The Belgian theory exam in English
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Yes, you can sit the Belgian theory exam in English - at a number of GOCA centres, not all of them. That single caveat is where most expats lose a booking. Here is how the languages work, how to check before you book, what the exam contains, and how to prepare for it in English.
What you need to know first
English is available, not universal
Several GOCA centres run the exam in English, particularly in and around Brussels. Availability differs by centre and can change.
Check when booking, not on the day
The language is selected during booking. Turning up expecting English at a centre that does not offer it means a lost slot and a lost fee.
The exam itself is identical
Fifty questions, 41 to pass, the same marking scheme and the same syllabus. Only the wording language changes.
Which languages the exam is offered in
Belgium has three national languages, and the theory exam is offered in all of them: French, Dutch and German. On top of that, a number of GOCA centres run an English version, primarily for foreign residents.
If none of those works for you, the regulations also allow sitting the exam with an approved interpreter. This is not automatic: it must be requested in advance, it is subject to conditions, and it carries an extra cost. Start that process well before the date you have in mind.
| Option | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| French | All centres | One of the three national languages |
| Dutch | All centres | One of the three national languages |
| German | Across the network | One of the three national languages |
| English | Selected centres | Check per centre when booking |
| With an interpreter | On request, under conditions | Prior request and extra cost |
Does sitting it in English make it harder?
No. The number of questions, the time per question, the marking scheme and the syllabus are identical in every language. What changes is the wording - and that is precisely why the language you read fastest is the right one.
The one genuine difficulty is vocabulary. Belgian traffic law is written in French and Dutch, and some concepts have no neat English equivalent: priorité de droite / voorrang van rechts, the legal split between stopping and parking, the zone résidentielle / woonerf. Learn those terms as terms rather than translating them each time.
Practising in English is not a shortcut - it removes a variable that has nothing to do with driving. Failing because you misread a question costs exactly the same as failing on the Highway Code.
What the exam covers
Fifty questions on the Belgian Highway Code, drawn from the same chapters regardless of language: road signs, priority rules, speed limits, stopping and parking, motorway driving, vulnerable road users, documents and first aid.
The marking is asymmetric and worth internalising before you sit: a minor mistake costs one point, a serious mistake five, and you need 41 out of 50. Two serious mistakes on their own put you at 40 - a fail with only two wrong answers.
Rules that surprise experienced foreign drivers
Holding a licence elsewhere does not carry you through this exam. Four Belgian specifics account for most of the losses among people who already drive well.
- Priority to the right applies far more widely in Belgium than in most countries. Unless a sign says otherwise, the vehicle on your right goes first.
- Default speed limits outside built-up areas differ by region - Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels are not aligned.
- Stopping and parking are legally distinct, with different rules and different signs, and the exam wording plays on the difference.
- Trams, bus lanes and cycle infrastructure follow rules with no equivalent in many licence systems.
Before you revise at all: can you just exchange your licence?
If you already hold a licence issued in an EU or EEA country, you can normally exchange it at your commune with no exam at all. For a licence issued outside the EU, it depends on the country: direct exchange, exchange after checks, or both exams.
Check this first. Preparing for and paying for an exam you did not need is the most common avoidable expense among new arrivals in Belgium.
The exam in numbers
- 50 — questions
- 41/50 — to pass
- ~15 s — per question
- €17 in Wallonia — per attempt
Booking and sitting the exam in English
- Find a centre that offers English Check the language options on the GOCA booking system rather than assuming. Brussels and the larger cities are the safest bets.
- Book the slot with English selected The language is chosen at booking time and is what determines the version you sit.
- Bring valid ID Without a valid identity document you will not be admitted, and the fee stays paid.
- Prepare in English beforehand Learn the Highway Code vocabulary in the language you will be tested in. Translating in your head costs seconds you do not have.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Belgian driving theory exam in English?
Yes, at a number of GOCA centres - but not at all of them. The language is selected when you book, so check the options for the centre you want rather than assuming English will be available on the day.
Which centres offer the exam in English?
Availability varies by centre and can change, with Brussels and the larger cities the most likely. The GOCA booking system shows the language options for each centre.
Is the exam easier or harder in English?
Neither. The number of questions, the time per question, the marking scheme and the syllabus are identical in every language. Only the wording changes.
Can I take the exam with an interpreter?
Yes, under conditions. The request must be made in advance and carries an additional cost. Contact the centre where you intend to sit the exam well before your preferred date.
How much does the theory exam cost?
€17.00 per attempt in Wallonia (2026 rate). Flanders and Brussels set their own fees, so check with your centre.
Do I need to take the exam at all if I already have a licence?
Not if it was issued in an EU or EEA country - that is normally exchanged at your commune with no exam. For a non-EU licence it depends on the issuing country. Check with your commune before revising anything.