On Sunday 25 October 2026, the clocks go back to winter time. Evening journeys are once again made in the dark. According to Vias, at the evening rush hour there are 34% more accidents involving a pedestrian in November than in October.
Your lights and windows must then be in order. Here are the autumn mistakes the highway code penalises, with the article and the 2026 amount.
✅ The key points in 30 seconds
- Driving without lights at night, or when you can no longer see 200 m ahead: third-degree offence, 191 €.
- Rear fog light: required when visibility is under 100 m or in heavy rain (128 € if you forget), banned the rest of the time (64 €).
- Dirty or unreadable number plate: 128 €. Engine left running while stationary without need: 64 €.
- The highway code does not mention frost. A frozen windscreen can still be fined under other articles: 128 € or 191 € as an on-the-spot fine, depending on the article applied.
- The amounts rose by 10% on 1 July 2026. In court, a first-degree offence can cost up to 2,500 €.
How much does a traffic fine cost in 2026?
Every highway code offence has a degree, from first to fourth. If no degree is stated, it is first degree. Speeding follows a separate calculation. The degree sets the amount of the on-the-spot fine, the settlement offer from the public prosecutor and the range the court can impose.
| Degree | On-the-spot fine | Settlement offer | Police court |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 64 € | 94 € | 100 to 2,500 € |
| 2nd | 128 € | 176 € | 200 to 2,500 € |
| 3rd | 191 € | 259 € | 300 to 5,000 € |
| 4th | 520 €, for non-residents only | None | 400 to 5,000 € |
On-the-spot fines have been at these amounts since 1 July 2026. Add 10.67 € in fees to both the on-the-spot fine and the settlement offer. The court ranges apply to offences committed since 1 February 2026. For a repeat offence within 3 years of a final conviction, fines are doubled.
⚠️ Beware of old amounts. Some web pages still show 58, 116 or 174 €. The royal decree of 22 June 2026 and the regional decrees published in the Belgian Official Gazette are the legal reference.
What is the fine for driving without lights or on full beam?
- Driving without lights from nightfall to daybreak, or as soon as you can no longer see about 200 m ahead: third degree, 191 €. The judge can also impose a driving ban.
- Keeping your full beam on facing an oncoming vehicle, or less than 50 m behind another vehicle: second degree, 128 €.
- Keeping your full beam on on a lit road where you can see 100 m ahead: first degree, 64 €.
- Driving with a broken or badly adjusted light: first degree, 64 €. Dipped headlight alignment was also the top reason for failing the technical inspection in Flanders in 2023 (GOCA).
Walk round your car once a month in autumn with all the lights on. Ask someone to check the brake lights.
Fog lights: when to switch them on, when to switch them off?
| Light | When to use it | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Rear fog light | Required if the car has one: fog or snow that cuts visibility to less than about 100 m, or heavy rain | Forgotten: 128 €. On without reason: 64 €. |
| Front fog light | Allowed, not required, in fog, falling snow or heavy rain, with no distance threshold | On without reason: 64 €. |
The rear fog light dazzles the driver behind you. Switch it off as soon as visibility improves. Check the orange or yellow warning light on your dashboard after every shower.
Frosted windscreen and snow on the roof: what do you risk?
The highway code mentions neither frost nor snow on the roof. No official source says which article the police apply. Depending on what they observe, the officer can fine you under one of these articles:
- Not keeping control of your car (article 8.3): third degree, 191 €.
- Speed not suited to visibility (article 10.1): second degree, 128 €.
- Number plate hidden by snow: the plate must stay visible at all times. An unreadable plate costs 128 €.
Clear the frost from all windows, mirrors and headlights before setting off. Remove the snow from the roof: it slides onto the windscreen the first time you brake. A small “porthole” scraped in the frost hides pedestrians coming from the sides.
Leaving the engine running to defrost: is it banned?
In principle, yes. Article 8.6 requires drivers to avoid leaving the engine running while stationary, unless necessary. The text does not say whether defrosting counts as a necessity. Repeated revving in neutral is banned. The fine is 64 €.
