Speed limitMexico

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Mexico. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


3. Speed limit

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.

A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.

Speed limit
60 km/h speed-limit sign in Zona Centro. (Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico)
Wikimedia.org • Roman Eugeniusz • CC BY-SA
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in Mexico?

The national framework sets ceilings of 30 km/h on secondary and tertiary streets, 50 km/h on primary avenues without controlled access, and 80 km/h on central lanes of controlled-access avenues. State-highway ceilings are 80 km/h outside urban areas and 50 km/h inside them. The federal car ceiling is 110 km/h, but Article 134 gives unsigned federal carreteras defaults of 100 km/h by day and 90 km/h at night, and 50 km/h on carreteras urbanas. Follow any lower applicable restriction and the road’s actual category.

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Mexico federal Traffic Regulations — National Mobility Law Article 49(III); federal Articles 134–135

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Federal Traffic Regulations — amendment of 25 May 2026, operative and commencement provisions

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Federal Traffic Regulations — amendment of 13 August 2026, operative and commencement provisions

🔗 diputados.gob.mx • Current General Mobility and Road Safety Law — Articles 6 and 49, national hierarchy and minimum traffic measures

Are Mexican national speed figures guarantees that I may drive that fast?

No. The national mobility law specifies maximum ceilings for different road categories. The competent authority can establish a lower applicable restriction. A 110 km/h federal-road ceiling therefore does not cancel an 80 km/h sign on the section you are using.

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Mexico federal Traffic Regulations — National Mobility Law Article 49(III); federal Articles 134–135

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Federal Traffic Regulations — amendment of 25 May 2026, operative and commencement provisions

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Federal Traffic Regulations — amendment of 13 August 2026, operative and commencement provisions

🔗 diputados.gob.mx • Current General Mobility and Road Safety Law — Articles 6 and 49, national hierarchy and minimum traffic measures

Start of a speed limit. Start of a speed limit.

English • Traffic sign SR-9 • Maximum speed: 50 km/h. Do not exceed 50 km/h. Travel slower when road, traffic or weather conditions require.

Español • SR-9 • Velocidad máxima: 50 km/h. No exceda de 50 km/h en el tramo señalado. Circule a menor velocidad cuando las condiciones de la vía, del tránsito o del clima lo requieran.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Dof.gob.mx • SICT/SEDATU · Manual federal 2024, p. 195 del PDF

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
United Mexican States • Public domain • Original revision 2020-09-02. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Mexican federal Manual de señalización y dispositivos para el control del tránsito en calles y carreteras (2024): Dof.gob.mx • SR-9, PDF page 195. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.

Do Mexican school and hospital areas have lower national speed ceilings?

Yes. Hospital and similar care areas have a 20 km/h ceiling. School areas have 20 km/h on secondary and tertiary streets, and up to 30 km/h on primary roads and highways. A lower applicable restriction still applies.

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Mexico federal Traffic Regulations — National Mobility Law Article 49(III); federal Articles 134–135

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Federal Traffic Regulations — amendment of 25 May 2026, operative and commencement provisions

🔗 sidof.segob.gob.mx • Federal Traffic Regulations — amendment of 13 August 2026, operative and commencement provisions

🔗 diputados.gob.mx • Current General Mobility and Road Safety Law — Articles 6 and 49, national hierarchy and minimum traffic measures

1 Mexico 2 Zone 3 Speed limit 4 Pedestrian warning 5 Speed bump 6 Stop sign 7 Give way 8 Railway crossing 9 School area 10 Rockfall 11 Curve 12 Chevron 13 Traffic lights 14 Driving licence 15 Reversing 16 Licence plate 17 Bus 18 Police 19 Ambulance 20 Pothole 21 Path 22 Particulates 23 Air pollution 24 Rush hour 25 Road code 26 Street gutter 27 Cargo bike 28 Forestry vehicle 29 Construction vehicle 30 Semi-trailer truck 31 Trolleybus 32 Speed pedelec 33 Delivery vehicle 34 Idling 35 Tow truck 36 Four-wheel drive 37 Road users 38 Bicycle 39 Motorcycle equipment 40 Rail track 41 Caravan 42 Trailer 43 Tow hitch 44 Fire truck 45 Siren 46 Convoy 47 Emergency vehicle lighting 48 Agricultural machinery 49 Electric bicycle 50 Electric vehicle 51 Pedelec 52 Quadricycle 53 Microcar 54 All-terrain vehicle 55 Van 56 Recreational vehicle 57 Scooter 58 Trikke 59 Personal mobility device 60 Skateboard 61 Segway 62 Kick scooter 63 Roller skates 64 Mailman 65 Hitchhiker 66 Toddler 67 Child 68 Disability 69 Motorail 70 km/h 71 mph 72 Speedometer 73 Ride height 74 Dirt road 75 Driving 76 Start-stop system 77 Manual transmission 78 Automatic transmission 79 Throttle 80 Tachometer 81 Steering wheel 82 Power steering 83 Visual scanning 84 Mirror 85 Fuel 86 Fuel gauge 87 Petrol 88 Diesel 89 Diesel exhaust fluid 90 Car insurance 91 First aid kit 92 Fire extinguisher 93 High-visibility clothing 94 First aid 95 Concrete step barrier 96 Barriers 97 Vehicle lights 98 Street lights 99 Dipped beam 100 High beam ...