United Kingdom

Capital London · £ GBP · +44

Drives on the
left

Last reviewed 2026-05-10 by Semir K (founder review). Always verify with official sources before travelling — see references at the bottom of the page.

Rules of the road

Urban speed limit
30 mph
Rural speed limit
60 mph
Motorway speed limit
70 mph
Alcohol limit (BAC)
0.08 g/L (novice 0.08)
Minimum driving age
17
Headlights by day
Tunnel
Mobile phone
Hands-free only. Holding a phone whilst driving — even at lights — is illegal.
Dashcam legal
Yes
Radar detector legal
Yes
On-the-spot fines
No

Child seats: Until 135cm tall or 12 years old, whichever first.

  • Scotland alcohol limit is 0.05 BAC (lower than England, Wales, NI).
  • Smart motorways may show variable mandatory limits — observe gantry signs.
  • Bus lanes are enforced by camera; check signed hours before driving in.

Mandatory equipment

Warning triangle
Not required
Hi-vis vest
Not required
First-aid kit
Not required
Fire extinguisher
Not required
Breathalyser
Not required
Spare bulbs
Not required
Headlamp converters (RHD)
Not required

Snow chains / winter tyres: No mandatory winter tyre rule. Snow chains rare; allowed in heavy snow only.

Hi-vis note: Recommended but not legally required.

  • MOT certificate required for vehicles over 3 years old.
  • Vehicle must be insured (third-party minimum) and taxed (or SORN).

Documents you must carry

Licences accepted
EU, UK, IDP, national
International Driving Permit
Not required
Insurance Green Card
Not required
Vehicle registration (V5C)
Required
MOT certificate
Required
  • Visitors may drive on a foreign full licence for up to 12 months.
  • EU/EEA visitors do not need an IDP.

Emergency & breakdown

EU 112
Active
Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999

Roadside assistance

Embassies & consulates: official directory.

Fuel & EV charging

Petrol 95 (avg)
€1.71/L
Diesel (avg)
€1.78/L

EV plug standards: Type2, CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla.

Major networks: BP Pulse, Pod Point, Shell Recharge, Ionity, Tesla Supercharger, Gridserve, InstaVolt.

  • Largest rapid-charging network in Europe per capita; CCS dominant for new EVs.
  • Some older Ecotricity chargers are CHAdeMO-only — check Zap-Map before relying.

Parking, congestion & low-emission zones

Parking disc: Not generally required — Blue badge scheme for disabled drivers; pay-and-display dominant in cities.

Congestion charges

  • London (Central)
    £15/day, Mon–Fri 07:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–18:00. Pay via TfL.

Low-emission zones

  • London (ULEZ)Fine ~€210
    £12.50/day for non-Euro 6 diesel and non-Euro 4 petrol. Active 24/7 across all London boroughs.
  • Birmingham (CAZ)Fine ~€142
    Clean Air Zone Class D — £8/day for non-compliant cars in city centre.
  • Glasgow (LEZ)Fine ~€70
    Non-Euro 6 diesel/Euro 4 petrol banned from city centre. Penalty escalates with repeat offences.
  • Bath (CAZ)
    Class C — applies to taxis, buses, HGVs, vans. Cars exempt.
  • Bristol (CAZ)Fine ~€142
    Class D — £9/day for non-compliant cars in city centre.
  • Yellow lines: single = restricted hours; double = no waiting any time.
  • Red routes (London) = no stopping at all.

Ferries & major tunnels

Major ferry routes

Major tunnels

  • Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle)~€100 · Vehicle on train, Folkestone → Calais, ~35 min crossing.
  • Dartford Crossing (M25)~€3 · Pay-by-mid-night the day after. Use Dart Charge online.
  • Mersey Gateway~€2.5 · Pay online or via Merseyflow.
  • Tyne Tunnel~€2.5 · Pay via TT2 within 48h.
  • Severn Crossings (M4/M48) are toll-free since 2018.
  • Clyde Tunnel (Glasgow) is toll-free.

Tolls & vignettes

Toll system
Mixed

The UK has very few toll roads. The main paid crossings are Dartford (M25), the Mersey Gateway, the Tyne Tunnel, and the M6 Toll between Birmingham and Cannock. Eurotunnel and ferry crossings to the continent are the largest single-trip costs for travellers.

Pets & border crossings

Pet passport / AHC
Required

Post-Brexit: GB pet passports no longer valid for EU travel. Use an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued ≤10 days before travel.

  • EU pets entering GB need a pet passport or AHC, microchip and rabies vaccination.
  • Tapeworm treatment required for dogs entering GB (24–120 hours before).

References

  • GOV.UK — Driving in the UK — https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving
  • Highway Code — https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code
  • TfL — ULEZ — https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone
  • DVLA — https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency

Profile version 1. Last reviewed 2026-05-10 by Semir K (founder review). Rules change frequently — verify with official sources before travelling.