Drivers AtlasThe world's best roads

Before you go

Driving rules, tolls and limits, country by country

Nothing ruins a driving week faster than a vignette you did not buy or a camera zone you drove straight through. These guides cover the parts that actually catch visitors out, then point you at the roads worth the journey in each country.

Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk

Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Rules change. Check the national road authority before you travel. How we score roads.

Last reviewed 16 June 2026

24 countries

Pick your country

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Driving in France

Motorway 130 km/h, dropping to 110 in rain. Most autoroutes are tolled and take contactless cards. A liber-t tag saves queuing at barriers on a long tour.

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Driving in Italy

Motorway 130 km/h, 110 in rain. Autostrade are ticket and pay barriers. Take the white or blue lanes, never the yellow Telepass lanes unless you carry a tag.

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Driving in Switzerland

Motorway 120 km/h. One annual motorway vignette covers the whole country. Buy it at the border or online, and fit it before you join a motorway.

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Driving in Austria

Motorway 130 km/h. A vignette is required on motorways, sold in ten day, two month and annual form, and several alpine tunnels and panoramic roads carry a separate toll on top.

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Driving in Germany

Motorway no general limit on derestricted stretches, with an advisory 130 km/h. Cars use the autobahn free of charge.

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Driving in Spain

Motorway 120 km/h. Many AP motorways are now free, but a number remain tolled, mostly in Catalonia and the north.

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Driving in Portugal

Motorway 120 km/h. Several motorways are electronic only with no barriers. Register a card or take a transponder or you will be chasing payment later.

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Driving in the United Kingdom

Motorway 70 mph. Very few. The M6 Toll, several estuary crossings and the Dartford Crossing, which is pay by plate.

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Driving in Ireland

Motorway 120 km/h. A handful of motorway tolls plus the barrier free M50 around Dublin, which must be paid online by eight the next evening.

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Driving in Norway

Motorway 110 km/h at best, usually 100. Automatic plate reading tolls on roads, bridges and tunnels everywhere. Register your plate with an operator such as Epass24 before you arrive.

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Driving in Sweden

Motorway 110 to 120 km/h. Congestion charges in Stockholm and Gothenburg, plus a few bridge tolls, all billed by plate.

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Driving in Iceland

Motorway no motorways. 90 km/h on paved rural roads. The Vadlaheidi tunnel near Akureyri is tolled and paid online.

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Driving in the Netherlands

Motorway 100 km/h by day, 130 at night on some roads. Two tunnels only. The rest is free.

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Driving in Belgium

Motorway 120 km/h. Free for cars apart from the Liefkenshoek tunnel.

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Driving in Slovenia

Motorway 130 km/h. An electronic e-vignette is required for motorways, bought online or at petrol stations by number plate.

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Driving in Croatia

Motorway 130 km/h. Motorways are ticket and barrier tolled and cards are accepted.

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Driving in Romania

Motorway 130 km/h. A rovinieta road vignette is required on national roads, bought online by plate, plus separate bridge tolls.

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Driving in Greece

Motorway 130 km/h. Frequent barrier tolls on the main motorways, cash and card both work.

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Driving in Poland

Motorway 140 km/h. State motorways are paid through the e-TOLL app, concession motorways at barriers.

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Driving in Czechia

Motorway 130 km/h, 150 on some upgraded sections. A digital motorway vignette is bought online by number plate.

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Driving in the United States

Motorway 65 to 80 mph depending on the state. Common in the east and on many bridges. Most hire cars carry a transponder billed back to you.

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Driving in Canada

Motorway 100 to 120 km/h. Rare. Highway 407 near Toronto is the main one and bills by plate.

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Driving in New Zealand

Motorway 100 to 110 km/h. Three tolled roads in the North Island, paid online.

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Driving in Japan

Motorway 100 to 120 km/h. Expressways are expensive and tolled throughout. An ETC card or a visitor expressway pass saves a lot.