---
title: "On a dual carriageway, what is the national s… | Theory Test"
description: "On a dual carriageway, what is the national speed limit for cars and motorcycles? The correct answer is “70mph”. Read the instructor's explanation of the rule"
lang: en
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# On a dual carriageway, what is the national speed limit for cars and motorcycles?

DVSA-style practice question · Rules of the Road

## The answer options

-   70mph**Correct** 
-   60mph 
-   50mph 
-   40mph 

## Why that is the answer

The national speed limit for cars and motorcycles on a dual carriageway is 70mph, unless signs indicate a lower limit. A dual carriageway is a road with a central reservation separating opposing traffic flows. Do not confuse this with a single carriageway, where the national speed limit for these vehicles is 60mph. The Highway Code sets these default limits to maintain safe traffic speeds across the UK road network.

## How this comes up in the real test

Questions from rules of the road appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.

The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.

[Practise Rules of the Road](/theory/quiz/rules-of-road)[Sit a full mock test](/theory/mock-test)

## More rules of the road questions

-   [A single carriageway road has this sign. What’s the maximum permitted speed for a car towing a trailer?](/theory/questions/a-single-carriageway-road-has-this-sign-what-s-the-maximum-permitted-speed-for-a-car-towin)
-   [At a roundabout, how should you signal that you're going straight ahead?](/theory/questions/at-a-roundabout-how-should-you-signal-that-you-re-going-straight-ahead)
-   [At an un-marked crossroads, who has priority?](/theory/questions/at-an-un-marked-crossroads-who-has-priority)
-   [How else can you indicate to other drivers besides using direction indicators?](/theory/questions/how-else-can-you-indicate-to-other-drivers-besides-using-direction-indicators)
-   [How far are you allowed to reverse?](/theory/questions/how-far-are-you-allowed-to-reverse)
-   [How should you park at night on a road with a 40mph speed limit?](/theory/questions/how-should-you-park-at-night-on-a-road-with-a-40mph-speed-limit)

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