Photo: Michał Robak / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
For cars in Great Britain, the national speed limits are 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. In built-up areas with street lights, the limit is generally 30 mph in England and Scotland, and 20 mph in Wales since 17 September 2023. This explainer is for learner and new drivers. It sets out the full Rule 124 table, what the national speed limit sign means on each road type, the lower limits for towing, and why the limit is a maximum, not a target.
Key facts: UK speed limits for cars
- Built-up areas: 30 mph (48 km/h) in England and Scotland, 20 mph (32 km/h) in Wales, on roads with street lights unless signs show otherwise. GOV.UK gives 30 mph for Northern Ireland too.
- Single carriageway: 60 mph (96 km/h).
- Dual carriageway: 70 mph (112 km/h).
- Motorway: 70 mph (112 km/h).
- Towing a caravan or trailer: 50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
- Learners in Great Britain follow the same limits as full licence holders.
The national speed limit table (Rule 124)
Rule 124 of the Highway Code says you MUST NOT exceed the maximum speed limit for the road and for your vehicle. This is the table for the vehicles most learner and new drivers will use.
| Vehicle | Built-up areas (England, Scotland) | Built-up areas (Wales) | Single carriageways | Dual carriageways | Motorways |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans up to 2 tonnes | 30 mph | 20 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph | 70 mph |
| Cars towing caravans or trailers | 30 mph | 20 mph | 50 mph | 60 mph | 60 mph |
| Motorhomes up to 3.05 tonnes unladen | 30 mph | 20 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph | 70 mph |
| Motorhomes over 3.05 tonnes unladen | 30 mph | 20 mph | 50 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph |
| Goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes | 30 mph | 20 mph | 50 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph (60 mph if articulated or towing) |
Buses, coaches, minibuses and heavier goods vehicles have their own lower limits, set out in the same Rule 124 table. GOV.UK notes that most vans have lower limits than cars and follow the goods vehicle limits for their weight, unless they are car-derived vans up to 2 tonnes laden.
What does the national speed limit sign mean?
The national speed limit sign (captioned “National speed limit applies” in the Highway Code) does not mean one fixed number. It means the limit from the table above for that road and your vehicle. In a car:
- on a single carriageway, it means 60 mph
- on a dual carriageway, it means 70 mph
- on a motorway, it means 70 mph
Towing a trailer changes the number: 50 mph on a single carriageway and 60 mph on a dual carriageway. Speed limit signs in a red circle give a maximum speed. Blue circular signs give a minimum speed. Our guides to regulatory signs and speed limit and less common signs show them.
Built-up areas and street lights
Rule 124 says the 30 mph limit (20 mph in Wales) usually applies to all roads with street lighting, except motorways, unless signs show otherwise. Councils can set different local limits, which must be clearly signed. Rule 124 gives examples: 20 mph in some built-up areas of England and Scotland, 30 mph on some roads in Welsh built-up areas, and 50 mph on single carriageways with known hazards. GOV.UK also mentions 20 mph zones near schools.
Wales’ 20 mph default limit
The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 cut the default limit on restricted roads in Wales from 30 mph to 20 mph from 17 September 2023. The Highway Code was updated the same day. The Welsh Government describes restricted roads as usually residential and built-up streets, often with street lights no more than 200 yards apart.
Welsh highway authorities can return particular roads to 30 mph using a traffic regulation order, following guidance issued in July 2024. So on a Welsh street with street lights, expect 20 mph unless signs show 30 mph.
Variable and temporary limits
Some motorways and dual carriageways have variable speed limit signs that change the maximum. Road works often have temporary limits. See smart motorways and red X signals and road works and temporary speed limits.
The limit is a maximum, not a target (Rule 125)
Rule 125 says the speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed in all conditions. It tells you to slow down for:
- bends and other hazards in the road layout or surface
- vulnerable road users, such as children, older or disabled people, cyclists, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles and motorcyclists
- bad weather
- night driving, when other road users are harder to see
Rule 152 adds that some residential areas have a 20 mph limit and asks you to drive slowly where pedestrians, cyclists and parked cars are likely. Rule 154 asks you to slow down where country roads enter villages. Annex 8, the safety code for new drivers, says to keep your speed down because many serious collisions happen when drivers lose control, particularly on bends. Learn how speed affects stopping in stopping distances and the two second rule.
Speed limits for learners and in Northern Ireland
GOV.UK confirms that learners in England, Scotland and Wales have the same speed limits as full licence holders. In Northern Ireland, older rules set a 45 mph limit for L-plated cars, and drivers who pass under the pre-GDL system before 1 April 2027 keep a 45 mph limit for a year. Under Graduated Driver Licensing, nidirect says the 45 mph restriction is removed. Read Learning to Drive in Northern Ireland for details.
Scenario: leaving a town
You drive out of a town on a lit 30 mph road. The street lights stop and you pass a national speed limit sign. The road is a single carriageway with one lane each way.
- The national limit for your car is now 60 mph.
- That does not mean you should drive at 60 mph. With a bend ahead and a farm entrance, Rule 125 says choose a speed that fits the conditions.
- If you are towing a small trailer, your limit is 50 mph.
Common questions
What is the national speed limit for a car on a single carriageway?
60 mph (96 km/h). On dual carriageways and motorways it is 70 mph (112 km/h).
Is the speed limit 30 mph wherever there are street lights?
Generally yes in England and Scotland, and 20 mph in Wales, unless signs show a different limit. Motorways are the exception.
When did Wales change to 20 mph?
On 17 September 2023, for restricted roads (usually residential streets with street lights). Some roads have since been returned to 30 mph, so follow the signs.
Can learner drivers drive at 70 mph?
In Great Britain, yes, where the limit allows and conditions are suitable. Learners have the same limits as other drivers. Learners can only drive on motorways with an approved driving instructor in a dual-controlled car. See learners and motorways.
What is the speed limit when towing a trailer?
50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, plus the normal built-up area limits. See towing a trailer on a car licence.
What happens if I speed as a new driver?
Speeding can lead to penalty points. If you reach 6 points within 2 years of passing, your licence is cancelled. See the New Drivers Act.
Back to the main guide: Learning to Drive in Great Britain.
Sources
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103 to 158)” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Traffic signs” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Updates” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Annex 8. Safety code for new drivers” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “Know your traffic signs” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Speed limits” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Driving lessons and learning to drive” (gov.uk)
- Welsh Government, “Introducing default 20mph speed limits” (gov.wales)
- Welsh Government, “The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022” (legislation.gov.uk)
- nidirect, “What Graduated Driver Licensing means for learner drivers” (nidirect.gov.uk)