A Guide to Speed Limit Restrictions in Australia

If you’ve ever found yourself glancing at the speedometer and wondering, “Wait… what’s the speed limit here again?”, you’re probably not alone.

With different road rules across the country, changing speed limits ​ ​in school zones, and temporary limits sometimes in place, it can be difficult to keep track of the speed limit restrictions on Australia’s roads.

However, speed limits aren’t just numbers on a sign that can land you with an unwelcome fine if you exceed them. They’re carefully set to help prevent crashes, lower the risk of serious injuries and fatalities if a crash does occur, and protect vulnerable road users.¹

With speeding the leading cause of road fatalities in New South Wales alone,² and more than three million speeding fines issued nationally in 2024,³ we’ve set out to help Australian drivers better understand how speed limit restrictions work and how to check speed limits on roads.

We’ll also unpack how racking up speed limit fines might impact your driving record and car insurance premiums, and share some practical steps from the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) that may help you stay within the speed limit.

“Dropping that ‘a little bit over is fine’ mindset is critical for safer roads,” says Dr Ingrid Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of ACRS.

“Lower speeds reduce stopping distances, lower crash likelihood and dramatically improve survival outcomes.”

How do speed limit restrictions work?

Appropriate speed limits are set with plenty of thought, taking into account the type of road, where it’s located, how it’s used, its crash history, and even the types of vehicles that travel on it.¹

In short – the busier the area, the lower the limit.¹ That’s why you’ll see slower speeds where there are more cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

What is the highest speed limit in Australia?

On some sections of the Northern Territory’s Barkly, Stuart, Victoria and Arnhem highways, the maximum speed limit is 130km/h.⁴

Previously, a section of the Stuart Highway between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek had an open speed limit, making it the only road in Australia with no speed limit at all. This changed in 2016, when a 130km/h speed limit restriction was imposed.⁵

Can you exceed a speed limit to overtake?

No. Even when you’re overtaking another vehicle, you must stay within the speed limit of the road you’re driving on at all times.⁶

How to check speed limits on roads

There are a few different ways to stay across the speed limit restrictions on the roads you’re driving on:

• Keep an eye out for speed signs and remember, you can't accelerate for an increased limit until you've passed the sign.⁷
• Your car’s GPS may be able to display road speed limits as you’re driving – but if you need to search manually, pull over safely or let a passenger do it. Keep in mind digital platforms aren’t always updated in real time, so use them as a backup only.⁷
• Road traffic authorities in some states, such as Victoria and NSW, display interactive maps of speed limit signs or zones online.^{8, 9}
• In NSW, drivers can download the Speed Adviser app, which provides visual and audible warnings when you exceed a speed limit on the state’s roads.¹⁰

How to spot a speed limit sign

You might have noticed a few different types of speed limit signs on your travels. In Australia, speed limit signs are standardised so that they look largely the same, no matter where you drive.¹¹ Here’s how to recognise the most common ones and what they mean:

• Regulatory speed limit signs: These have a white background with the speed limit in a red circle. You must not drive above the speed limit shown.²
• Variable speed limit signs: These electronic signs are used to alter the speed limit based on changed conditions – for example, if there’s been an accident, you’re driving in a tunnel or the traffic is particularly heavy.^{2, 12} You can’t drive faster than the displayed speed limit.²
• Temporary speed limit signs: These are usually set up around roadworks and it’s compulsory to travel at or below the limit until you pass a sign showing a different speed limit. Temporary speed limits apply even if you can’t see any work underway.¹³
• Advisory speed signs: These signs are typically yellow and black and display the recommended – rather than mandatory – maximum speed to safely navigate a particular section of the road with a potential driving hazard, such as a curve or bend. In poor conditions, it’s advisable to reduce speed further.²

If no speed sign is visible, it’s worth remembering that default speed limits are typically 50km/h on roads in built-up areas and 100km/h on regional roads.¹³

Do the same speed limits apply to learners and P-platers?

No – as the table below shows, rules can vary across states and territories, and drivers who hold a learner or a provisional licence are often required to stick to lower speeds.¹⁴

How to stay within Australian road speed limits

According to the ACRS, there are several practical and effective things drivers can do to reduce their likelihood of speeding. Here are five suggestions:

1. Stay aware of speed limits and road conditions

“Knowing the current speed limit is essential for compliance,” says Johnston.

“Speed limits should be obvious to drivers through signage, markings and technology but drivers should also actively check signs, especially in areas where speed zones change frequently, for example near schools or roadworks.”

2. Use vehicle technologies that support safe speeds

“Modern vehicles are increasingly equipped with features such as cruise control, speed limiters or Intelligent Speed Adaptation,” says Johnston. “These technologies can help drivers maintain appropriate speeds and reduce the likelihood of inadvertently driving over the limit.”

