Truck speed limits vary by up to 30 km\/h between European countries, and getting caught at the wrong speed can cost you \u20ac300 to \u20ac2,500 depending on where you are. Germany lets you do 80 km\/h on motorways with a 7.5t truck, while Sweden caps you at 80 km\/h but drops to 70 km\/h on certain roads. Cross a border without adjusting your cruise control and you’re risking points, fines, or worse. Here’s what you actually need to know for every country you’re likely to drive through in 2026.<\/p>\n
Before the country breakdown, know that European truck limits typically fall into three road categories:<\/p>\n
Weight matters too. Limits change based on whether your vehicle is over or under 3.5t, and again at 7.5t or 12t in some countries. Trailers add another layer \u2014 a solo truck might be allowed 90 km\/h, but hook up a trailer and you’re down to 80 km\/h.<\/p>\n
Speed limiters in EU trucks over 3.5t are required to be set at 90 km\/h maximum under Directive 92\/6\/EEC, but national limits often fall below this. Your limiter won’t save you from a fine if the road limit is 70 km\/h.<\/p>\n
| Country<\/th>\n | Motorway<\/th>\n | Main Roads<\/th>\n | Built-up Areas<\/th>\n | Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany<\/td>\n | 80 km\/h<\/td>\n | 60-80 km\/h<\/td>\n | 50 km\/h<\/td>\n | No “unlimited” for trucks. Ever.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| France<\/td>\n | 90 km\/h<\/td>\n | 80 km\/h<\/td>\n | 50 km\/h<\/td>\n | Wet conditions drop motorway to 80 km\/h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgium<\/td>\n | 90 km\/h<\/td>\n | 60-90 km\/h<\/td>\n | 50 km\/h<\/td>\n | Flanders has stricter enforcement zones<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netherlands<\/td>\n | 80 km\/h<\/td>\n | 80 km\/h<\/td>\n | 50 km\/h<\/td>\n | Some motorways posted at 90 km\/h for trucks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luxembourg<\/td>\n | 90 km\/h<\/td>\n | 75 km\/h<\/td>\n | 50 km\/h<\/td>\n | Small country, consistent enforcement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Germany<\/strong> is the one that catches drivers out. Yes, cars can go unlimited on unrestricted Autobahn sections, but trucks over 7.5t are hard-capped at 80 km\/h everywhere. The fine for exceeding 80 km\/h by 20 km\/h in a truck? \u20ac160 plus 1 point on your record. Over 40 km\/h excess and you’re looking at \u20ac560, 2 points, and a 2-month driving ban.<\/p>\n France<\/strong> runs the A1, A6, A7, and A10 corridors heavily with trucks. If you’re looking for rest stops along these routes, check out our guide to the best truck stops in France<\/a>. French fines for speeding start at \u20ac68 for 1-20 km\/h over and jump to \u20ac135-\u20ac1,500 for serious violations.<\/p>\n Poland<\/strong> catches many drivers on the express roads (S routes). These look like motorways but often have a 70 km\/h limit for trucks over 12t. The A2 and A4 are true motorways at 80 km\/h, but the S7 and S8 require extra attention to signage.<\/p>\n Hungary<\/strong> doesn’t mess around with speeding fines. Exceed the limit by more than 50 km\/h and you’re facing \u20ac300-\u20ac900 on the spot. Foreign drivers must pay immediately or have the vehicle impounded until payment clears. If you’re driving through Hungary, make sure your tachograph is up to date<\/a> \u2014 Hungarian authorities check both speed violations and driving hours in roadside stops.<\/p>\n Italy’s Tutor system<\/strong> is the one to watch. It’s not a single speed camera \u2014 it’s an average speed measurement system that tracks your entry and exit from motorway sections. Do 85 km\/h for 50 km and the system calculates your average automatically. Fines range from \u20ac42 for minor violations to \u20ac3,382 for extreme speeding, plus licence suspension.<\/p>\n Spain<\/strong> treats trucks with trailers differently from solo trucks. If you’re pulling anything, your motorway limit drops from 90 km\/h to 80 km\/h. This catches drivers who memorize the solo limit and forget about the trailer penalty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n |