Woo hoo! Yesterday, I got my Belgian Driver’s License. It was very easy – but kind of anti-climatic. There’s nothing new that I can do with it…we still don’t have a car. And in fact, I’d guess that the majority of my American expat friends just drive on their US license here without any problems.
Check out this piece of officialness… The license is a regular piece of paper, folded in thirds, with my photo glued to the inside. It never expires. Of course, it’s flimsy and bigger than a wallet will hold. Thomas’ allows him to drive a motorcycle, car, or small truck, but they just gave me a car on mine. Until the 1960s, Belgium didn’t have driver’s licenses.
The whole process was really easy. I turned in my US driver’s license, waited several weeks while they inspected it, and then picked up my new Belgian one. Unfortunately, we hadn’t timed this well with our trip back to the US – I didn’t have either with me to drive there, so Thomas was my chauffeur. When I move back to the US though, I can turn in my Belgian license and they will return my US one to me.
So why did I get one? First of all, this easy US license trade will only work in your first year here. Officially, the option of a US license plus an international license expires once you get your residency card. Also, we’ve been talking about getting a car sometime this year. They are a bit of a hassle – expensive insurance, parking on the street, and gasoline is about $7.50/gallon. It’s common practice here that companies will give their employees a leased car and free gas card, but Thomas’ doesn’t.
There are a couple of alternatives. We’ve thought about just renting a car when we want to go on a road trip. I think we might have to test this option out on a weekend trip to France. :) We also have a shared Cambio car, like Zipcars in the US, parked near us. In the meantime, thankfully the public transportation gets me where I want to go.
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It’s hard to imagine they didn’t have a driving license until 1960..Do you know why? I live in Europe until I was 20 and never needed a car to get somewhere. My parents still live there and never owned a car, that’s what I love about public transportation system there.BUT I also love to live in the country and the cars are a must here. Congrats on the driving license anyway!!!
.-= Michaela´s last blog ..Progress… =-.
Congratulations. I am very jealous. I also need to do this soon.
Do you know when they start counting up to one year? I arrived in the country in February, but didn’t get my orange-paper temporary permit until April, and I am still waiting on my official plastic ID card.
Also, did you need your plastic ID card to swap over your license?
Ahh, the joys of paperwork.
.-= Lydia´s last blog ..MSC Fantasia review =-.
Michaela – No idea on the no license until the 60s. I do pretty well without a car, except I would love one to do some exploring of the French countryside. So far, we’ve always gone on Thomas’ motorcycle, but being the passenger in the back isn’t the most fun.
Lydia – I *think* they start counting when you get your residency card (the official plastic one, I suppose), since your home country’s license plus an international license is valid until then…but as you know, this is Belgium and with that, you never know. :) Plus each commune is probably different. I did need my plastic residency card to get it. Good luck.
I’m jealous you were able to just trade your US license in! I have to do horrible expensive tests here in NL. Don’t you think the huge paper licenses are so strange? They finally started doing the credit-card sized ones here, but my husband still has the old style until his expires in 8 years or so.
.-= mub´s last blog ..Happy Feet =-.
Technically, as you mentioned, to get your US license again you’re supposed to turn in your Belgian license, but this becomes a pain if you ever need to go back to Belgium, or anywhere in EU assuming your Belgian license is valid in the EU.
There’s a trick… If you want to keep your Belgian license, when you get back to the US just say that you lost your US license, and they’ll give you a new one. We’d have done this if we’d known, because Nui had to turn in her license for Thailand and now whenever we go back to visit she can’t drive.
Anyway, pretty cool piece of history to hold on to and show to your kids and grandkids.
In Germany we actually had to go through the whole driver’s education classes, driving, paper test and everything. It was a huge a deal as we wanted to obey “the rules.”
Congrats! It was news to me that you need an international license in addition to the US license to drive in Belgium… Is this the one issued by the AAA? Happy feet!!
Whoops, I just learned from my husband that you don’t need an international license for Belgium, but you do for France, Germany, or Netherlands. But they’re pretty easy to get – just $50 and a photo at AAA. Also, check this with someone official – we’re just going by our best understandings, but we’re not official or anything.