Brussels: rent a car for a pleasant journey
The first impression of the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium is one of monumentality. The historical heritage in Brussels is carefully preserved, yet the city, once home to prosperous European artisans and merchants, has been influenced by the times.
The modern look of its business districts and residential areas is complemented by a road network on which travelling is a pleasure. You can begin to get to know Brussels almost from your first steps at the international airport, where car rental services are available.
The administrative centre of the European Union is served by two airports: Zaventem International Airport, located 12 km away, and the second-largest, Charleroi, 46 km away. The first is considered the main gateway to Belgium, and in 2005, according to passenger surveys, it was recognised as the best in Europe. Everything here - from the location of the information boards and navigation services to the service and rest areas - is designed with concern for passengers' comfort. Tourists and visitors who have just arrived will easily find the car rental companies' offices in Hall 2.
Of course, it is better to take care of this at least several months before your arrival: choose a company, find out the details and choose a car, so you do not have to worry and can save considerably on the service. But for those for whom a trip to Brussels was spontaneous, almost nothing will prevent them from renting a car.
At Zaventem airport, rental services are offered by many companies:
- Alamo,
- Avis,
- Budget,
- Enterprise,
- Europcar,
- Keddy by Europcar,
The second air gateway to Brussels - Charleroi - began receiving flights again after its reorganisation in the 1990s, and the construction of a new terminal in 2008 increased annual passenger traffic to 5 million people. The second-largest airport serving the Belgian capital is a major European hub with a modern structure, where a separate level is set aside for the offices of travel agencies and firms offering various categories of cars for hire.
At Charleroi, offices of such companies as these operate:
- Avis,
- Budget,
- Europcar,
- Keddy by Europcar,
Terms of hire and insurance issues
When considering an application with any company, you will be asked to show a driving licence of an international standard. You will also need a bank card with a sufficient amount available, which will be frozen for the duration of the contract. The terms may differ for those under 25 years of age or with little driving experience.
If, during a trip to Brussels, car rental is listed as mandatory, then those travelling here with children will have to worry about their choice in advance, so as not to spend hours waiting while looking for a car with optional equipment.
Insurance is a prerequisite, and the standard package is often included in the rental. In addition to the policy that insures against possible damage to the car and damage to third parties, there is another option - a complete package with a zero deductible, offered by our company. In any case, the amount of the contribution will remain within reasonable limits, and the driver will be spared unnecessary anxiety.
Average prices for car rental in Brussels
| Category | for 3 days | 7 days |
| Mini | 112-214 euro | 172-307 euro |
| Economy | 108-186 euro | 142-262 euro |
| Normal | 131-283 euro | 205-406 euro |
| Lux | 277-674 euro | 462-991 euro |
| Versatile | 164-548 euro | 245-742 euro |
| SUV | 228-538 euro | 325-780 euro |
| Van | 372-504 euro | 566-977 euro |
Choosing a car according to your preferences or the required size will not be much trouble. For the busiest roads in the capital, it is of course better to choose a small car. If necessary, a roomy or executive car can also be rented, such as an Audi Q5, Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series.
Rules and penalties
Brussels is often called the "Golden Gate of Europe". It has a well-equipped, modern and extensive road system with bright street lighting. There are standard rules of the road and road signs, as throughout Europe. On the roads of the Belgian capital, drivers are generally polite and disciplined, not least because of the substantial fines.
Note: in some cases, fines have increased significantly, and avoiding penalties for violations will simply not work because of the huge number of surveillance cameras.
Respecting speed limits is essential, especially on some parts of the road where signs set special requirements. Otherwise, the same rules apply as everywhere: within the city, the general limit is 30 km / h (50 or 70 km / h only on signposted main roads), while outside built-up areas the limit is 70 km / h in Flanders and 90 km / h in Wallonia, and 120 km / h on motorways.
Those wishing to try their luck should be prepared for the fact that speeding by 10 km / h will incur a fine of 58 euros, and each additional number on the speedometer that exceeds the limit will cost another 7 to 12 euros on top of the minimum fine.
The easiest way to avoid unnecessary costs is not to break the rules, because even for an apparently minor offence such as parking in the wrong place, you can expect to pay a minimum fine of 64 euros. All data about the offence immediately goes into the computer database, which eliminates the possibility of avoiding punishment.
The scale of fines for traffic violations in Brussels is as follows:
- EUR 128 (for running a yellow light, or ignoring priority at a pedestrian crossing without traffic lights); talking on a hand-held mobile phone costs EUR 191.
- EUR 150 (running a red light, disobeying police instructions, or driving in the dark without turning on the lights and sidelights).
- From 200 to 2,750 euros (driving into oncoming traffic or crossing a continuous line on the motorway).
In the most serious cases, you can lose your licence, and the police may seize it; you may only be able to get it back through the courts, with the help of an expensive lawyer, and not immediately.
Fuel and parking
Numerous filling stations remove the main difficulty of refuelling the car, with only one slight nuance. Opening hours at many of them are limited, which causes some difficulties between 22.00 and 8.00. The issue of refuelling a rented car can be solved with cash on motorways.
Note! In Belgium, you are allowed to carry fuel in a canister.
The cost of any type of fuel is the same across the country, so there is no point in looking for additional benefits.
Regarding parking, paid or underground parking is optimal. These options may not be particularly cheap, but they provide peace of mind. They are under constant surveillance, so the car will be guarded.
Road traffic in Brussels is helped by the parking zones:
- Red - this allows you to leave the car for a maximum of 2 hours at the same rate; even 15 minutes of parking will cost at least 2 euros.
- Orange - the same 2-hour limit, but this zone is in less busy areas of the capital.
- Green - long-term parking in residential areas, where one hour of parking costs 1 euro.
- Blue - free of charge for a limited time of up to 3 hours, with a parking disc required.
As a rule, a special disc is already in a rented car: look in the glove compartment and take out the item that resembles a clock. Now you just need to set and secure the parking disc on the windscreen before going about your business.