How to obtain a category B driving licence?

You must:

• be at least 17 years old to take the theory test
• learn to drive for at least 5 months with your provisional driving licence
• be at least 18 years old to obtain a provisional driving licence without supervision
• be at least 18 years old to take the practical test
• follow a refresher course within 6 to 9 months of being issued a full driving licence.

1. Theory test

You must sit the theory test at a test centre. To prepare for the test, you may either study the material yourself or take theory lessons at a recognised driving school. If you fail to pass twice, you are obliged to follow 12 hours of theory lessons at a recognised driving school.

2. Provisional driving licence

If you pass, you must take an eyesight test at the test centre and you will obtain a document with which you can apply for your provisional driving licence. You can choose which type of provisional driving licence you want. You have 2 options.

Provisional driving licence without supervision

You first follow 20 hours of driving lessons at a recognised driving school. If they think you can practise on your own, you will be given a certificate of competence. Only then can you apply to your local council for your provisional driving licence. You are now allowed to drive without supervision. In this case your provisional driving licence is valid for 18 months.

Provisional driving licence with supervision

You immediately apply to your local council for your provisional driving licence and choose 2 supervisors whom you register on your driving licence. You may only practise if at least one of these supervisors is with you in the car. In this case your provisional driving licence is valid for 36 months.

3. Practical test

You take a practical test with your own car and supervisor or under the supervision of a driving school. That test consists of 2 parts:

• hazard perception test on the computer
• driving test on the public road.

If you fail to pass twice, you are obliged to follow 6 hours of practical lessons at a recognised driving school.

4. Applying for a driving licence

If you pass, you will obtain an ‘Application for a driving licence’ from the test centre and you can apply to your local council for your driving licence. You can collect it after 3 to 5 working days.

5. Refresher course

Six to nine months after you obtained your driving licence, you must attend the refresher course, i.e. additional training lasting 4 hours. This course consists of:

• an introductory interview
• practical exercises
• a group discussion about the attitude of road users.

• Theory test: 18 euros. Assistance from an interpreter for the deaf or an interpreter for French, German or English: 55 euros.
• Provisional driving licence: ca. 25 euros. That amount differs for each municipality.
• Practical test: 48 euros.
• Driving licence: ca. 25 euros. That amount differs for each municipality.
• Refresher course: 122 euros.

The prices of the theory lessons and driving lessons differ for each driving school.

Theory test

You will require your identity card or foreigner’s card, or official proof of the registration of its loss or theft. If you are taking the test for the third time, you will also require a certificate that you have followed 12 hours of theory lessons at a recognised driving school.

Application for a provisional driving licence

You will require the application document from the test centre and your identity card. If you are applying for a provisional driving licence without supervision, you will also require the certificate of competence from the driving school.

Practical test

• Your identity card or foreigner’s card
• Your provisional driving licence
• A receipt showing that you have paid for the test in advance
• The certificate that you have followed 6 hours of driving lessons at a recognised driving school if you are taking the test for the third time
• The registration certificate, insurance certificate and inspection certificate of your car if you are taking the test in your own car
• The identity card and the Belgian or European driving licence belonging to your supervisor if you take the test with your own supervisor.

Application for a full driving licence

You will require the ‘Application for a driving licence’ from the test centre, your identity card and a passport photo.

Theory and practical tests

You can take both the theory and practical tests with a sworn interpreter for the deaf or a sworn interpreter for French, German or English. For the practical test you can choose an interpreter yourself. The test centre selects the interpreter for the theory test.

Anyone with insufficient mental or intellectual capacity or a limited level of literacy can, with an official certificate, request a supported theory test. In such a test, the examiner reads the questions aloud and there is more time to answer.

Provisional driving licence

With your provisional driving licence you may not drive between 10 pm and 6 am on

• Fridays
• Saturdays
• Sundays
• the evening prior to public holidays
• the public holidays themselves.

Nor may you drive with a trailer, drive your vehicle abroad or transport commercial goods in your vehicle.

Refresher course

In the 3-month period during which you must follow the mandatory refresher course, you may request a postponement:

• for medical reasons
• because you are abroad for work or study
• because you are serving a prison sentence.

• Decree of 9 March 2018 on the refresher course as part of the category B driving tuition (in Dutch) (in Dutch)(opens in new window)