Car Hire at Charleroi Sud Station

EU licences are fully valid. UK licence holders need an International Driving Permit (IDP) post-Brexit. Visitors from other countries should check their rental company's requirements—many accept licences in English with an IDP as backup. An IDP costs around £5 and is available from the AA or Post Office. Without the correct documentation, your insurance will be void.

Yes, expect to pay a 'young driver surcharge' of roughly €20–€30 per day if you're under 25. Some contractors charge even more for drivers under 21. Budget an extra €200–€400 on a week's rental for this fee alone. Always compare this cost against the base price—budget chains sometimes waive the surcharge for 23+.

Belgium uses a mix of systems: the AutoRoute ticket system on some sections and a 'vignette' system for others. Avoid the old paper 'vignette' motorway tax disc if driving a hired car—hire companies charge heavily for these if misused. Most rental cars come with a Viafix or similar electronic device for automatic toll collection; check with your provider. Tolls typically cost €5–€15 per journey on major routes.

Charleroi city centre has limited parking. Street meters charge roughly €1–€2 per hour, usually 09:00–18:00 weekdays only—free on Sundays and public holidays. The P+R Charleroi Ville 2 offers cheaper long-stay parking at about €3 per day with tram access to the centre. Avoid parking on yellow-zoned streets or you'll face an instant €50 fine.

Credit card CDW is rarely sufficient for Belgium rentals—most domestic cards exclude SUVs, vans, and premium vehicles. The rental company's CDW typically costs €15–€25 per day but reduces your liability from €1,500+ to zero. If using credit card coverage, verify it explicitly covers Belgium and get written confirmation from the card provider beforehand. Claim disputes can take months.

Standard motorway limit is 120 km/h. Speed cameras ('trajectscontrole') are active on many Belgian roads—these average your speed over a distance rather than spot-checking. Fines arrive by post within weeks, typically €50–€150 for minor speeding. Belgium has zero-tolerance for speeds above 180 km/h on motorways—loss of licence is a real possibility, not a threat.