Your Essential Guide to Driving in Scotland

Each place has different rules and regulations when it comes to driving around by car. In Scotland, there are certain rules that every driver must follow. So if you are visiting any place in Scotland, whether it’s Edinburgh, Glasgow, or other areas, you should be aware of these rules so you can be sure that you are not violating any of them. Also, it is always best to be prepared for any occurrence and to know what to expect, especially if you are on the road in this beautiful country.

Driving your own vehicle

If you are planning to drive your own car in Scotland, you should always have your vehicle registration with you in the car. You also have to make sure that your vehicle is properly insured with third-party insurance coverage. If you are planning to stay in Scotland for longer than six months, then your number plate should correspond to the symbols which are used in the UK. There are certain rules to bringing a vehicle to Scotland, whether you are doing it for the short-term or the long-term.

However, you can also avail of car rental services when you are already in Scotland in order to make it easier, as you no longer have to consider import rules for vehicles. Click here for local car rental services that can give you peace of mind and less hassle whilst you’re in the country.

Your driver’s licence

If you are coming from another EU country and you have a driving licence which is valid, you have no problem whatsoever driving in Scotland. But if you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union, you can still drive in Scotland and the rest of the UK for as long as 12 months, as long as your licence is valid in the country where the licence was issued.

 Scottish speed limits

You will easily notice circular speed limit signs along the road, as they are on sign posts which are bordered in red. But if a road does not have a sign post, you have to follow the national limit for speed, which is 112kph for cars on motorways, 48kph for built-up areas, 96kph for single carriageways, and 112kph for dual carriageways. Coaches and minibuses are allowed up to 96kph on motorways and dual carriageways and 48kph for built-up areas. Take note that in residential neighbourhoods and areas where there is a school, there is usually a signpost which warns motorists not to exceed 32kph. There are also plenty of remote cameras situated on various roads which record speed, so it pays to be extra careful about your speed limit.

Rush hour traffic

If you are concerned about congestion on major roads, you can avoid access roads going to and from bigger cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh during certain times of the morning and evening, particularly from 7:30 in the morning to 9:30 in the morning, and from 4 in the afternoon to half past six in the evening. You can also avoid congestion by not driving on major roads during national holidays.

Driving in Scotland can be an immense pleasure, especially if you get off the beaten track and explore the many rural roads in the Highlands. As long as you know what to expect and what to avoid, you can have a thoroughly memorable time in this beautiful country.

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