Can I hold my phone while driving in Luxembourg?
No — and it is the most expensive offence in the Highway Code in points terms. Holding a screened electronic device while your vehicle is not parked costs €250 and 4 points (art. 170bis-02): do it three times and your 12 points are gone. Beware an official trap: the road offence table published by the Ministry of Justice still shows €145 and 2 points — that is the old regime, and the document has never been updated. The deduction rose to 4 points on 24 October 2023 and the fine to €250 on 10 February 2024. And no: at a red light or in a traffic jam, you are neither parked nor stationary. The rule also catches cyclists — €250, though no points, since a bicycle needs no licence.
📋 The rules
- Art. 170bis-02: it is forbidden to use, hold in your hand or operate a mobile electronic device with a screen while driving a vehicle that is not parked — €250 and 4 points.
- Art. 170bis-03: using permitted functions other than through the vehicle's built-in hands-free system, or using navigation on a device not fixed in a purpose-made holder — €250 and 4 points.
- Art. 170bis-04: a motorcycle helmet whose communication equipment is neither integrated nor fitted according to the manufacturer's instructions — €250 and 4 points.
- Art. 170bis-01: wearing a device that prevents you from properly hearing traffic noise (earphones) — €74. A device in one ear only, used to communicate, remains allowed.
- The rule covers every driver, motorised or not: a cyclist holding a phone pays €250, but loses no points, since no licence is required for a bicycle.
🔓 Exceptions
- You may hold the phone only when the vehicle is parked in a parking space with the engine off. The official Transport Portal FAQ is explicit: neither a red light nor a traffic jam counts.
- The phone may serve as a satnav: fixed in a stable holder, with the address entered before you set off. Looking at the screen is fine; touching it is not.
- Smartwatch: a single tap to read the time is tolerated. Any other app is prohibited while driving.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
€250 and 4 points, every single time. With a capital of 12 points, three phone offences are enough to wipe it out — triggering 12 months of suspension (24 months on a second full loss within 3 years), with no adjustment for professional need, plus a 5-day awareness course at the Colmar-Berg training centre. Non-residents hold a "virtual" 12-point licence: a cross-border commuter who exhausts it can no longer drive in Luxembourg, even though the national licence stays valid at home. Recovery: 3 points once every 3 years through a one-day course, or a full reset after 3 clean years.
📎 Official sources
- Luxembourg Police · official website (homepage, distracted driving section) →
- Transport Portal · official website (homepage, "Keep your eyes on the road" FAQ) →
- Guichet.lu · official government portal (homepage, points licence) →
❓ Frequently asked
Why do some official pages still say €145 and 2 points?
The road offence table published by the Ministry of Justice was never updated after the reform and still shows the old regime. The current Police and Transport Portal pages give the real figures: €250 and 4 points.
Can I use my phone while stopped at a red light?
No, and the official Transport Portal FAQ answers this explicitly. The phone may only be handled when the vehicle is parked or stationary in a parking space — a red light and a traffic jam are neither.
Is picking it up just to hang up allowed?
No: article 170bis-02 penalises the mere act of holding a screened device in your hand, whatever the reason. Resting it on your lap to use it is equally prohibited.
What about using my phone as a satnav?
That is allowed on two conditions: the device must be fixed in a purpose-made holder and the address must be entered before you set off. Looking at the screen is permitted, touching it while moving is not.
Can a cyclist be fined for holding a phone?
Yes: the rule applies to every driver, motorised or not, and the €250 fine is due. A cyclist loses no points, however, because no driving licence is required to ride a bicycle.
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