3. Make speed monitoring a driving habit

“Regularly glancing at the speedometer should become as routine as checking mirrors,” says Johnston. “Keeping a conscious check on speed is a simple but powerful habit.”

4. Adjust speed for conditions, not just limits

“Safe speeds are not only about the posted limit, but also about what’s safe for the environment, whether it’s wet weather, poor visibility, heavy traffic or roads shared with vulnerable users like cyclists and pedestrians,” says Johnston.

“Drivers should habitually ask themselves whether their speed is appropriate for the conditions, not just the number on the sign.”

5. Manage distractions and plan ahead

“Distractions, such as mobile phones, in-car technology or even conversations, can cause drivers to lose awareness of their speed,” says Johnston.

“Minimising these distractions, setting navigation before driving and keeping focused on the task of driving helps to prevent inadvertent speeding. Planning trips with extra time also reduces the temptation to rush.”

When do speed limit fines apply?

Speeding fines apply if police or a speed camera detect you driving over the speed limit.

The speeding fines that you may incur if you break the speed limit laws vary slightly across Australia. Similarly, only some states and territories apply double demerit points for speeding offences at certain times of the year. But there are some common rules around speeding nationwide.

Wondering how much you can go over the speed limit before you get fined? Given that most states and territories impose penalties for exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h-15km/h or less, it’s perhaps wise to assume that any violation will put you at risk of a fine.²⁷ Plus, it’s worth remembering that even one extra kilometre over the speed limit may also impact both your risk of having a crash and its outcome.²⁸

Can you get a ticket for driving too slowly?

If you’re driving slowly enough that you’re deemed to be “unreasonably obstructing” traffic – for example, if you’re caught driving 60km/h slower than the speed limit without a valid reason – then yes, you may be issued with a fine.²⁹

Do speed limit fines affect your driving record?

Speeding fines typically come with demerit points and these get added to your record. If you reach your demerit point limit, your driver’s licence may be suspended.³⁰

It’s worth remembering that some states and territories have double demerits schemes in place. If you’re caught speeding during a double demerit point period, in addition to the fine that’s applicable, twice the number of demerit points will be added to your record.²¹

Accrued demerit points may also​ ​ push your car insurance premiums up.

​​“At Youi, we assess each new policy application or policy renewal on a case-by-case basis, including taking a person’s driving history into account,” says ​ ​Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product – Vehicle and Lifestyle.

Now that you have some expert tips for staying within the speed limit whenever you’re behind the wheel, you might be thinking about car insurance. Youi has a range of you-shaped car insurance options – consider starting a quote to see if there’s one that’s right for you.

Note: Information in this article is relevant as of September 2025 and by its nature will change over time. Check relevant Government websites for updates if this information is important to you.

¹ Source: NSW Government – Speed zones and speed management
² Source: NSW Government – Speed limits
³ Source: Australian Government – Police enforcement, August 2025
⁴ Source: NT Government – Speed limits
⁵ Source: Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory – WRITTEN QUESTION: Speed Limits
⁶ Source: Drive – Is it illegal to speed when overtaking someone?, April 2023
⁷ Source: Road Sense Australia – How to Check Speed Limits on Roads, June 2025
⁸ Source: Transport Victoria – Speed signs
⁹ Source: NSW Government – Speed Zones – Interactive Map
¹⁰ Source: NSW Government – Speed Adviser
¹¹ Source: Standards Australia – Driving standardisation in road signs, ​Sept 2021
¹² Source: Tas Government – What are Variable Speed Limit signs?
¹³ Source: SA Government – Safe speeds
¹⁴ Source: Tas Government – P1 restrictions
¹⁵ Source: SA Government – Licence conditions
¹⁶ Source: NSW Government – Learner drivers
¹⁷ Source: NSW Government – P1 & P2 drivers
¹⁸ Source: Transport Victoria – Learner and probationary driver road rules
¹⁹ Source: WA Government – Learner drivers
²⁰ Source: WA Government – Driving on your P plates
²¹ Source: Tas Government – Novice learner restrictions and credit hours
²² Source: Tas Government – P1 restrictions
²³ Source: Tas Government – P2 restrictions
²⁴ Source: NT Government – Get your driver licence
²⁵ Source: Qld Government – Speed limits
²⁶ Source: ACT Government – Learner and provisional driver safety
²⁷ Source: Fines Victoria – Fine amounts and demerit points
²⁸ Source: NSW Government – Casual Speeding. Every K Counts
²⁹ Source: Drive – ‘No penalty’: Should police crack down on people driving too slowly?, July 2024
³⁰ Source: NSW Government – How demerit points work