B licence: training and test

A driver's licence is required to drive on public roads.

You can obtain this licence:

• by first passing a theory test after learning by yourself or with a driving school

• by teaching yourself to drive. You can choose between four training courses: private course, combination of private course and driving school, driving school with or without training course

• you must take compulsory first aid training at the same time

• after this training, you can then register for the practical driving test which has two parts: a risk perception test and a road test. 

Theory training

To best prepare yourself for the theory test part of your driving license, you can choose to do your own training or take a minimum of 12 hours of theory training in an approved driving school.

After two successive failed theory tests, you must take a 12-hour training course in an approved driving school and present a training certificate to take the theory test again. Any training courses taken before the two failures will not be taken into consideration.

Benefits of driving school training

• Your trainer is aware of the latest legislative developments.

• Full training on the subjects covered in the test.

• Possibility of practising with a multiple-choice question programme (like in the test) on the computers available in the driving schools.

• Didactic learning and visual presentations.

• Issuing of a training certificate.

Further information:

• test subject

• list of accredited schools

 

Theory test

A candidate may take the theory test when they reach the age of 17. It costs €18. You must take the test in French or Dutch. You can also use an interpreter for German, English or sign language. The interpreter is appointed by the test centre and costs €50.

There are two test centres in the Brussels-Capital Region: Anderlecht and Schaerbeek. You can also take this test in Flanders or Wallonia.

PLEASE NOTE: to take the practical test in Brussels, you must have passed your theory test in Brussels.

• Learning to drive in Wallonia

• Learning to drive in Flanders

The content of the test

• 50 multiple choice questions on a computer

• 15 seconds maximum to answer each question

• Duration of approximately 30 minutes

• You must obtain a minimum score of 41/50

1 point is deducted for each error. 5 points are deducted if you make a mistake relating to a serious offence. Being wrong on two questions about serious offences or exceeding the speed limit therefore means that you will fail.

What is a serious offence?

A serious violation is a third or fourth degree traffic violation. There are around 50 of them. These are the most dangerous road safety offences, such as:

• entering a level crossing when the barriers are moving

• doing a U-turn on a motorway

• driving at night without turning on your lights

• not transporting your child in a suitable car seat

• running a red light

• entering a one-way street the wrong way

Exclusion: a candidate found to be cheating will fail and is excluded from all participation in this test for a period of one year. Candidates who disrupt the test by their behaviour will fail and be excluded from all participation in the test for a period of six months.

Special theory test sessions: by appointment only

• Examinations assisted by a German or English interpreter

• Examinations assisted by a sign language interpreter

• For applicants with a mental or intellectual disability or insufficient literacy. To be admitted to a special session, a certificate or declaration from a psycho-medical-social centre, a Public Centre for Social Welfare, a special education institute, an observation and guidance centre or a vocational guidance centre must be presented.

If you pass

You will receive a certificate of completion valid for three years. You must take the practical test before the end of the validity of the theory test!

 

First aid on the road training

The first aid training teaches you how to administer first aid to potential victims of a traffic accident.

This training is free of charge for all candidates who take their driving exams in the Brussels-Capital Region. It has two parts:

• when you have passed your theory test in a Brussels test centre, you can connect to the Red Cross online platform to take the first part of the training as e-learning. If you are unable to take the e-learning module of the first aid training remotely, you can do the online training on the Red Cross premises. Please contact the Red Cross directly to find out when and where the training will take place.

• you will then be invited to take part in a Red Cross training course face-to-face. The location of your training will be stated on your invitation.

The validity of the certificate of participation in the roadside first aid training course is two years.

Exemption: holders of a first aid certificate (less than two years old, with a minimum of 12 hours of training, and recognised by the FPS Employment) as well as first aiders, ambulance drivers and certain healthcare professionals can receive an exemption on request via this form.

PLEASE NOTE: You must have completed your roadside first aid training or obtained an exemption to be able to access the risk perception test.

 

Practical training

There are four possible training paths.

• Private training: minimum nine months of training with a guide before you can take the practical test. Ages 17 and above.

• Combination of private training and driving school: minimum 14 hours of driving school, minimum six months of training with a guide. Ages 17 and above.

• Driving school with training: minimum 20 hours in driving school, minimum three months of training. Ages 18 and above. Hours taken before the age of 18 will not be considered.

