Driving in Scotland | Road Rules + Hazards + Traffic Signs
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Heading to Scotland soon?! Want to know if you can handle driving in Scotland? It’s really not as crazy as it seems. Yes, there are weird road hazards to watch out for like toads, otters, and ponies. Sure, the roads may be small and you’ll feel you’re going to wreck… but driving in Scotland is the best way to see the country!
Driving in Scotland doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds!
This post will prepare you for the ultimate road trip through Scotland. Gearing you up for what to expect driving through the country, what rules and regulations you need to know about, and we even share some of the most scenic drives through Scotland.
Jump to the topics below, or simply read through the whole post… although we’ve got to say, we’re sharing loads of info and it’s a long read!
General Rules for Driving in Scotland
Speed Limits in Scotland
Speed limits in Scotland are in mph. There are posted speed limit signs when entering and exiting most villages and scattered along the roads. The speed signs are white circles with red borders and black numbers on the inside.
If there are no speed signs posted, you must drive off the national speed limit based on the type of road you’re on. The national speed limit in Scotland is as follows.
- Motorway (M roads) + Dual Carriageways (roads with dividers)
- 70 mph for cars
- 60 mph for vehicles towing trailers or caravans
- Areas with housing and buildings (lots of crossroads)30 mph for all vehicles
- Schools and Residential
- 20 mph for all vehicles
- Outside of built-up areas (country roads and the like)60 mph for cars
- 50 mph for vehicles towing trailers or caravans
Which side of the road do you drive on in Scotland?
In Scotland, and rather the whole of the UK, you drive on the left. That means you’ll be shifting with your left hand, and sitting on the right side of the car, but everything else remains the same. Blinkers and windscreen wipers will be in the same locations, and the gas, clutch, and brake pedals are all the same too!
Don’t worry, driving on the left isn’t as scary as it seems. Often times rental cars will even have stickers in the car to remind you to stay to the left. And, there are large, blue and white arrows pointing where you’re to turn or enter a road, along with arrows on the ground directing drivers of the way the lanes are moving!
What kind of license do you need to drive in Scotland?
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive in Scotland. If you have a license from your home country, that will allow you to drive in Scotland. Though, keep in mind, the driving age limits are different than in other parts of the world!
If you plan to be in Scotland for more than a year, you will have to get a Scottish Driver’s license. This can be quite a tricky and time-consuming task, so be sure to plan ahead of time to prepare for and take the driving test.
How old do you have to be to drive in Scotland?
If renting a car in Scotland, most rental car agencies have a 25 and over rule, with exceptions of persons 21 and older for an extra fee. This can cause problems for persons traveling from the United States where the age of driving is 16 years old. You will not be able to rent and car and drive in Scotland unless you meet their legal age requirements.
Be sure to check with your car rental agency before booking to see if there are extra “young drivers” fees.
What is the drinking and driving limit in Scotland?
We would never recommend even having one drink and driving afterward, especially not in Scotland. Scotland has some of the harshest drinking and driving rules, and one drink can put you over the legal limit of alcohol content in your urine, breath, or blood.
When driving in Scotland keep in mind, these are the strict rules for drinking and driving.
- Breath // 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath
- Blood // 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of blood
- Urine // 67 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of urine
If you exceed any of these limits you face imprisonment, fines, and being banned from driving.
Do I need to wear a seatbelt in Scotland?
Seatbelts are always mandatory while driving in Scotland, not just for the driver, but for the passengers as well.
Can I use my phone while driving in Scotland?
Cell phone use is prohibited while driving in Scotland. If you need to use your phone for navigation/GPS, be sure to put in your destination before you hit the road.
Fees and Cost of Driving in Scotland
Are there toll roads in Scotland?
There are no tolls in Scotland. Though, you must pay for ferry crossings if planning to explore any of Scotland’s beautiful islands.
READ MORE | “Little Scotland” The Island With A Bit Of Everything
READ MORE | The Whisky Isle | it’s all in the name
Be prepared to pay for parking
When we moved to Scotland, there weren’t nearly as many places with paid-for parking as there are now. It’s expected to pay for parking in bigger cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Aberdeen, however, not until recently are there paid-for parking in smaller villages like Oban.
Be sure to have small coins to pay for parking. In some places, you can use contactless payments, but having small coins is best.
Before you pay for parking, check the restrictions on parking in the area. Sometimes you can park for free for 30 minutes if it’s just a quick in-and-out trip. And, if you’re on a tight budget, check around for free parking. Some residential places have free parking!
While we don’t recommend having a car in big cities, if you plan on visiting a “bigger city” in the middle of your trip, you’ll inevitably have a rental car in the city. Check to make sure your accommodation has free parking before booking. Likewise, if you’re only visiting a city for the day, look into the park and rides offered outside of both Glasgow and Edinburgh!
Fuel in Scotland
Where to Buy Fuel in Scotland
Unless you’re out exploring the highlands, islands, or the NC500, chances are you won’t be too far from a petrol station. Scotland has rather frequent petrol stations throughout the majority of the county. ASDA and TESCO (both supermarkets) offer the cheapest fuel we’ve found in Scotland.
In the 10,000+ miles we drove around Scotland, we were never close to running out of gas before finding a fueling station, so don’t worry about getting stranded. But obviously, be smart when traveling to more remote locations, filling up before leaving the built-up areas!
Green = Unleaded
Don’t make the mistake we did and put unleaded in your diesel vehicle. If coming from the United States, you’re used to the green nozzle being diesel.. this is NOT THE CASE in Scotland.
The green nozzle/tank is unleaded. The black nozzle is diesel. Be sure to double/triple-check that you’re fueling your car with the right type of gas, so you don’t have a disaster like ours!
Unleaded and Diesel offered
Both Unleaded and Diesel are offered for all types of cars. When renting a car in Scotland, it’s best to get a diesel car, as they receive better mileage than unleaded cars.
With that said, if the price difference is drastically different and you aren’t driving too much, then it may be cheaper to just go with the unleaded car. Either way, be sure to ask what type of fuel your rental car uses!
Fuel Sold by the Litre
Gas prices always look really cheap in Scotland for us coming from the United States, but when remembering the prices are per liter, they aren’t so cheap. In fact, petrol prices in Scotland are some of the most expensive we’ve ever seen.
Be sure to budget a large amount of money for petrol when planning a driving holiday in Scotland.
Parking in Scotland
Yellow Double Lines
Double yellow lines along the side of the road mean no parking at any time.
Yellow Single Lines
Single yellow lines along the side of the road mean there are restrictions on parking. Typically, these restrictions are for times of the day; i.e. no parking from 7:30-10:30 or even something like no parking on weekdays but free parking on weekends.
Park on Both Sides Facing Either Way
Feel free to park against traffic. This is something that’s not legal in other parts of the world we’ve been, however, in Scotland, there’s no rule as to which way your car needs to face when parking.
Paid for Parking in Cities
Like we said above, in cities like Aberdeen, Edinburgh, or Glasgow, you will have to pay for parking. And as of more recently, parking in places like Oban costs as well.
READ MORE | A Complete Guide to Oban, Scotland
Be sure to check the parking meter to see if you get 30 minutes of free parking before you go and pay. Some meters will accept cards, but having small coins is always a good idea too!
Road Signs in Scotland
Speed Signs
Speed signs in Scotland are round signs with a red border. The speed is always listed in mph and speed signs are posted frequently along the roads.
Hashed Warning Signs
The hashed warning signs, pictured below are fabulous. Hashes like this, /// , warn drivers of something coming up soon. You’ll see them when entering towns, when coming up to roundabouts, when speed limits change, and even when an exit is approaching.
The hashed signs are a huge help when driving in Scotland! They will go from three hashes ( /// ), to two ( // ), then down to one ( / ) before whatever the sign is warning you about comes up.
In the image below, you can see the hashed road signs warning drivers of the lowered speed sign of 40 mph approaching.
Triangle Warning Signs
Triangle signs with a red border warn drivers in Scotland of upcoming hazards. These can be anything from animals in the road, to elderly folk (my favorite sign), and even lanes ending.
Driving Roads in Scotland
M Roads
M-roads are the motorways in Scotland. These are going to be the quickest way to get from point a to point b, however, they will also be the least scenic.
