On 1 June 2027, Belgium will get a new highway code. The traffic rules of 1975, which have since been adapted more than 120 times, will then be replaced by four new regulations. For anyone who is about to obtain their driving licence B, this raises questions: which rules do I need to learn, and is it better to take my theory exam before or after that date?
In this article, we outline what will change for car drivers, what this means for your theory exam, and how to prepare smartly.
The new highway code in a nutshell As of 1 June 2027, four regulations will replace the current highway code: the federal Public Road Code, the Brussels Public Road Code, the Flemish traffic regulations and the Walloon Public Road Code. Most rules remain the same; the changes are mainly clarifications and better protection for pedestrians and cyclists. Most existing traffic signs may remain in place until 1 January 2045, but as of 1 June 2027 they will take on the meaning from the new rules. |
Why a new highway code?
The current highway code dates from 1975 and has been adapted so many times since then that it has become difficult to read. The new regulations are structured more logically: many rules are now organised by type of road user. The aim is that every road user, regardless of age or education, understands what is expected of them. In addition, the new rules take more account of sustainable mobility and the different types of road users. Please note: the regulations can still be adjusted before 1 June 2027. The first amendment decree for the federal code was published on 15 July 2026, and amendment decrees are still expected for the regional codes.
The most important changes for car drivers
Subject | What changes from 1 June 2027? |
Following distance | On roads with a speed limit above 50 km/h, you must keep a distance of at least 2 seconds from the vehicle in front of you. |
Lateral distance | The rule of at least 1 metre inside and 1.5 metres outside built-up areas relative to cyclists and pedestrians on the carriageway already exists. What is new is that this distance will from now on also apply relative to horse riders. |
Motorway | The minimum speed of 70 km/h disappears, but driving abnormally slowly remains prohibited. Repairing a vehicle on the motorway will be prohibited. Anyone entering the motorway already had to yield to traffic on the main carriageway, because this was indicated with a B1 sign. What is new is that this becomes a general traffic rule, allowing those signs to eventually disappear. |
Residential yards (Flanders) | The maximum speed goes from 20 km/h to walking pace. In Brussels and Wallonia it remains 20 km/h. |
Overtaking | Triple overtaking (overtaking a vehicle that is already overtaking) is prohibited, regardless of who is being overtaken. Where an overtaking ban applies (sign C35 or C39), you may from now on no longer overtake motorcyclists either. |
Stopping | Stopping will be prohibited in places where parking is currently only prohibited: on roundabouts, bus lanes, parking spaces for people with a disability and tactile paving. Also new is the continuous yellow edge-of-carriageway marking: along this, stopping and parking are prohibited. |
Multi-lane roundabouts | Using a lane other than the right-hand lane is only allowed if you do not take the first exit. |
Breakdown or accident | If possible, switch on the hazard warning lights. If that is not possible, place a warning triangle. The obligation to wear a safety vest is widened. |
Seat belt | If an adult passenger does not wear a seat belt, from now on both the passenger and the driver can be fined. |
Instructor/Companion | The ban on using or holding a mobile device with a screen (such as a mobile phone) will from now on also apply to anyone accompanying a driver during driving instruction. |
Please note: cyclists are also getting new rights As a car driver, you need to know what cyclists will soon be allowed to do. Children up to and including 11 years old are allowed to cycle on the pavement, a new sign (R12) indicates a non-compulsory cycle path, and cyclists are from now on allowed to filter through traffic. With a green light for pedestrians and cyclists simultaneously, they are allowed to cross the intersection diagonally. |
What does this mean for your theory exam?
The theory exam tests the rules that apply on public roads. According to the official explanation from the Vias institute and the FPS Mobility, the questions in an exam before 1 June 2027 will be about the current highway code. From the day the new code comes into force, the answers must in principle correspond to the new rules. You can find out how the exam centres organise this transition in practice on the website of GOCA Vlaanderen.
The format of the exam does not change due to the new highway code: 50 questions, at least 41/50, 15 seconds per question and 19 euros per attempt. The rule for major offenses also remains: a mistake costs 5 points, and two major mistakes mean you have failed.
Another change from 1 January 2027 Apart from the new highway code, another rule already applies from 1 January 2027: anyone who wants to take a practical exam in Flanders must also have passed the theory exam in a Flemish exam centre. This applies to all categories. So plan your theory exam in Flanders if you also want to take your practical exam there. |
Theory exam before or after 1 June 2027?
