When I first moved to Belgium, I thought renting a car would be as straightforward as it had been when I traveled through Spain and Italy. After all, how complicated could it be? Turns out, Belgium has its own quirks when it comes to car rentals—especially if you’re an expat or just visiting as a tourist.
The first surprise came when I learned that most rental companies require you to have held your driver’s license for at least one year. A friend of mine, freshly licensed and eager to drive through the Ardennes, was politely turned away at the counter in Brussels Airport. It didn’t matter that she was legally allowed to drive—the rental companies wanted “proof of experience.”
Insurance was another eye-opener. In Belgium, basic insurance is usually included, but the excess (the amount you pay out of pocket if something happens) can be shockingly high. I remember standing in Antwerp, staring at the contract, wondering if I should risk it or pay for the extra coverage. After hearing stories from other expats who had faced bills running into the thousands after minor accidents, I decided the extra insurance was worth it.
One of the biggest lessons I learned, though, was around international and foreign licenses. Some friends from outside the EU had to scramble because their licenses weren’t accepted without an International Driving Permit. It’s a detail that’s easy to overlook until you’re at the rental desk with your bags and no way to get on the road. For anyone unsure about how their license stacks up, resources like https://europeandriverslicense.com helped me understand what documents are recognized.
What makes Belgium special, though, is that renting a car opens up parts of the country you’d otherwise miss. Driving through the rolling hills of Wallonia or stopping in tiny villages where trains don’t reach made me realize just how much freedom comes with having your own wheels.
For fellow travelers or new expats: check the fine print, don’t assume your license will automatically be accepted, and always double-check the insurance terms. It might feel like over-preparing, but it saves a lot of stress down the line.
The first surprise came when I learned that most rental companies require you to have held your driver’s license for at least one year. A friend of mine, freshly licensed and eager to drive through the Ardennes, was politely turned away at the counter in Brussels Airport. It didn’t matter that she was legally allowed to drive—the rental companies wanted “proof of experience.”
Insurance was another eye-opener. In Belgium, basic insurance is usually included, but the excess (the amount you pay out of pocket if something happens) can be shockingly high. I remember standing in Antwerp, staring at the contract, wondering if I should risk it or pay for the extra coverage. After hearing stories from other expats who had faced bills running into the thousands after minor accidents, I decided the extra insurance was worth it.
One of the biggest lessons I learned, though, was around international and foreign licenses. Some friends from outside the EU had to scramble because their licenses weren’t accepted without an International Driving Permit. It’s a detail that’s easy to overlook until you’re at the rental desk with your bags and no way to get on the road. For anyone unsure about how their license stacks up, resources like https://europeandriverslicense.com helped me understand what documents are recognized.
What makes Belgium special, though, is that renting a car opens up parts of the country you’d otherwise miss. Driving through the rolling hills of Wallonia or stopping in tiny villages where trains don’t reach made me realize just how much freedom comes with having your own wheels.
For fellow travelers or new expats: check the fine print, don’t assume your license will automatically be accepted, and always double-check the insurance terms. It might feel like over-preparing, but it saves a lot of stress down the line.
