Driving in United Kingdom

The licence plates you will see on the road in United Kingdom, how to read them, and what a car from abroad needs.

Speed limits

Default limits for cars, unless signs say otherwise, as on the signs at border crossings.

In towns: 30 mph
Outside towns: 60 mph
Expressways: 70 mph
Motorways: 70 mph

70 mph applies to dual carriageways as well as motorways.

Before you drive

Vignette and tolls: There is no vignette, and most motorways are free; a few roads, bridges and tunnels charge a toll. The Dartford Crossing on the M25 east of London has no booths; pay the Dart Charge online or by phone by midnight the day after crossing.
Environmental zones: All of Greater London is an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), where vehicles that do not meet its emission standards pay a daily charge. Central London also has a congestion charge for most vehicles (7:00 to 18:00 on weekdays, 12:00 to 18:00 at weekends), enforced by number-plate cameras. Several English cities have Clean Air Zones, and Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee have low-emission zones in their centres.

Rules and prices change. Check the official site before you travel.

Country code

Cars registered here show the country code UK. Abroad, the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic asks for it at the rear of the car: on a white oval sticker, or as part of the plate. A car from abroad shows its own country code at the rear in the same way.

Reading the plates

Plates carry an area code that shows where the car was registered: 450 codes across 47 registration areas. For example:

AA51 ABC

Area codes on the map All area codes

Plates you will see

AB51 ABC
Standard · Since 2001
AIW 1234
Standard · Since 1966

Special plates

Q123 ABC
Special · Since 1983
101 D 101
Diplomatic · Since 1979

Older plates still on the road

A123 BCD
Standard · 1983–2001
ABC 123D
Standard · 1963–1983
ARF 1
Standard · 1903–1963

Plate formats and history of United Kingdom