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Driving — United Kingdom
What travelers need to know about driving in United Kingdom. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Short answer
Driving in the U.S. too?The free LawLert iPhone app alerts you when you cross into a U.S. state where a law you track differs. It doesn't cover other countries yet.Get the free appDriving in United Kingdom: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.
GOOD TO KNOW
Traffic in the UK drives on the LEFT side of the road, the opposite of the US.
Confirm your driver's licence is valid in the UK before driving; if you commit a driving offence with no UK address you can be detained.
§ US State DeptVerified Jul 6, 2026
RESTRICTED
The drink-drive limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but lower at 50mg per 100ml in Scotland.
Driving over the limit can mean an unlimited fine, a driving ban and up to 6 months in prison.
§ GOV.UKVerified Jul 6, 2026
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LawLert is an independent app and is not affiliated with any government. It summarizes laws from official government and U.S. State Department sources for general information only. This is not legal advice, and laws change. Always confirm with official sources and local authorities before you travel.