Driving in Luxembourg

But if you’re planning a car journey to Luxembourg, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your trip to the Continent as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Luxembourg section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic and Comprehensive) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Luxembourg to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

Need short-term insurance for your vehicle? Our temporary car cover is perfect if you're looking for flexible insurance for between 1 hour and 30 days.

• A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
• Your motor insurance certificate (ensure your car is covered by third-party insurance recognised in Luxembourg. This is the legal minimum cover for residents and visitors, so check with your provider before you travel)
• The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental

Do I need a GB or UK sticker for driving in Luxembourg?

From 28th September 2021, the distinguishing mark (or national identifier) displayed on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom that are driven abroad will change from GB to UK.  

This means that vehicles registered in the UK must display the letters “UK” when driven in Luxembourg.   

The identifier can be incorporated in vehicle number plates (along with the Union Flag) or as a separate sticker. Note that vehicles featuring the letters GB together with the Council of Europe golden stars are no longer valid for driving abroad.

If your vehicle does not have the UK identifier within the number plate, you will require a UK sticker when driving in Italy. GB stickers will no longer be valid from the end of September.

Do I need an insurance green card?

From 2nd August 2021, drivers will no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Luxembourg.

ETIAS – 2025

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa program for visitors who don’t need a Schengen visa, who want to travel to the European Union and a few other European countries.

Visitors who purchase an ETIAS will be able to enter the 26 member states of the Schengen Zone as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.

This will be launching in 2025. Learn more about ETIAS here.

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Luxembourg.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket
• A Camping Card International to give you additional proof of identity, third-party liability insurance, plus discounts at a wide range of campsites and tourist attractions

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

Is there anything that I shouldn’t take with me?

Be aware that you cannot take the following with you into Luxembourg:

• meat or products containing meat
• milk or dairy products

You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’:

• fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
• vegetables
• plants
• plant products

• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle
• In Luxembourg, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Buses, including school buses, have right of way when pulling out. On steep roads, traffic driving uphill has priority
• If you're in a built-up area, you can only use your horn in cases of extreme danger
• The use of dipped headlights during the day is recommended for all vehicles, while your rear red fog lights may only be used when visibility is reduced to 50 metres
• If you're caught committing a motoring offence while driving through Luxembourg, you could be given an on-the-spot fine of up to €145
• Seat belts should be worn in all seats where a belt is available 
• Children under the age of 3 must use an appropriate seat restraint. Children weighing over 36kg can use the lap part of an adult seat belt. Children up to 150cm tall can't travel in the front seat without a suitable seat restraint
• The drink-drive limit is 0.05%. For professional drivers and novice drivers with less than 2 years' experience, the limit is 0.02%. Anyone suspected of driving under the influence might be subjected to a breath test

The speed limit is 50km/h in built-up areas and 90km/h on open roads. On motorways, it’s 130km/h – reduced to 110 km/h in rain or snow

• You won't have to pay motorway tolls to drive in Luxembourg
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available, as is LPG. Many petrol stations have automatic pumps which operate with a bank card or credit card
• There are motorway service areas situated at Capellen on the Arlon motorway and near Bettenbourg on the A3 motorway in the direction of Thionville/Metz
• You will usually be charged to park in towns, either by parking meters, tickets or parking discs. Wheel clamps are used throughout Luxembourg, and cars that are causing an obstruction may be removed and impounded
• It’s easy to cross into neighbouring countries without realising it. Keep your passport with you for identification

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Luxmbourg

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Luxembourg.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 21
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Some car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
• Some companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Luxembourg unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Luxembourgers drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• The national speed limit on Luxembourgish motorways is 130km/h (reduced to 110km/h in rain or snow). On a main road outside a built-up area it's 90 km/h. For built-up areas it’s 50km/h
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England Wales and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland.

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice