What is the HGV limit on a single carriageway?

Above 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight it is 50 mph in England and Wales, and 40 mph in Scotland and Northern Ireland. At or under 7.5 tonnes it is 50 mph in all those nations. A lower signed limit always applies.

What happens at exactly 7.5 tonnes?

The lower heavy goods branch applies only above 7.5 tonnes. When a goods vehicle draws a trailer, the test uses their aggregate maximum laden weight. 7.5 tonnes plus a 0.1 tonne trailer is over the line.

What is the HGV motorway limit?

70 mph if not over 7.5 tonnes, not articulated and not towing. 60 mph if articulated, towing, or over 7.5 tonnes. That 60 mph figure is the legal maximum, not a limiter setting.

Why is Scotland different?

Schedule 6 keeps 40 mph on single carriageways and 50 mph on dual carriageways for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. England and Wales use 50 and 60 on those roads. The motorway figure is 60 mph in all four nations for that heavy class.

Does a van use these HGV figures?

A van that is a goods vehicle uses the goods rows by weight. A qualifying car derived van uses car limits instead. Most panel vans not over 7.5 tonnes use 50, 60 and 70 when not towing. The van page has the exceptions.

What is the penalty for an HGV speeding?

GOV.UK's minimum is £100 and 3 points. A court can fine up to £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway. SP10 is the goods-vehicle speeding code, 3 to 6 points. The limit you exceeded is the HGV limit, which can be 40 mph on a Scottish single carriageway.

Does a limiter make 56 mph the law?

No. GOV.UK says a limiter may mean the vehicle cannot reach the speed limit. The legal motorway maximum above 7.5 tonnes is 60 mph. A limiter is a mechanical cap, not a new Schedule 6 number.

Does Wales 20 mph apply to lorries?

Yes. Restricted roads in Wales default to 20 mph unless signs show another limit. The 50, 60 and 60 mph heavy row still applies on faster Welsh roads.

Goods vehicles

HGV speed limits

The 7.5 tonne boundary and the nation matter on non motorway roads.

A goods vehicle over 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight, including aggregate maximum laden weight when towing, has lower limits. Scotland and Northern Ireland use the lowest single and dual carriageway figures.

The limits at a glance

HGV speed limits by road type
Vehicle or rule	Built up	Single	Dual	Motorway
Up to 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight	30 mph, 20 mph in Wales	50 mph	60 mph	70 mph, 60 mph if articulated or towing
Over 7.5 tonnes, England and Wales	30 mph, 20 mph in Wales	50 mph	60 mph	60 mph
Over 7.5 tonnes, Scotland and Northern Ireland	30 mph	40 mph	50 mph	60 mph

What is the HGV speed limit in the UK?

A goods vehicle not over 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight uses 50 mph on a single carriageway, 60 mph on a dual carriageway and 70 mph on a motorway, dropping to 60 mph on a motorway if it is articulated or towing. Above 7.5 tonnes, England and Wales use 50, 60 and 60 mph. Scotland and Northern Ireland use 40, 50 and 60 mph. Those rows are in Highway Code rule 124 and on GOV.UK speed limits, from Schedule 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

When the vehicle draws a trailer, the test uses aggregate maximum laden weight. A 7 tonne lorry and a 1 tonne trailer is 8 tonnes aggregate, so it is over 7.5 tonnes. Built-up roads stay at 30 mph, or 20 mph in Wales, unless signed otherwise. A limiter on a goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes may stop it reaching the legal maximum. It does not raise the legal maximum. GOV.UK speeding penalties start at £100 and 3 points, with a court maximum of £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway. SP10 is exceeding goods vehicle speed limits, 3 to 6 points on the DVLA list. Crossing from England into Scotland in a vehicle over 7.5 tonnes changes a 50 mph single-carriageway maximum into a 40 mph maximum. Watch the nation, not only the signs. A company driver can also face employer action on top of the roadside tariff.

Why do Scotland and Northern Ireland have lower HGV limits?

Schedule 6 keeps lower single and dual figures above 7.5 tonnes in those nations. England and Wales were amended. The motorway figure is 60 mph in all four nations for that heavy class. Crossing the border can change a legal 50 mph dual-carriageway run in England into a 50 mph dual maximum in Scotland that was 60 mph a mile ago. Watch the nation, not only the signs.

nidirect publishes the NI table. The calculator on the hub includes Scotland and Northern Ireland as nation choices so the 40 and 50 mph figures can apply.