There is no reason to postpone or speed up your exam. Most rules remain the same, and the changes are easy to learn. However, it is smart to take your planning into account:
• You take your exam before 1 June 2027: You study the current rules. But beware: if you start practicing or take your practical exam after that, you will drive according to the new rules. So make sure you learn the changes before you hit the road.
• You take your exam after 1 June 2027: Study with up-to-date teaching materials that contain the new rules. A theory book or practice tool that is still based on the 1975 highway code will not prepare you correctly.
• Your exam falls around the transition date: Check with your exam centre beforehand on which rules your exam is based. In RAPP, you can practice with both the current and the new rules between 15 May and 1 June 2027.
Be careful with printed theory books A printed theory book becomes outdated as soon as the rules change. If you buy a book, check the year of publication and whether it contains the 2027 Public Road Code. Online teaching materials can be updated more quickly. |
How to prepare smartly
• Learn to understand the rules, not by heart: If you know why a rule exists, you can easily adapt if a detail changes. The 2-second rule and the lateral distance, for example, follow logically from safety.
• Use up-to-date teaching materials: Choose a platform that updates the subject matter in the event of changes in the law. RAPP will put the new rules live from 15 May 2027, so you can prepare in good time. The current rules remain available in RAPP until 1 June 2027, for those taking their exam before that date.
• Practice at exam level: 15 seconds per question, the correct scoring system and error analysis per topic. That does not change with the new highway code.
• Adhere to the readiness standard: Only plan your exam once you achieve above 43/50 on 3 mock exams in a row at 15 seconds per question.
Ready for the new highway code: from 15 May 2027 you can practice with the new rules in RAPP, and the current rules will remain available until 1 June 2027. RAPP prepares you for the theory exam driving licence B at GOCA exam level: mock exams at 15 seconds per question, the correct scoring system for major offences, automatic error analysis per topic and the risk perception test. Including free printable PDF of the complete theory. Start for free, 9.99 euros for 14 days of full access. No subscription. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When does the new highway code come into force? On 1 June 2027. Then the federal Public Road Code, the Brussels Public Road Code, the Flemish traffic regulations and the Walloon Public Road Code together will replace the 1975 highway code. |
Does the theory exam change due to the new highway code? The format remains the same: 50 questions, 41/50 to pass, 15 seconds per question, 19 euros. The content follows the rules that apply: before 1 June 2027 the current highway code, from 1 June 2027 in principle the new rules. You can follow the practical implementation via GOCA Vlaanderen. |
Should I postpone my theory exam until after 1 June 2027? No. Most rules remain the same. If you take your exam before, learn the changes before you start driving. If you do it after, use up-to-date teaching materials with the new rules. |
What is the most important change for car drivers? New features include the mandatory following distance of 2 seconds on roads above 50 km/h, a minimum lateral distance to pedestrians and cyclists (1 metre inside, 1.5 metres outside built-up areas) and a broader stopping ban, for example on roundabouts. |
Will all traffic signs be replaced? There will be new signs, but replacement will take place gradually: most existing signs remain valid until 1 January 2045. Some signs will take on a different meaning. With C35 and C39, for example, you may no longer overtake a motorcycle on the left, and the parking signs E5, E7 and E11 will lose their meaning on 1 June 2027. |
What speed limit applies in a residential yard after 1 June 2027? In Flanders, the maximum speed in a residential yard goes from 20 km/h to walking pace. In Brussels and Wallonia it remains 20 km/h. |
Do I have to retake my exam if I already have a driving licence? No. Anyone who already has a driving licence does not need to take a new exam. However, every road user is expected to know the applicable traffic rules, including the new ones. |
Will fines be higher due to the new highway code? No. Fine amounts are independent of the new highway code. They depend on the severity of the offence. However, fines did increase separately by about 10% on 1 July 2026. |
When will RAPP adapt the subject matter to the new highway code? RAPP will put the new rules live from 15 May 2027. The current rules remain available until 1 June 2027, so you always practice on the rules that apply on the day of your exam. |
Read also
• Obtaining a driving licence B in Belgium: everything in one place
• Theory book driving licence B Belgium 2026: which book do you choose?
Written by Daan Van Isterdael, co-founder of RAPP. He built the platform that helps more than 10,000 Belgian candidates pass their driving licence test.