The number of driver’s licences (type B) obtained in Flanders has been declining slightly every year since 2014. Last year, 66,415 Flemish people obtained their B driver’s licence; in 2014, this figure was still 76,730. This trend is also evident in Brussels: 10,505 driving licences last year, compared to 11,957 in 2014.
In Wallonia, we see an opposite trend. There was an increase in 2024 compared to the previous year. In 2024, 41,001 B driver’s licences were obtained in Wallonia, compared to 39,945 in 2023.
‘Later in life’
“Not everyone starts driving lessons at the age of eighteen,” explained Thomas Van Coillie of Federdrive – the federation of recognized driving schools – in the newspaper Zondag.
“Young people are increasingly postponing getting their driver’s licence until later in life. That is why the number of driver’s licenses issued has been declining year after year.”
“We also see a shift toward more licenses for cars with an automatic transmission, which is a logical evolution, since fewer cars are being made with a manual transmission.”
No longer relevant
The federation is aware that theoretical training, and more specifically, the aspect of car mechanics, is no longer relevant. For instance, it is no longer appropriate for future drivers to know where the brake fluid reservoir is located or where the oil dipstick is located.
The federation, therefore, aims to enter into consultation with the government and reform driver training in the long term.
