Hi everyone!
Iām looking for advice from people who have gone through the process of getting their practical driving test in Brussels, especially at the ACT Schaerbeek test centre.
I passed my theory test in Brussels in 2024 and also passed the risk perception test. I completed 20 hours of driving lessons at a driving school in August 2025 and obtained an M18 provisional licence, which expires on March 3, 2027. I now have all the documents needed to take the practical test.
The problem is that I canāt seem to get a test date.
In June 2026, I contacted my driving school to book the practical test. They told me there were no available dates in Brussels and that, since I had only completed 20 hours of lessons, I wouldnāt be a priority on their waiting list. They didnāt even register me because they said it would be pointless.
In August, I went to the ACT Schaerbeek test centre myself. I was told there were no dates available and that the only thing I could do was come back every week to check. There apparently wasnāt a formal waiting list. I emailed the centre and received a reply saying I was on the waiting list, but when I went back a month later, I was told there was no official list. The secretary was simply collecting peopleās email addresses to notify them when new dates became available.
Meanwhile, my driving school has offered me two options:
Pay for 10 additional driving lessons (around ā¬500) to bring my total to 30 hours, which would apparently allow me to access their waiting list.
Try to take the test in Wallonia by paying for 6 hours of lessons at a driving school there. They suggested I might be able to get a test date within around two weeks, although Iām not sure how reliable that estimate is.
Iām in my final year of medical school, with clinical placements and exams, so I canāt realistically spend hours every week travelling to the test centre just to ask whether a date has become available. Having a driving licence would also make a huge difference for commuting to placements outside Brussels and doing home visits.
What frustrates me most is that getting access to a test seems to depend not only on whether youāre ready to drive, but also on your financial means and how much free time you have.
Iād really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
Has anyone recently managed to book a practical test at ACT Schaerbeek? How did you get a date?
Is there actually a waiting list or an effective way to be notified of cancellations?
Did paying for extra lessons through a driving school genuinely help you get a test date?
Has anyone taken their practical test in Wallonia after doing their lessons in Brussels? Is this a realistic option, and are there any administrative requirements I should know about?
If your M18 licence is approaching its expiry date because of delays in getting a test, what options do you have?
Are there any other solutions I might be overlooking, such as another test centre or contacting the relevant authorities?
I understand that test centres are under pressure, but it seems unreasonable to have to pay hundreds of euros in additional lessons simply to get access to an exam when youāve already completed the required training.
Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences you can share!