UK speed limits depend on the road type and your vehicle. For a standard car, the key numbers are easy to remember. As always, the posted sign takes priority.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Different limits apply to vans, buses and vehicles towing, and local limits vary — always follow posted signs.
Car speed limits by road type
- Motorways: 70 mph (about 113 km/h).
- Dual carriageways: 70 mph (113 km/h).
- Single carriageways (national speed limit): 60 mph (97 km/h).
- Built-up areas: usually 30 mph (48 km/h), unless signs say otherwise.
- 20 mph zones: increasingly common in residential and city areas (Wales has made 20 mph a default in many built-up areas).
The "national speed limit" sign
A white circle with a black diagonal line means the national speed limit applies — which depends on the road type and your vehicle (60 mph on a single carriageway, 70 on a dual carriageway or motorway for cars).
Different vehicles, different limits
Vans, cars towing trailers, buses and HGVs often have lower limits than a car on the same road — for example, lower national-speed-limit figures on single and dual carriageways. Check the rules for your vehicle type.
mph and km/h
UK signs are in mph. To think in km/h, multiply by roughly 1.61: 30 mph ≈ 48 km/h, 70 mph ≈ 113 km/h. The speed converter handles any value.
Check your real speed
Car speedometers read a little high by law, so your true speed is usually slightly below the dashboard. To see your actual speed, use the free GPS Speedometer in mph — no app, nothing uploaded.
Stick to the limits and let the signs guide you.