You will find service stations with petrol, restaurants, and bathrooms on most motorways, as well as large shoulders to pull over on if having car difficulty.
Very easy to drive, as the roads are well maintained! Remember to keep to the left except to pass.
M-roads are located around both Edinburgh and Glasgow, similar to freeways in America.
A Roads
A-roads are the most common roads to drive in Scotland. They are large enough to have two complete lanes, typically one going in each direction, and have many pullouts with garbage bins and passing places. You won’t find large service stations like on the motorways, but you will see smaller convenience shops and petrol stations.
Easy to drive as A-roads are wide, with little shoulder space, and have proper passing places. These roads are the second quickest to drive in Scotland, and you’ll find them on Google Maps being yellow. A-roads are similar to highways in America.
B Roads
Any proper driving holiday in Scotland is going to have b-road driving. B-roads rarely have any sort of shoulder, in fact, they often do not have a line showing the end of the driving lane on the outside.
There is typically a line in the middle of the road divided the lanes, but b-roads will not always have that. Remember, drive to the left!
On b-roads, drivers need to be aware of road dangers such as potholes, farmlife, wildlife, and overgrown hedges. You may also run into tractors or lorries that take up a lot of extra space, so be sure to be aware of what vehicles are ahead of you!
Remember, it’s best to just slow down and enjoy the drive, and only when 100% safe, should you attempt to pass a slower vehicle in front of you.
Singletrack Roads and Passing Places
Singletrack roads are inevitable to drive on during any Scotland road trip. The single track roads lead to beautiful glens, waterfalls, hikes, and jaw-dropping landscapes.
Drive slow on the single-track roads, be sure to use the passing places, and always leave space between you and the car in front of you, so you don’t create a traffic jam when oncoming cars try to pass.
Learn more about singletrack roads and passing places in the next section.
Roundabouts
When entering a roundabout, be sure to look at the signs. The transportation personnel in Scotland have done a great job really making it easy to figure out what lane to be in at roundabouts. There are signs posted both on the side of the roads, at each exit, and even on the road itself.
Roundabouts can be a bit confusing and overwhelming when you’re not used to them. Just be sure to take a breath, really slow down to read the signs, and stick to your lane, using your signal to exit the roundabout.
Driving on Single Track Roads
Drive Slow, Especially Around Corners
You never know what’s going to come at you on a single track road. It could be a large lorry, an oversized tractor, or even just another car going too fast. Be sure to drive slow (you’ll want to enjoy the views anyway), and always hug the far left when going around corners!
Stop in Passing Places
Passing places are on single track roads for a reason. Be sure to actually stop in passing places instead of trying to pull off into the vegetation. If a car is coming at you, even from a distance, stop in the passing place and wait for them to go by.
Pull Over in Left Side Passing Places
When pulling over in a passing place, be sure to use the passing place on the left side of the road. Do not cross over and pull off into the right side. You can also just stop on the left side of the road, and allow the passing vehicle to drive through the passing place on their side.
Allow Cars to Pass You
If you feel a car is tailgating you and pressuring you to drive faster than you’re comfortable with, use the passing place to allow a car to pass you from behind. You can pull into the passing place and wave the car around you, so they know you’re stopping to allow them to pass, not for oncoming traffic.
Use Headlights to Talk to Other Drivers
Flashing headlights is a way to communicate with other drivers. If you have a safe passing place to use, pull over and then flash your headlights, signaling the oncoming driver it’s safe to continue driving. You’ll see flashing headlights and hazard lights used to thank drivers too!
Do Not Park in Passing Places
Passing places on single track roads are for passing… not parking. Do not use passing places as a spot to park, even for a short while. Always remain in your vehicle in passing places, and never stay in them overnight.
Of course, you can use your judgment here. If you want to get a picture and need to stop to shoot the shot, use a passing place as a quick stop ONLY IF there are no other drivers on the road. Using a passing place is better than ruining the terrain just off the road.
Speeding Tickets + Traffic Violations in Scotland
Yellow Average Speed Readers
The average speed readers pictured below is Scotland’s way of ticketing someone for speeding without actually having to have law enforcement nearby. Average speed cameras track your car between the speed cameras and then mail you a nice speeding ticket if your average speed was above the speed limit in the area. Now you understand why they’re named average speed cameras!