• Driving school without training: minimum 30 hours in driving school, direct access to the test. Ages 18 and above. Hours taken before the age of 18 will not be considered.

During the training period, as a learner driver, you must keep a logbook with your driving circumstances and the number of kilometres driven. The indicative standard in terms of distance to be driven during the training period is 1,500 km for the first two tracks and 1,000 km for the 20-hour track. The logbook will be checked at the practical test.

Create your logbook with the following printable documents:

• route overview.pdf(PDF) (105.71 KB)

• details per trip.pdf(PDF) (101.63 KB) to be filled in for each trip

After two successive failed practical tests, you must take a six-hour training course in an approved driving school and present the learning certificate to be able to take the test again. Any classes taken before the two failures will not be taken into consideration.

More information: List of accredited schools

 

The practical test

A candidate may take the practical test when they reach the age of 18. The practical test is composed of two tests and costs 43 € for both. If the candidate fails one or more tests or goes to another Brussels centre to take the second test on the roads, they must pay 43 € again.

To take the practical test in Brussels, you must have passed your theory test in Brussels.

There are two test centres in the Brussels-Capital Region: Anderlecht and Schaerbeek.

Part 1: Risk perception test

To take the risk perception test, you must:

• have passed the Brussels-Capital Region's theory test within the last three years

• have taken the first aid training less than two years ago or have obtained an exemption on request via this form

• have completed the minimum course hours and training according to the chosen course of study.

The test begins with two exercises to prepare the candidate; this is followed by five sequences. At the end of each video sequence, the candidate is asked what they saw. Four possible answers are suggested. Several correct answers are possible (minimum one and maximum three).

One point is awarded for a correct answer ticked, one point is deducted for a wrong answer ticked and no points are awarded or deducted for a correct answer not ticked.

To pass, the candidate must obtain at least 60%. The pass is valid for one year.

More info: documents to be presented during exams

 

Part 2: Road test

After passing the risk perception test, you can take the road test either:

• in your own vehicle (your guide or, if you have a provisional 18-month driving licence, a person who meets the requirements for guides)

• in the vehicle of an independent certified driving instructor (the instructor accompanies you)

• in the vehicle of the approved driving school (the instructor accompanies you)

To take the road test, the theory test, the certificate of participation in the road first aid training and the risk perception test must still be valid. The theory test is valid for three years, the first aid training for two years and the risk perception test for one year.

Test vehicle:

• to be admitted for the practical test, the vehicle must be in technical and administrative order. The test vehicle must be capable of performing the pre-checks and manoeuvres.

• the test will not take place if your vehicle does not have an "L" sign and a second inside mirror.

• parking aids, cameras and prisms to assist with manoeuvres are allowed. However, these aid systems must be standard equipment on the vehicle.

• the applicant's vehicle must meet the Low Emission Zone access criteria. If this rule is not respected, the test cannot take place and no exceptions will be allowed.

The purpose of the road test is to verify that:

• the candidate has real control over the vehicle

• the road regulations are respected

You will be evaluated under the following headings:

• use of the vehicle

• place on the road

• crossing and overtaking

• changing direction

• light signals and orders

• speed and direction of traffic

• behaviour towards other road users

• defensive driving

• independent driving

The examiner will ask you to take a clearly identifiable direction. For 10 to 15 minutes, you have to decide which directions to follow, taking into account the GPS instructions and the road signs. Obviously, you must take account of the road signs and the behaviour of other road users in the vicinity, while continuing to master basic skills (positioning, speed, etc.).

You must perform three basic manoeuvres:

1. Preliminary checks: precautions, adjustments, systematic checks and random checks

2. Parking/reverse stopping behind a vehicle

3. Turning in a narrow street

After two successive failures in the road test (i.e. two failures in the risk perception test OR two failures in the road test OR one failure in the risk perception test and one failure in the road test), it is mandatory to take six hours of practical training in an approved driving school and present the teaching certificate to be able to take the test again. Any classes taken before the two failures will not be taken into consideration. The new road test must be taken with the driving school.

Candidates who do not speak Dutch or French can take the test with the assistance of a sworn German or English interpreter. The interpreter is paid by the candidate.

Exclusion: a candidate who is found to be cheating will fail and is excluded from all participation in this test for a period of one year. Candidates who disrupt the test by their behaviour will fail and be excluded from all participation in the test for a period of six months.

More info: documents to be presented during exams