Driving Speed - National Maximum Speed Limit for a Light Motor Vehicle and a Transport Vehicle is 65 Km/Hr.

Vehicles on the roads are allowed to ply under a ceiling of Speed Limit also called the maximum speed limit. Driving speed are fixed by the Central Government, the authorised body. It has fixed Maximum Speed Limits for different classes of vehicles at a national level. The State Governments have been authorised to fix the Minimum and /or Maximum Speed Limits provided that such maximum speed shall in no case exceed the maximum fixed for any motor vehicle or class or description of motor vehicles by Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette.


Speed limit - Motor Vehicle Act'88

No person shall drive a motor vehicle or cause or allow a motor vehicle to be driven in any public place at a speed exceeding the maximum speed or below the minimum speed fixed for the vehicle under the Act or by any other law for the time being in force. Here we will discuss only the speed limit fixed by the Central Government at a national level. The following table will guide you to check the speed of your vehicle:


The golden rule for speed

Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see clearly. Driving at a high speed does not give you sufficient reaction time to observe hazards. Other road users too, get less time to react. The higher the speed, the greater the stopping distance and larger the chances of an accident.



Class of Motor Vehicle National Maximum Speed Limit Km/Hr
Light Motor Vehicle other than a Transport Vehicle No speed limit
Light Motor Vehicle and a Transport Vehicle 65
Motor Cycle 50
Medium or Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicles 65
Medium or Heavy Goods Vehicle 65
Articulated Vehicle, which is Heavy Goods Vehicle or Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle 50
Vehicle drawing not more than one Trailer ( two in case of Artillery equipment). Light Motor Vehicle drawing a Single Trailer, the trailer being two wheeled and the gross vehicle weight of the trailer not exceeding 800 kilograms. 60
Light Motor Vehicle drawing a Single Trailer, the trailer has more than two wheels or a gross vehicle weight of the trailer not exceeding 800 kilograms. 50
Medium Goods Vehicle or Medium Passenger Motor Vehicle drawing a single Trailer. 45
Heavy Goods Vehicle Or Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle drawing a single Trailer 40
Heavy Goods Vehicle or Heavy Passenger Motor Vehicle drawing a single Trailer and used by the Fire Brigade 50
Residual Category that is, any case not covered by any of the abovementioned categories 30