Speed Camera Vans
Unfortunately, we do not have a picture of speed camera vans. But they too have the speed camera sign on them like above and are typically parked in a layby on the side of the road. The back of the vans will also typically be painted with bright yellow and red chevron stripes, a dead giveaway that it’s a police car.
The officers sit inside the van, with a camera pointed down the road, and again send off tickets for those going above the limit. I don’t think we’ve ever actually seen someone pulled over for speeding before. The speed cameras are how Scotland gets its speeders!
Speed Camera Signs
When speed “traps” are potentially in the area you’re driving, you will see small black and white speed camera signs. The cameras look like old video cameras, identical to the one above, just by themselves on a smaller sign.
Traffic Wardens
Traffic wardens are personnel who walk around and give parking tickets and the like when cars are parked illegally. You will see them walking up and down streets in busier towns constantly, writing tickets left and right for cars that have not paid for parking. Be sure you pay for parking, and only stay for the allotted time frame so you don’t get visited by a warden!
Bus Lanes
Bus lanes are common in cities and larger towns throughout Scotland. They are in place to allow buses and taxis quicker access to their destinations. Bus lanes are always labeled, and you’ll see a solid white line separating the bus lane from the normal traffic.
At the start of bus lanes in Scotland will be a small blue sign stating the times the bus lane restrictions are in effect. Typically, just don’t go in the bus lane if you see most other cars are avoiding it. More often than not, bus lanes will end when another road is coming up. At that point, you can get into the bus lane for turning only.
Yellow Parking Lines
Double yellow lines mean that there is absolutely no parking any time any day. Single yellow lines mean that you can park there, however, there are restrictions to times and days of parking. To learn more about yellow parking lines and see examples, scroll back to the parking in Scotland section above.
Renting a Car in Scotland
Read our guide to 15 ways to save money on your Scotland car hire here.
Driving Age Limits
You must be 17 to be able to drive in Scotland, however, the age to rent a car in Scotland is much higher. Like most other countries, you must be 21 to rent a car, and 25 and under must pay an additional young driver fee at most rental agencies.
If you’re traveling to Scotland and want to rent a car, be sure to check with your car hire agency to determine their age rules and extra young driver fees.
Rental Car Insurance Coverage
We always recommend booking a rental car with a travel credit card. Most travel credit cards include rental car insurance for bookings made under the card. We always use and love our Chase Sapphire Visa. Learn more about the Chase rental car coverage and other travel perks here.
GPS and Extra Charges
Save the extra fees on Scottish Car hires, and download maps.me + the Scotland maps on the app! Maps.me works great in Scotland and is a perfect way to not just navigate around the country but also to search for things like Scottish Castles and points of interest!
READ MORE | Maps.me + 9 more FREE travel apps for Scotland
Most Rental Cars are Manual
When hiring a car in Scotland, keep in mind that most cars are manual, meaning you’ll need to know how to drive a stick. Renting an automatic car is possible, but just know you will be spending more money on your car hire.
With most cars being manual, please don’t think you can learn quickly and just be able to drive a stick on your vacation. Keep in mind, you need to be comfortable driving a manual car as you’ll be driving on the opposite side of the road in a totally new country!
Rent After Leaving Big Cities
Trust us on this one… you DO NOT need a car in cities in Scotland. If you plan on spending time in Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Aberdeen, you will not need a car for getting around the city. While public transportation outside of cities can be expensive, public transport within the cities is quite good and actually rather cheap.
Rent a car as you’re leaving the city, or end your car rental as you come into a city. Paying for parking and adding the stress of one-way roads and overcrowded cities is not the way you want to start or end your holiday in Scotland!
Find Your Rental Car Here
Looking for the best deal on a car rental? Search in the image below. You’ll find prices to multiple different companies compared in one location! And, you can even get a discount on your car rental by searching below.
Road Hazards in Scotland
Tourists Stopping for Photos
There is no doubt you are going to see some spectacular scenery while driving through Scotland. It’s amazing how beautiful Scotland is and how relatively few visitors they get every year. When doing your Scotland road trip, keep in mind that stopping for photos in the middle of the road isn’t the best or safest place to get a picture.
