So, you’ve decided to move to and become a resident of Luxembourg. Here’s what you need to know about driving your personal vehicle in the Grand Duchy:

Drivers’ licenses in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, you must have a driver’s license corresponding to the category of vehicle you drive: car, motorcycle, truck, etc.
As a new resident of Luxembourg from a foreign country, you may drive in the Grand Duchy with your foreign driver’s license.

You can still request registration of your license with the National Automobile Traffic Company (Société nationale de circulation automobile – SNCA) if you got your license in one of the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA)..
This registration will be needed if your foreign license is lost or stolen. The SNCA will be able to replace it quickly with no major administrative hassles.

Please note that in the event of a suspension, cancellation or withdrawal of your driver’s license due to an infraction, or loss of points, your license must be registered in Luxembourg.

If you come from a country outside the EEA, you have one year to convert your license into a Luxembourg driver’s license.

Traffic laws in Luxembourg

A few driving rules need to be followed in the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg:

• Drive on the right side of the road,
• Speed limits, unless otherwise indicated, are 50 km/h within cities, 90 km/h outside cities (75km/h for trucks and buses) and 130 km/h on highways (90km/h for trucks and buses).
• Seatbelts must be worn.
• Using a mobile telephone is prohibited.
• The general alcohol level is limited to 0.5%, or 0.2% for young drivers.
• A reflective garment must be kept in your vehicle in the event of a breakdown or emergency stop on the side of the road.

It is the responsibility of each driver in Luxembourg to be informed of the Traffic Laws in force.

Registration and technical inspection in Luxembourg

You vehicle must be registered, and as a new resident, you have a period of 6 months to request registration in Luxembourg. A chancellery tax of €50 will be need to pay for registration.
In Luxembourg, you may request a customized registration number. In this case, add €50 to the chancellery tax for registration.

As the owner of a personal vehicle in Luxembourg, you must produce a certificate of technical inspection.
Note that you must pass this technical inspection in an authorized center within 4 years following the date of first registration, 6 years after the date of first registration, then every year thereafter.
The price for a technical inspection in one of the 3 inspection stations of the National Company of Technical Inspection (Société nationale de contrôle technique – SNCT) is €37.50.
If your vehicle passes the inspection, you will be given a certificate.

Tax and insurance for a vehicle in Luxembourg

In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, motor vehicle owners are subject to a tax based either on the engine size of the vehicle (if first registered before Jan. 01, 2001), or on carbon dioxide emissions (if first registered after Jan. 01, 2001).
This tax will be billed to you by the Customs and Excise Duty Administration (Administration des douanes et accises). Once it is paid, you will receive a tax sticker which you must keep in your vehicle to present in case of inspection.

Additionally, in order to drive on roads in Luxembourg, your vehicle must be insured by an authorized insurance company. You must take out civil liability insurance that will cover you as the driver against damaged caused to any third party. Attention: this civil liability protects third parties, but does not cover you directly. To do so, you must take out additional insurance.

Complete information and contact details for organizations on the Government's website:
(French)


Other recent articles:
Kirchberg Luxembourg: many changes to come
Expat guide - Settling in Luxembourg: Insurance
Luxembourg: 50.7% houses, 49.3% apartments