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.
| # | Country | Highway limit | Notes | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 |  Uruguay | 110 km/h | 110 km/h, below the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | Practice |
| 27 |  United Kingdom | 113 km/h | 70 mph (≈113 km/h) on motorways — the UK legislates in imperial units. | FactsPractice |
| 28 |  United States | 113 km/h | 70 mph (≈113 km/h), the most common state maximum: each state sets its own, and parts of Texas allow up to 85 mph. | FactsPractice |
| 29 |  Bahrain | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | Practice |
| 30 |  Belgium | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 31 |  Chile | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 32 |  Colombia | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 33 |  Finland | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 34 |  Ireland | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 35 |  Kuwait | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | Practice |
| 36 |  Morocco | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | Practice |
| 37 |  Oman | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | Practice |
| 38 |  Portugal | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 39 |  Qatar | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | Practice |
| 40 |  South Africa | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 41 |  Spain | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 42 |  Switzerland | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 43 |  Vietnam | 120 km/h | 120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking. | FactsPractice |
| 44 |  Argentina | 130 km/h | 130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | FactsPractice |
| 45 |  Austria | 130 km/h | 130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | FactsPractice |
| 46 |  Croatia | 130 km/h | 130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | Practice |
| 47 |  Czechia | 130 km/h | 130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | FactsPractice |
| 48 |  Denmark | 130 km/h | 130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | FactsPractice |
| 49 |  France | 130 km/h | 130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | FactsPractice |
| 50 |  Germany | 130 km/h | 130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h. | FactsPractice |
110 km/h, below the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
70 mph (≈113 km/h) on motorways — the UK legislates in imperial units.
70 mph (≈113 km/h), the most common state maximum: each state sets its own, and parts of Texas allow up to 85 mph.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
120 km/h, the median motorway limit in this ranking.
130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
130 km/h, above the median motorway limit of 120 km/h.
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 has no federal limit: its figure is 70 mph, the most common state maximum on rural interstates, and 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 64 countries shows the slowest default motorway limits start at 90 km/h; the five slowest are Iceland, Singapore, Canada, Cyprus and Egypt. The UK's 70 mph motorway limit (~113 km/h) ranks #27 of 64, 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.
AutoviaTest normalises data from government sources into a single comparable format.
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.