If you're driving in Belgium your checklist requirements are:

• A valid UK driving licence - both the photo and paper parts
• A GB sticker on the back of your car - unless your car has 'Euro-plates' (number-plates that show a circle of 12 stars on a blue background)
• Your motor insurance certificate
• A warning triangle within reach inside the car
• Headlamp converters (stickers you put on your headlights when you're driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way)
• A fire extinguisher
• A reflective jacket within reach inside the car. You'll need to wear this if you stop for any reason outside built-up areas, even if you're just setting up a warning triangle

You must also:

• Be 18 or over
• Wear your seatbelt at all times (this applies to everyone in the car)
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle

It's a good idea to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A first aid kit
• A Camping Card International to give you additional proof of identity, third party liability insurance, plus discounts at a wide range of campsites and tourist attractions. Find out more here
• A Green Card - it's a useful back-up to your motor insurance documents and shows you've got the minimum legal level of cover. If you'd like to find out more, contact your insurance company

Other things you should know:

• You don't have to pay motorway tolls in Belgium
• Petrol, diesel and LPG are readily available. Super leaded (98 Octane) is sold but can be hard to find
• Children under 18 or less than 1.35m tall must use an appropriate seat restraint, unless you already have two child seats in the back and can't fit in a third - the third child can then use an adult seat belt
• The speed limit is 50kph in built-up areas, 90kph on open roads and 120kph on motorways ' there are sometimes lower limits around schools, hospitals and churches and they're not always well signposted, so keep an eye out
• If you're caught committing a motoring offence, whilst driving through Belgium, you'll be given an on-the-spot fine
• If you have a GPS navigation system that shows you where any fixed speed cameras are, you can use this - but you mustn't use any device that actively searches for cameras or interferes with police equipment
• The drink driving limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (less than the UK limit of 80mg per 100ml)
• If you're in a built-up area, you can only use your horn in cases of extreme danger
• Trams usually have priority
• You should give way to traffic coming from the right (even if they've stopped at a junction or to let pedestrians cross), except on motorways, roundabouts and roads signposted with an orange diamond on a white background
• It's illegal to use cruise control on motorways
• If you choose to use winter tyres in bad weather, you must put a sticker on the dashboard showing the maximum recommended speed for those tyres

If you're driving a van or motorhome weighing over 3.5 tonnes, there are some other rules you should be aware of:

• You mustn't use the left-hand lane on roads with more than three lanes (unless the lanes are forking off in different directions)
• You should never exceed 90kph, even on motorways

Useful guides and maps

Michelin - National Map Benelux
Michelin Motoring Atlas: Europe

What RAC can do for you

RAC offers great-value, flexible European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Sources Foreign & Commonwealth Office, www.nationaldrivesafe.co.uk, www.drive-alive.co.uk.

Disclaimer: RAC are not responsible for the content of external websites. The information provided is correct as of August 2009 to the best of our knowledge and should be referred to for information purposes only - it should not be relied upon as formal advice. Please always check the current requirements of the country you are visiting before you leave.