UK motorway speed limit reduced to new maximum for drivers in eight cars
You must not drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road and your type of vehicle, the government has warned, with road users put on alert.
07:41, 03 Jun 2025
UK motorway speed limit reduced to new maximum for drivers in eight cars
The DVLA has warned drivers to monitor a key legal limit because it is "not always safe". You must not drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road and your type of vehicle, the government has warned, with road users put on alert.
"The speed limit is the absolute maximum - it does not mean it's safe to drive at this speed in all conditions," the Labour Party[1] government website and DVLA warn.
Despite the motorway speed limit being 70mph, it reduces to 60mph for cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans AND dual-purpose vehicles when towing caravans or trailers.
It reduces to 60mph for buses, coaches and minibuses (more than 12 metres overall length), too, as well as goods vehicles more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight in England and Wales.
The speed limit 30 miles per hour (48km/h) in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland and 20 miles per hour (32km/h) in Wales. In built-up areas the speed limit (km/h) in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland for cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles is 30mph.
The speed limit for cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles when towing caravans or trailers is 30mph.
The speed limit for motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) and motorhomes or motor caravans (more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) is also 30mph.
The speed limit for buses, coaches and minibuses (not more than 12 metres overall length), buses, coaches and minibuses (more than 12 metres overall length), goods vehicles (not more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight), goods vehicles (more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in England and Wales and goods vehicles (more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in Scotland is also 30mph.
A speed limiter must be fitted on vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, for example, buses, minibuses, coaches, stretch limousines.
It must also be installed on goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight of more than 3.5 tonnes.
Speed limiters are designed to reduce collisions.
They limit the maximum speed of a vehicle by restricting the fuel supply to the engine.
Having a speed limiter may mean that your vehicle cannot reach the speed limit.
References