Be aware of other tourists stopping directly in the middle of the road to photograph the scenery or baby lambs and other animals in the area!
Locals just parking in the middle of the road
It’s not just tourists that stop in the middle of the road… locals do too! We’ve witnessed people stopping dead in the middle of the road for no apparent reason a number of times, but it wasn’t until Jay was on a clinical placement that he understood why.
With cell phone use prohibited while driving, people stop in the middle of the road to answer calls. While we can’t imagine this is actually legal to do, there are still people that do it! Be aware of the cars in front of you! You don’t want to rear-end someone!
Farm animals and wildlife
We’ve seen caution signs for otters, frogs, deer, sheep, and more in Scotland. There is loads of wildlife all over the country, and oftentimes farm animals are free to roam — even across the roads! Be sure to watch for animals, especially the sheep as they tend to just jolt out in front of cars!
Potholes.. loads of them
You won’t believe it until you see it.. potholes in Scotland are outrageous. Numerous times we thought for sure we were going to have a flat after hitting a pothole. If you can slow down and go around them, then obviously do so.. but some potholes you just can’t miss. And you need to brace yourself for hitting them, as it’s a bit scary when you do!
Be wary of potholes even on the roads that seem nicer — you’ll find them on A-roads, B-roads, and definitely along singletrack roads as well.
Tractors and Lorries
Much of Scotland’s beautiful scenery is the farming that happens throughout the country. With the farming comes loads of tractors and lorries. Both of which must take the small roads to and from farms. Always give way to the larger vehicles, and if you need to come to a complete stop to let them pass, do so, as they often get a bit too close for comfort!
Ferries in Scotland
Calmac to the Western Isles
The Western Isles also known as the Inner and Outer Hebrides, are the easiest Scottish islands to access. There are over 700 Scottish Islands (or isles for local terms), and a lot of them are off the west coast of Scotland. These isles are accessible mainly by CalMac Ferries.
CalMac Ferries offer loads of different trips around the Scottish Isle and you can pay for simply yourself, a bike, or a car — we recommend taking your car with you! Check out CalMac’s island hopping tours if you plan on visiting more than one Scottish Isle.
We did the Hopscotch 17 when visiting Islay and Arran and just booked individual trips when traveling to Harris and Lewis.
Northlink Ferry to Shetland and Orkney
Northlink Ferries offer connections from mainland Scotland to both Shetland and Orkney. Northlink departs from Aberdeen, so if you want to head straight to these islands, fly into Aberdeen.
You can rent cars on Shetland, but it may be cheaper to rent from Aberdeen and ferry with your car. Be sure to cross comparing pricing to see what the best deal is at the time of your travels. Also, book your rental car ahead if hiring from the islands, as you don’t want to get there and not have any availability!
READ MORE | Before You Book With Northlink Ferries, Read This
READ MORE | 25 Things to do in Shetland
Pay attention to car size for ferry crossings!
If you have a campervan, be sure you take into consideration any added fans, solar panels, or storage on the top of your van. Likewise, for all cars, be sure to consider roof racks and bicycle racks when determining the length and height of your vehicle.
When we traveled back from Norway, we didn’t take into consideration the extra fan dome on our roof, and the van was actually too high for the ferry section we purchased! Don’t let it happen to you.. every cm matters!
GPS + Google Maps in Scotland
Plan More Time than What’s Given
Always, always, always, plan more time than what your GPS says for driving! You will stop for an unfathomable amount of photos. You’ll get stuck behind a tractor or lorry. Or, you’ll take a wrong turn and end up on a single track instead of a main road. Always plan even an extra few hours for any drive!
Drive Shorter Distances
So you want to see everything in Scotland… Sorry to break it to you, but you won’t. We lived there for 2.5 years and traveled over 10,000 miles and didn’t see everything! Plan less so you can enjoy more.
Plan for shorter driving days so you can have more time exploring random castles or beautiful glens along the way. Always plan for less driving per day, so you have more time to take it all in!
READ MORE | All Our Scotland Posts in One Place
Prepare for Much Longer Durations
Getting on the road and driving 100 miles is not like getting on the highway in the United States or the Autobahn in Germany and covering the same distance. Driving 100 miles could literally take you all day with villages, school zones, and roundabouts!