A 7.5 tonne lorry on a Scottish single carriageway

Example

A goods vehicle at exactly 7.5 tonnes, then 7.6 tonnes, in Scotland

Road: Unsigned single carriageway, Scotland
First vehicle: 7.5 tonnes maximum laden, not towing
Second vehicle: 7.6 tonnes maximum laden, not towing

The heavy branch applies only above 7.5 tonnes.
At 7.5 tonnes the lighter goods row applies: 50 mph on a single carriageway.
At 7.6 tonnes the Scottish heavy row applies: 40 mph on a single carriageway.
The same 7.6 tonne vehicle in England would be 50 mph on that single carriageway.

Exactly 7.5 tonnes stays on the lighter goods row. One kilogram over, in Scotland, is 40 mph on a single carriageway.

What is the penalty?

GOV.UK speeding penalties start at £100 and 3 points. A court can fine up to £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway. Endorsement code SP10 is exceeding goods vehicle speed limits, 3 to 6 points. SP50 is motorway speeding. A company driver can also face employer action. New drivers and totting-up still apply if the driver has a car licence with C1, not only if they have a full HGV career.

Do vans and motorhomes sit on this page?

A van that is a goods vehicle uses these rows by weight. A qualifying car derived van does not. A motorhome uses the 3.05 tonne unladen table unless GOV.UK classes it as a goods vehicle because it is used for exhibition, as a workshop, or for storage. Articulated combinations use the articulated motorway cap of 60 mph even at or under 7.5 tonnes.

How do Wales and motorways fit?

Wales uses 20 mph on restricted roads for HGVs as well as cars. The heavy England and Wales row still uses 50 and 60 on single and dual, and 60 on a motorway. A Welsh motorway is 60 mph for a goods vehicle over 7.5 tonnes, not 70.

What are the common HGV speed myths?

That 56 mph is the legal limit. That is a limiter setting, not the Schedule 6 figure. The motorway legal maximum above 7.5 tonnes is 60 mph. That 7.5 tonnes includes a trailer automatically. Only when you add the trailer MAM and cross 7.5 tonnes aggregate. That a 7.5 tonne truck can do 70 mph on a motorway when rigid and not towing. Yes, if it is not over 7.5 tonnes. Over, it is 60.

Highway Code rule 124 and GOV.UK speed limits print the goods-vehicle rows from Schedule 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Above 7.5 tonnes, England and Wales use 50, 60 and 60 mph. Scotland and Northern Ireland use 40, 50 and 60 mph. When a trailer is attached, the test is aggregate maximum laden weight. Articulated combinations use 60 mph on a motorway even at or under 7.5 tonnes. GOV.UK speeding penalties still start at £100 and 3 points. SP10 is exceeding goods vehicle speed limits. A limiter on a goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes may stop it reaching the legal maximum. It does not change Schedule 6. Wales 20 mph still applies on restricted roads.

Common questions

What is the HGV limit on a single carriageway?: Above 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight it is 50 mph in England and Wales, and 40 mph in Scotland and Northern Ireland. At or under 7.5 tonnes it is 50 mph in all those nations. A lower signed limit always applies.
What happens at exactly 7.5 tonnes?: The lower heavy goods branch applies only above 7.5 tonnes. When a goods vehicle draws a trailer, the test uses their aggregate maximum laden weight. 7.5 tonnes plus a 0.1 tonne trailer is over the line.
What is the HGV motorway limit?: 70 mph if not over 7.5 tonnes, not articulated and not towing. 60 mph if articulated, towing, or over 7.5 tonnes. That 60 mph figure is the legal maximum, not a limiter setting.
Why is Scotland different?: Schedule 6 keeps 40 mph on single carriageways and 50 mph on dual carriageways for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. England and Wales use 50 and 60 on those roads. The motorway figure is 60 mph in all four nations for that heavy class.
Does a van use these HGV figures?: A van that is a goods vehicle uses the goods rows by weight. A qualifying car derived van uses car limits instead. Most panel vans not over 7.5 tonnes use 50, 60 and 70 when not towing. The van page has the exceptions.
What is the penalty for an HGV speeding?: GOV.UK's minimum is £100 and 3 points. A court can fine up to £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway. SP10 is the goods-vehicle speeding code, 3 to 6 points. The limit you exceeded is the HGV limit, which can be 40 mph on a Scottish single carriageway.
Does a limiter make 56 mph the law?: No. GOV.UK says a limiter may mean the vehicle cannot reach the speed limit. The legal motorway maximum above 7.5 tonnes is 60 mph. A limiter is a mechanical cap, not a new Schedule 6 number.
Does Wales 20 mph apply to lorries?: Yes. Restricted roads in Wales default to 20 mph unless signs show another limit. The 50, 60 and 60 mph heavy row still applies on faster Welsh roads.

Sources

Limits are maximums. Follow any lower posted limit and reduce speed when conditions require it.