UK Speed Limits 2026: Cars, Vans and Towing

National speed limits

Vehicle	Built-up areas	Single carriageway	Dual carriageway	Motorway
Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and motorhomes up to 3.05 tonnes	30	60	70	70
Cars, motorcycles and car-derived vans towing a caravan or trailer	30	50	60	60
Motorhomes over 3.05 tonnes (up to 7.5 tonnes)	30	50	60	70
Goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes (vans)	30	50	60	70
Buses, coaches and minibuses up to 12m long	30	50	60	70

Limits in mph. The 30mph limit applies on roads with street lights, unless signs show otherwise. Car-derived vans, such as small vans based on a car, follow the car limits.

Recognising the limit

Street lights and no signs usually mean 30mph (20mph on most such roads in Wales).
The national speed limit sign, a white circle with a black diagonal stripe, means 60mph on a single carriageway and 70mph on a dual carriageway for cars.
Smart motorways can show variable limits on overhead signs. A limit inside a red circle is enforceable by camera.

20mph in Wales

Since 17 September 2023, the default limit on restricted roads in Wales, mostly residential streets with street lights, has been 20mph. Councils have since raised some roads back to 30mph after reviews, so follow the signs.

What happens if you are caught speeding

Minor offences are often dealt with by a speed awareness course or a £100 fixed penalty and 3 points. Higher speeds go to court, where the fine is based on your income. Use our speeding fine calculator to see the band, and read how penalty points add up.

Speed and stopping distance

At 30mph a car takes about 23 metres to stop, and at 70mph about 96 metres. Braking distance rises with the square of speed. See the stopping distance calculator.

Sources

Checked against official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important on GOV.UK. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Questions

What is the speed limit on a dual carriageway in the UK?

70mph for cars, unless signs show a lower limit. Cars towing a trailer are limited to 60mph.

What is the national speed limit on a single carriageway?

60mph for cars, and 50mph for cars towing a caravan or trailer.

What does the national speed limit sign mean?

The national limit for that road and vehicle: for a car, 60mph on a single carriageway and 70mph on a dual carriageway or motorway.

Is the speed limit 20mph everywhere in Wales?

It is the default on most restricted roads with street lights since September 2023, but some roads have been changed back to 30mph. Follow the signs.

UK speed limits