Honestly, we’d say covering 100 miles in a day is more often than not too many miles for driving conditions in Scotland! Plan your trip accordingly, and again, don’t try and put in too many miles, or you’ll end up not enjoying it as much!
Scenic Drives in Scotland
North Coast 500
The NC500 is the top bit of Scotland from Inverness around to Applecross and up to the very north John O’Groats, then back down to Inverness. It’s actually more than 500 miles, but wouldn’t be as catchy of a name if they gave the exact mileage. Drive the NC500 clockwise to stay on the coastal side of the road the entire route.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is a stunning area of Scotland. Heading north from Glasgow, and towards the west coast, up towards Glen Coe, another famous drive in Scotland. You’ll find a massive lake, greenery, hidden waterfalls, and wildlife in this area of Scotland.
Do take care, as the roads are very narrow along Loch Lomond, and remember, wild camping is now prohibited in this area due to too many people leaving rubbish and destroying nature.
Do your part, and pack in what you pack out, even for a day trip! Leave no trace while visiting this iconic area of Scotland.
Aberdeenshire Castle Trail
While we don’t have any videos for this drive in Scotland, the Aberdeenshire Castle Trail is a must for castle lovers. The castles in Aberdeenshire are all so fairytale-like, but the drives in that area of Scotland are just gorgeous too!
Be sure to take A93 out of Aberdeen towards Braemar. That’s one of the most gorgeous drives (and best roads) we’ve driven on in Scotland!
Driving the Isle of Skye, Scotland
Driving in Scotland in Winter
Cairngorms National Park
Not too many places in Scotland get enough poor winter weather to close down roads. However, if you plan a visit through the Cairngorms National Park in the winter, be advised some roads may be closed due to snowfall.
Even when the roads aren’t officially closed, it’s advisable to be prepared always to get stuck, and to take the drive slowly, as the weather in Scotland is unpredictable, especially in the mountains!
Winter Weather Road Conditions
Winter in Scotland brings the same kind of weather you can experience any other time of the year. In the summer, you can experience snow, rain, hail, sun, and severe wind all in a matter of hours! In most places, driving in Scotland in winter will not be any different than any other time of the year, except for driving in mountain areas like the Cairngorms.
Be sure to check the road conditions before heading out on a road trip in the winter to make sure your route has no closures.
Driving in Scotland Tips
Relax and Enjoy the Drive
Scotland is a beautiful country, there is no doubt about that. Be sure to not overbook yourself with long drives. You’ll want to make time to stop and relax taking in sites along the way and just being grateful you’ve had the opportunity to visit such a gorgeous place!
If you find yourself being stressed about making it from point a to point b, contact your accommodations to see if you can cancel and rebook a couple of days later to allow for shorter driving days!
Slow Down
Don’t feel like you have to drive the speed limit. If you’re not comfortable, go a bit under the speed limit! It’s better to slow down and be less stressed while driving than it is to try and drive as fast as all the locals around you!
Let People Pass
With that said, be sure to let people pass you. Don’t speed up on the straightaways, and don’t blaze by passing places. Allow other travelers and local drivers to pass you, making you less worried about the person tailgating you!
Bring Snacks with You
We always recommend having food with you, no matter what kind of travel you’re doing. But specifically while driving in Scotland, you should pack snacks and even meals! That way when you find a gorgeous spot you’ve never heard about, you can stop and have a picnic enjoying the quiet scenery around!
Watch More | 15 Foods to Eat in Scotland
Use Bathrooms in Public Places
There aren’t many rest stops or public bathrooms on long drives in Scotland! Be sure to use the toilets at the public places you stop, like gas stations, restaurants, and stores. We also recommend carrying toilet paper and a trash bag with you, just in case you need to use the bathroom in nature. Just remember, pack out what you pack in — even the used toilet paper!
LEARN MORE | How to Responsibly Use The Bathroom in Nature
Have Any Questions About Driving in Scotland?
We drove over 10,000 miles in Scotland and are happy to share any and all details about driving in Scotland or places we recommend visiting too! Leave your questions in the comments below so other readers can see them too!
Did you know we have an entire page dedicated to Scotland? Check out our travel advice, stories, and favorite parts of Scotland here!
