HGV Speed Limits in the UK and Scotland: Full Legal Breakdown (2025)

August 1, 2025

HGV Speed Limits in the UK and Scotland

Introduction

If you drive or manage Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), knowing the correct speed limits is essential. These limits depend on the road type, the vehicle’s weight, and the part of the UK you’re driving in.
In 2015, England and Wales increased the speed limits for HGVs on certain roads — but Scotland didn’t follow suit. That means HGV drivers crossing the border need to be extra careful.
In this post, we’ll explain the current legal speed limits, how they differ across the UK, and what the DVSA can do if you get it wrong.

What Counts as an HGV?

By law, an HGV is any vehicle used to carry goods with a gross weight over 3.5 tonnes. There are two categories:

3.5 to 7.5 tonnes
Over 7.5 tonnes

This blog focuses on vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, as they’re subject to stricter speed limits.

HGV Speed Limits in England and Wales

In 2015, the Department for Transport increased the speed limits for HGVs in England and Wales. The current legal limits for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are:

30 mph in built-up areas
50 mph on single carriageways
60 mph on dual carriageways
60 mph on motorways

Source: DfT – Statutory Instrument 2015/410

HGV Speed Limits in Scotland

Scotland did not adopt the 2015 changes. Instead, it kept the original lower limits:

30 mph in built-up areas
40 mph on single carriageways
50 mph on dual carriageways
60 mph on motorways

Source: The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Roads) Regulations 1996

Speed Limiters and Overspeeding

Most HGVs over 3.5 tonnes must be fitted with a speed limiter set to a maximum of 56 mph (90 km/h).

What Is an Overspeed Event?

An overspeed event happens when a vehicle travels faster than the limiter setting for more than 60 seconds.

Example:

58 mph for 45 seconds = no overspeed
58 mph for 1 minute 5 seconds = overspeed event

These events are stored in the vehicle’s tachograph and reviewed by DVSA during checks or audits.

Why It Matters

Repeated overspeed events can suggest:

Poor driver control
Tachograph tampering
Faulty speed limiter
Weak operator oversight

These issues may impact your Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS).

What Can DVSA Do?

DVSA may:

Issue a warning
Give a fixed penalty
Refer you to the Traffic Commissioner

Exceeding the limiter for 60 seconds is enough to trigger enforcement — even if the road limit wasn’t broken.

How Operators Can Stay Compliant

Check tachograph overspeed reports regularly
Keep limiters calibrated
Include overspeed awareness in CPC training
Investigate and log repeated patterns

Driving Across the Border: Why It’s Risky

If you cross from England into Scotland and don’t slow down, you could be breaking the law.

50 mph is legal on a single carriageway in England
But only 40 mph is legal in Scotland

That’s a speeding offence, even if you didn’t realise you’d crossed the border.

Conclusion

HGV speed limits differ across the UK. Scotland still enforces stricter limits.
And if your vehicle exceeds its limiter — even if the road limit allows it — DVSA can take action.

Stay compliant. Know the law. Monitor overspeed events.