Use a scraper and de-icer. Allow five extra minutes in the morning. We explain why idling also damages your car in our article on leaving the engine running while stationary.
Dirty number plate or worn tyres: what is the fine?
- Number plate: it must stay visible at all times and readable from 40 m in daylight, 30 m for the small 210 x 140 mm format. Covered with mud, salt or snow: second degree, 128 €.
- Tyres: at least 1.6 mm in the main grooves, and the cords must never show. Otherwise, 64 € per offence. Vias advises replacing them from 3 mm.
- Winter tyres: not compulsory in Belgium. Our guide to winter and all-season tyres explains when to fit them and the rules in neighbouring countries.
- Following distance too short: first degree, 64 €.
- Speed not suited to rain, fog or fallen leaves: second degree, 128 €.
Clocks going back: more accidents with pedestrians?
Vias compared October and November over ten years (2015 to 2024), at the evening rush hour. In Wallonia, accidents involving a pedestrian rise by 43%. The number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured rises by 61%.
A pedestrian in dark clothing can be seen from about 20 m. With a reflective armband or vest, they can be seen from 150 m. At 50 km/h, you need at least 26 m to stop on a dry road.
There is no specific article on splashing a pedestrian. The code requires extra care near pedestrians and cyclists (article 7). Ease off near puddles.
Selling your car in autumn: what to check before viewings?
A buyer who test-drives a car late in the day spots a faulty light straight away. Before viewings, replace blown bulbs and measure the tyre tread.
Our 118-point inspection covers the tyres of every car we sell, including the DOT date. See also our tips for getting your car ready for winter.
Free valuation and free advice
Selling or buying a car? Visit us in Wavre or call 010 56 13 80.
- Free valuation of your car
- Check of the tyres and their DOT date before you buy a used car
- Technical inspection preparation
👉 Book an appointment for advice
👉 See our technical inspection preparation
Frequently asked questions about autumn fines
No article of the highway code mentions frost. The police can fine you under vehicle control (191 €) or speed not suited to visibility (128 €). The choice depends on what the officer observes.
When fog or snow cuts visibility to less than about 100 m, and in heavy rain. Forgetting them costs 128 €. Using them without reason costs 64 €.
In principle, no. Article 8.6 of the highway code requires drivers to avoid leaving the engine running while stationary, unless necessary. It bans repeated revving in neutral. The fine is 64 €.
As an on-the-spot fine, 64 €, 128 € and 191 € since 1 July 2026. Add 10.67 € in administrative fees.
No. Tyres only need to keep 1.6 mm of tread depth in the main grooves. Below that, the fine is 64 €.
Yes. It must stay readable from 40 m in daylight. A plate covered in mud or snow costs 128 €.
191 € as an on-the-spot fine. It is a third-degree offence: the judge can also impose a driving ban.
About the author Nathan Fougnies runs Garage Privé in Wavre with Louis. Since 2018, the agency has been selling used cars on behalf of their owners, with a 118-point inspection and an optional warranty of up to 60 months.
Sources
- Code de la route: offences by degree and 2026 amounts (in French)
- Code de la route: royal decree of 1 December 1975, general regulations (in French)
- Code de la route: royal decree of 30 September 2005, offence degrees (in French)
- Code de la route: royal decree of 19 April 2014, on-the-spot fines (in French)
- Code de la route: royal decree of 20 July 2001, number plates (in French)
- FPS Mobility: on-the-spot fine increase on 1 July 2026 (PDF, in French)
- Lexgo: surcharge decimes, multiplier raised from 8 to 10 in February 2026 (in French)
- Test-Achats: the cost of traffic fines (18 August 2026, in French)
- Vias: the switch to winter time and pedestrians (24 October 2025, in French)
- Vias: the condition of Belgians' tyres (3 July 2026, in French)
- Police: advice before driving on snow (in French)
- AutoGids: reasons for failing the technical inspection in Flanders, 2023 figures (in Dutch)