The main airport lies north-east of the city, with direct access to the Ring and the E40. Heading towards the centre, you enter the Region, and therefore the LEZ, within minutes.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport
The low-cost airport, about an hour from Brussels by motorway. Charleroi is in Wallonia, so the Brussels LEZ only applies once you reach the Region.
Brussels-Midi / Brussel-Zuid station
The terminal for Eurostar and high-speed trains to London, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. The station sits in the city, inside the 30 zone and the LEZ, so agree a meeting point in advance, ideally a nearby car park rather than a double-parked handover.
Handover can be arranged at the airport, the station, your hotel or your address; the options are on our luxury car rental in Brussels page.
The best drives from Brussels
Ghent and Bruges
Roughly an hour along the E40 to Ghent, with Bruges a little further on. Ghent has an LEZ and a circulation plan that splits the centre into sectors, so park at the edge of the centre and walk in.
The Sonian Forest and Waterloo
Minutes from the centre, the Sonian Forest has lovely wooded roads, and to the south lie the Waterloo battlefield and the Lion's Mound. An easy half-day.
Dinant and the Meuse valley
Take the E411 towards Namur, then follow the Meuse to Dinant, with its collegiate church and citadel set against the cliffs. The winding valley roads are among the most enjoyable in Belgium.
The coast: Knokke-Heist
The most polished resort on the Belgian coast, under two hours along the E40. Ideal for a day of seafront walks, galleries and long lunches.
Spa and the Hautes Fagnes
Head towards Liège and into the Ardennes: the spa town of Spa, forest roads and the high moorland of the Hautes Fagnes, up to the Signal de Botrange, the highest point in Belgium.
Luxembourg
About two and a half hours on the E411 through the Ardennes, for a weekend or a business meeting in the Grand Duchy.
Which car suits Brussels?
In town, between 30 zones, tunnels and narrow streets, a compact performance car is the most enjoyable choice. The Audi RS3 in Brussels is easy to manoeuvre and park, yet has real character on the motorway. The BMW M3 Touring in Brussels adds an estate boot, handy for airport runs with luggage. For families or a few days in the Ardennes, an Audi RS6 or a Range Rover brings the space and comfort for longer journeys. All of these recent cars meet the current LEZ criteria; with foreign plates, only the registration needs checking.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register a foreign hire car for the Brussels LEZ?
In principle, yes: any vehicle registered outside Belgium should be registered at lez.brussels before entering the Region. It is free. Ask your rental company whether it has already been done.
Does a Brussels LEZ registration cover Antwerp and Ghent?
No. The Flemish LEZs run their own system; register at lez.vlaanderen.
Is the Brussels Ring inside the LEZ?
No, the Ring (R0) is not included. The LEZ starts as soon as you enter the Brussels-Capital Region.
What is the speed limit in Brussels?
30 km/h by default. Some signed main roads allow 50 or 70 km/h.
Where can I collect a car if I arrive by train?
Brussels-Midi is where international trains arrive; handover can be arranged there or directly at your hotel.
