Rules of the road
Driving in the United Kingdom
Every value below links to the official source it was checked against, with the date it was checked. What is not verified yet says so.
Which side of the road
Speed limits
Speed limit in towns and cities
Varies by region30 mph
England and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
- Wales 20 mph The default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30. Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan
- Motorway — 60 mph
- Dual carriageway — 60 mph
- Country roads — 50 mph
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Alcohol
How much alcohol you may have in your blood
Varies by region80 mg/100ml
England and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
- Scotland 50 mg/100ml Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Your licence and age
Whether you need an International Driving Permit
Not required
A full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
How long you may drive on your own licence
12 months
Counted from when you last entered Great Britain.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Headlights
When you must switch your headlights on
Not required
Headlights are required at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Phones at the wheel
Holding a phone while driving
Not allowed
Applies to holding any device that can send or receive data, even at a red light.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Hands-free phone calls
Allowed
The phone must be in a holder or fully hands-free, and must not block your view.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Who goes first
Turning at a red light
Not allowed
Red means stop for every direction. A separate green arrow is the only exception.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Who has priority at a roundabout
Traffic already on the roundabout goes first
Give way to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs say otherwise.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Seatbelts and children
Who must wear a seatbelt
Everyone, in every seat
A seatbelt must be worn in any seat that has one.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Age below which a child needs a child seat
12 years
Until age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Height below which a child needs a child seat
135 cm
Until 135 cm tall or age 12, whichever comes first.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Parking
What the lines and painted kerbs mean
- Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
- Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
- Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
- Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
- White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Parking on the pavement
Varies by regionNo single national answer — it depends on the region:
- England Allowed Except London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined. Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
- Scotland Not allowed Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
- Wales Allowed Discouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined. Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Parking facing against the traffic
Allowed
By day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
How far you must park from a junction or crossing
- A junction — 10 m
Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Winter driving
Tolls and city charges
How you pay for motorways
- Toll booths
- City charges
Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Low-emission zones
In many cities
London has its own ultra low emission zone. Clean air zones operate in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside, and Scottish cities have separate low emission zones. Most only charge vehicles that miss emissions standards.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
If something goes wrong
Emergency number
999
112 also works and reaches the same service.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Fines
Typical fines
- Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Whether police can fine you on the spot
Yes — visitors must pay at the roadside
Fixed penalties are normally paid later, not at the roadside. A driver who cannot give a UK address must pay a deposit on the spot.
Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source
Not yet verified for the United Kingdom
These rules exist, but no value has been checked against an official source yet. Missing beats wrong.
- Speed limit in living and residential zones
- Speed limit in rain or snow
- Speed limit for drivers who passed their test recently
- Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently
- Alcohol limit for professional drivers
- Youngest age you may rent a car
- What you must carry in the car
- What you should carry, but do not have to
- Headlights in tunnels
- Priority to traffic coming from the right
- Youngest age a child may sit in the front
- How you pay to park
- What happens if you park wrongly
- When winter tyre rules apply
- Snow chains