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Slowest Highway Speed Limits in the World

Countries ranked by legal motorway / highway speed limit, from lowest to highest. Useful for tourists planning road trips and for understanding each country's enforcement culture and road-safety priorities.

#CountryHighway LimitNotesExplore
🥇#1
🇮🇸Iceland90 km/hAmong the slowest legal motorway limits — 90 km/h maximum.
FactsPractice →
🥈#2
🇸🇬Singapore90 km/hAmong the slowest legal motorway limits — 90 km/h maximum.
FactsPractice →
🥉#3
🇳🇱Netherlands100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
FactsPractice →
4🇯🇵Japan100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
FactsPractice →
5🇰🇷South Korea100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
FactsPractice →
6🇨🇦Canada100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
FactsPractice →
7🇳🇿New Zealand100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
FactsPractice →
8🇪🇬Egypt100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
FactsPractice →
9🇨🇾Cyprus100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
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10🇵🇭Philippines100 km/h100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.
FactsPractice →
11🇮🇳India100 km/h100 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
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12🇳🇬Nigeria100 km/h100 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
Practice →
13🇵🇪Peru100 km/h100 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
Practice →
14🇧🇷Brazil110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
FactsPractice →
15🇲🇽Mexico110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
FactsPractice →
16🇸🇪Sweden110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
FactsPractice →
17🇳🇴Norway110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
FactsPractice →
18🇪🇪Estonia110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
Practice →
19🇦🇺Australia110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
FactsPractice →
20🇮🇱Israel110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
FactsPractice →
21🇱🇻Latvia110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
Practice →
22🇭🇰Hong Kong110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
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23🇯🇲Jamaica110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
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24🇰🇪Kenya110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
FactsPractice →
25🇺🇾Uruguay110 km/h110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.
Practice →
Based on AutoviaTest's driving-test database covering 63 countries.Updated 2026
🥇#1🇮🇸Iceland
90 km/h

Among the slowest legal motorway limits — 90 km/h maximum.

View FactsPractice →
🥈#2🇸🇬Singapore
90 km/h

Among the slowest legal motorway limits — 90 km/h maximum.

View FactsPractice →
🥉#3🇳🇱Netherlands
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

View FactsPractice →
#4🇯🇵Japan
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

View FactsPractice →
#5🇰🇷South Korea
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

View FactsPractice →
#6🇨🇦Canada
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

View FactsPractice →
#7🇳🇿New Zealand
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

View FactsPractice →
#8🇪🇬Egypt
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

View FactsPractice →
#9🇨🇾Cyprus
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

Practice →
#10🇵🇭Philippines
100 km/h

100 km/h — top 10 slowest motorway limit worldwide.

View FactsPractice →
#11🇮🇳India
100 km/h

100 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#12🇳🇬Nigeria
100 km/h

100 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

Practice →
#13🇵🇪Peru
100 km/h

100 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

Practice →
#14🇧🇷Brazil
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#15🇲🇽Mexico
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#16🇸🇪Sweden
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#17🇳🇴Norway
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#18🇪🇪Estonia
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

Practice →
#19🇦🇺Australia
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#20🇮🇱Israel
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#21🇱🇻Latvia
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

Practice →
#22🇭🇰Hong Kong
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

Practice →
#23🇯🇲Jamaica
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

Practice →
#24🇰🇪Kenya
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

View FactsPractice →
#25🇺🇾Uruguay
110 km/h

110 km/h — on the stricter side of the global average.

Practice →
Based on AutoviaTest's database covering 63 countries · Updated 2026

Methodology

Highway speed limits use each country's default limit for passenger cars on motorways or dual carriageways. Wet-weather reductions, variable speed limit sections, and country-specific derogations (e.g. Germany's Autobahn unrestricted sections) are not reflected in this comparison.

UK and US limits are legislated in miles per hour and converted to km/h for comparability (70 mph ≈ 113 km/h). The US figure is the default federal maximum; individual states (notably Texas, Utah, and Wyoming) permit 80-85 mph on designated stretches.

Microstates without conventional motorways — Monaco, Malta, Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino — are excluded from this ranking. Their fastest legal roads are typically urban or rural routes, not motorways, so comparing them directly to Iceland, Singapore, or Norway would be misleading.

Ties are broken alphabetically. Truck, bus, and motorcycle speed limits are not included in this ranking — see individual country facts pages for full speed limit tables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has the slowest highway speed limit?+
AutoviaTest's ranking of 63 countries shows the slowest default motorway limits start at 90 km/h, with several countries (Iceland, Singapore, Netherlands, Japan, South Korea) near the bottom. The UK's 70 mph motorway limit (~113 km/h) is mid-pack, while most of continental Europe sits at 120-130 km/h.
Why do countries have different highway speed limits?+
Highway speed limits reflect a mix of road engineering (curve radius, lane width), enforcement culture, vehicle safety standards, and political choices around road fatalities. Norway and Iceland use lower limits because winter conditions and wildlife crossings make higher speeds riskier, while Germany famously retains unrestricted Autobahn sections as a cultural feature.
What is the highest legal speed limit in the world?+
Germany's Autobahn has sections without a fixed speed limit (though a recommended 130 km/h applies). Outside of Germany, Poland and Bulgaria allow 140 km/h on certain motorways, and Austria has a variable 140 km/h section. Most other countries cap between 120-130 km/h.
Are speed limits reduced in wet weather?+
Many countries — especially France, Luxembourg, and several Eastern European countries — legally reduce motorway speed limits in rain or poor visibility. For example, Luxembourg drops from 130 km/h to 110 km/h in rain. This ranking reflects dry-weather limits only. See individual country facts pages for wet-weather rules.
Why does the UK use mph on motorways?+
The UK retains imperial road units (miles per hour) on motorways and other roads — 70 mph is the motorway maximum, equivalent to ~113 km/h. All other European countries and most of the world use km/h. AutoviaTest converts UK limits for comparison but displays both units where relevant.
How strictly are highway speed limits enforced?+
Enforcement varies enormously. Switzerland, Norway, France, and the Netherlands operate some of the densest camera networks in Europe, with tight tolerances and steep fines. Germany's Autobahn has limited enforcement in unrestricted sections. Italy and Spain rely more on random police patrols than cameras. Check per-country facts pages for fine structures and enforcement details.
Are motorway speed limits different for trucks and buses?+
Yes. Most European countries apply reduced limits for heavy goods vehicles (typically 80-100 km/h) and buses (typically 100-120 km/h). This ranking shows the default limit for passenger cars only. Truck/bus speed differentials are detailed in each country's facts page.

Data Sources

This ranking is compiled from official licensing authorities and government road-safety bodies. All values are normalised to allow direct comparison across countries.

  • •
    European Commission — Road Safety
  • •
    UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
  • •
    Statens vegvesen — Norway
  • •
    Samgöngustofa — Iceland
  • •
    Federal Ministry of Transport — Germany (Autobahn)
  • •
    Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA)
  • •
    Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) — Spain
  • •
    UK Department for Transport

Last updated May 2026. AutoviaTest normalises data from government sources into a single comparable format. Methodology and licence: CC BY 4.0.

Know the speed limits before you drive abroad

AutoviaTest's country-specific theory tests include every speed limit rule from this ranking. Practice free with the official question bank for any destination.

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