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Leaving Luxembourg: Cross Border Road Rules

Germany, France and Belgium are just a short drive from anywhere in Luxembourg. If you live in the Grand Duchy and venture over the border, do you know which road rules apply? Make sure you don't get caught out on the wrong side of traffic law.

Luxembourg is a small country and driving more than 30 Km in any direction reaches the border of another country with its own motoring rules. Here are some guidelines to consider before crossing the border.

Driving Licences

Irrespective of the minimum driving age in the country where a licence was issued, drivers in Luxembourg, Germany, France and Belgium must be 18 years or over.

Speed Limits

These are the usual speed limits; additional restrictions may be in place in some areas.

Road Type	Luxembourg	Germany	France	Belgium
Motorway	130 (dry) 110 (wet, rain)	None (unless otherwise stated) 130 (recommended)	130 (dry) 110 (wet, rain)	120
National Roads	90	90	90	90
Built-up areas	50	50	50	50
School areas	30	30	30	30

Drinking & Driving

Drinking and driving is restricted in most European countries. The legal blood alcohol limit in Luxembourg, Germany, France and Belgium is 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood.

What to Carry in the Car

It is compulsory to carry the following documents in the car at all times:

Document	Luxembourg	Germany	France	Belgium
Vehicle registration documents	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Insurance certificate	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Road Tax	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Warning triangle	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
First aid kit	Yes	Yes	No	Yes*
Fire extinguisher	Yes	No	No	Yes*
Reflective vest	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Driver's proof of identity	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

The triangle must conform to EU standards, evidence for which is the stamp E 27 R. The triangle can be carried in the car boot
The high-visibility garment (reflective vest/jacket) must conform to EU standards EN 471 or EN 1150, in order to conform with European Directive 89/686/EEC. It has to be accessible at all times from within the car; it may not be kept in the car boot
Fire extinguisher must be valid (the use-by date must be regularly checked)
*Compulsory for Belgian registered vehicles, thus recommended for foreign registered vehicles

Winter Driving: Snow and Ski Stations

It may be obligatory to carry snow chains in the car on winter trips to French and Swiss mountains and ski resorts.

Driving in Cities

There are no tolls for entering cities in Luxembourg, Germany, France or Belgium. However, when entering some German cities some cars must display a sticker on the vehicle windscreen (this is pollution-related and depends on the vehicle type and its emissions).

The stickers can be obtained from the ACL.

Automobile Club Luxembourg (ACL)
At: 54 route de Longwy, L-8080 Bertrange
Tel: 26 00-0
Open: Monday to Friday 08:30-18:00 (Saturday from 09:00-13:00 in July and August)
e-mail
Website
For further information on the pollution-related stickers in Germany: Click here (in French)

Required documents:

Copy of the registration documents
Certificate of conformity
Proof of payment of the fee

Motorway Tolls

Most French motorways require payment of toll. Toll operated motorways are clearly indicated. A ticket is delivered when entering a section and payment is due on exiting. Payment may be made in cash or by credit card.

Swiss motorway stickers can be obtained from the ACL (see details above).

Parking

Parking disks vary from country to country and their use may not be accepted in all countries. It's recommended to carry a disk for each visited country.

Disabled parking (the Blue Badge)

The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one country is valid in another. The badge is issued in a country of residence.

For detailed information from the EU on the European parking card: Click here

Breakdowns

Belgium

Belgium's main Automobile Association is RACB:

The Royal Automobile Club de Belgique (RACB)
At: Rue d'Arlon 53, 1040 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 287 09 11
Breakdown service Tel: +32 (0)7 815 20 00
Fax: +32 (0)2 230 75 84
Website (in French & Dutch)
Vlaamse Automobilistenbond – VTB/VAB
At: Pastoor Coplaan 100 - 2070 Zwijndrecht
Tel: +32 (0)3 253 61 11
Breakdown service Tel: +32 (0)70 22 40 30
e-mail
Website
Touring Club de Belgique
At: Rue de la Loi 44, 1040 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 233 22 02
Breakdown service Tel: +32 (0)7 034 47 77
Website (in French & Dutch)

France

France does not have a national breakdown service; there are many local breakdown services which can be contacted if needed (assistance automobile). Special rules apply for car breakdowns on the motorway where the autoroute service provides assistance.

Autoroutes.fr has instructions on what to do in the case of a breakdown on the motorway: Click here

Germany

Germany's national breakdown and recovery service is ADAC:

ADAC
Tel: +49 (0)180 222 2222
Website (in German)

Luxembourg

Luxembourg's main Automobile Club is ACL:

Automobile Club Luxembourg (ACL)
At: 45 route de Longwy, 8080 Betrange
Tel: +352 45 00 45 -1
Breakdown service Tel: +352 26 000
Website (in French)

Traffic Information Websites

Luxembourg: CITA is the Luxembourg official traffic website with live webcams
France: Bison Futé is the official French real-time information website reporting traffic conditions and road works across the country
Germany: Verkehrsinfo provides information on traffic and road works in Germany (and some information for Belgium and the Netherlands)
Belgium: Inforoute updated by the Belgian Police provides road works, current traffic information and webcams on motorways;
Switzerland: Inforoute for real-time information on traffic conditions and available parking in the main Swiss cities