Inside

Driving in Luxembourg

Motoring notes on the driving laws and you. An introduction to what you must (and must not) do when driving on roads in Luxembourg: licences, speeding, parking and alcohol intake limits.

Luxembourg's rules of the road and driving are documented in the Code de la Route highway code.

The Automobile Club du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (ACL) has much useful information (mostly in French).

Rules and Regulations

Many of the rules on Luxembourg roads are the same as those applied in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Minimum age for driving a car is 18
The driver must have a valid driver's licence
Drive on the right
Mobile phones may only be used hands free while driving
Priority is given to the right (priorité a droite) in towns; drivers must stop for traffic joining from the right. The "priority from the right" rule means that cars coming from the right always have priority unless a yellow diamond sign or other priority road sign has been posted
It is compulsory to use headlights on full-beam headlights outside of urban areas at night and in times of low visibility; dipped headlights should be on in areas without streetlights. Lights need not be used during daylight hours

Use of winter tyres is not compulsory; it is illegal to use a combination of winter and summer tread tyres.

To be carried in/on the vehicle

Valid driving licence (with photo; if the licence has no photo, also carry photo ID or passport)
Vehicle registration document
Proof of vehicle roadworthiness (contrôle technique)
Certificate of vehicle insurance
Warning triangle (high visibility vests are not yet compulsory)
Tax certificate (vignette) on the windscreen/windshield

Seatbelts and car seats

Seatbelts must be worn in the front and back seats by all adults
Children under 3 should be seated in a proper child seat that corresponds appropriately to the weight of the child.
Children aged 3 to 18 years who are under 1.50 metres in height must be properly harnessed in an appropriate seat
Children over 1.50 metres tall should be secured with a seatbelt in the front or back
Further information, in French, from the ACL: Click here

Speed Limits

Pedestrian and residential zones: 20 Km/h
Residential zones as marked: usually 30 Km/h
Built up areas: 50 Km/h
Outside of towns: 90 Km/h
Motorway (Autoroute): 130 Km/h in dry weather (minimum speed 40 Km/h)
Motorway (Autoroute):110 Km/h in wet weather
Other areas, speed limit is as marked by road side signs

Note: Autoroute speed limits are lower for heavy duty vehicles. There is no toll fee for autoroute usage in Luxembourg.

Fines (and on the spot fines) may be given for speeding.

For details on speeding excesses: Click here (in French)

Road Signs

Autoroute signs have a blue background; main road signs have black text on a yellow background. Direction indicators such as signs pointing the way to the centre of a town have black text on a white background.

For details and picture examples of road traffic signs in Luxembourg: Click here
To plan a route, see AngloINFO maps

Alcohol Limit

It is illegal to drive with alcohol in the blood stream of over 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per milliliter of blood, or 0.5%. Drivers with more alcohol will be fined, lose points off their licence and may be imprisoned. The limit is 0.2 milligrams of alcohol per millitre of blood for new drivers, within the probationary period. The same restrictions apply to anyone driving under the influence of drugs.

Driving Licence Points

All Luxembourg driving permits begin with a balance of 12 points. Points are removed for driving infractions which include the following:

Driving an unlicenced or unroadworthy vehicle - 2 points
Driving with broken lights - 2 points
Driving through a red traffic light, stop sign, or otherwise not giving way when required by the road rules - 2 points
Driving without a valid licence - 4 points
Causing the accidental death of a person - 6 points
For all offences which can lead to points being removed: Click here (in French)

Points can be reclaimed if the driver does not commit another infraction for three years, and up to three points can be claimed in each three year period. If all points have been removed, the licence is suspended.

For further information: Click here (in French)

Emissions Tax

The taxe automobile is an emissions tax based on the CO2 emissions of a vehicle.

The tax calculation method differs for cars first registered before 1 January 2001 to those first registered from 1 January 2001, and the make and model of the car, and whether it is diesel or hybrid engine or a historic car. The degree of a vehicles CO2 emissions is noted on the certificate of conformity (certificat de conformité).

The tax is calculated based on the make and model of the car, and whether it is diesel or hybrid engine or a historic car. The calculation method differs for cars first registered before 1 January 2001 to those first registered after 1 January 2001.