If you travel abroad on a motorcycle, you will be affected by laws and regulations that differ from country to country. And motorcycle rules may differ from rules for cars. So prepare for your foreign motorcycle trip and use the information below. For specific rules on towing a trailer, click here. For specific rules on children as passengers, click here.
For information about Low Emission Zones, click here.
Austria Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Children passengers have to be over twelve years old and must be able to reach the footrests and handles. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you. Riding on motorways and several expressways requires an Autobahn vignette. At all motorway border crossings and most petrol stations in Austria there is a point of sale.
Belgium Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h (Flanders 70), urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0.5 g/l. Children over the age of eight may travel on the back of the motorcycle. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. You must wear a safety vest when your bike breaks down on a motorway or on a road where stopping and parking are prohibited. Motorcyclists (including passengers) must wear gloves, a long-sleeved jacket and long trousers (or a one-piece suit with long sleeves), and boots that protect the ankles. Click here for the FEMA organization MAG Belgium.
Bulgaria Maximum speeds for motorcycles: motorway: 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50km/h (for cars: 130/140, 90, 50)
Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l. It is required to have a first-aid kit with you. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Croatia Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h.
Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Cyprus Maximum speeds: motorway: 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h (sometimes 65 or 30 km/h, depending on the density of the population).
Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l. It is compulsory to have your headlight day and night. Children passengers have to be over twelve years old. Towing a trailer is allowed. Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Click here for the FEMA organization CMRC.
Czech Republic Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressways: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l. Children passengers have to be over twelve years old. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is required to have a first-aid kit with you. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you. Click here for the FEMA organization UAMK
Denmark Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed. Click here for the FEMA organization DMC Click here for the FEMA organization MCTC
Estonia Maximum speeds: motorway: 90 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l. It is forbidden to carry a child younger than twelve as a passenger. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Finland Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h (100 in the winter), non-urban roads: 100 km/h (80 in the winter), urban roads: 50 km/h (40 in some city centers)
Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed, maximum 80 km/h. Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Children as passenger must be secured in a suitable seat, footrests and a approved helmet. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. Click here for the FEMA organization MP69 Click here for the FEMA organization Smoto
France Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h (110 in rainy conditions), expressways: 110 km/h (100 in rainy conditions), non-urban roads 90 km/h (80 in rainy conditions), urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is generally not allowed. It is under trial in five cities (Paris, Lille, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon), with a maximum speed of 50 km/h. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Children passengers under 5 years must use an approved seat with handles and footrests. Children over 5 years must reach the footrests. Well fitting helmet is mandatory. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. French motorways are operated by private companies, with most featuring tolls that can be paid in cash or with a Mastercard or Visa card. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you. Riders and passengers are required to wear CE certified gloves. French motorways are operated by private companies, with most featuring tolls that can be paid in cash or with a Mastercard or Visa card. It is forbidden to have a speed camera warning system in your navigation system. Vehicles driving in Paris from monday to friday between 08.00h and 20.00h need to have a ‘Crit’ Air’ sticker, which shows the vehicle emissions and if the vehicle is allowed to enter Paris. For vehicles not registered in France, you can order the Crit’Air sticker here. Be aware that the French cities of Lyon, Grenoble and Lille currently have emergency emissions schemes, an emergency low emission zone for Strasbourg is most likely to be implemented in November (2017) and for Toulouse by the end of 2017. This means that restrictions can be placed on vehicles if pollution is expected to reach a particular level. If visiting these cities it may be beneficial to order a Crit’Air sticker. As a foreigner, you have to wear reflective stickers on your helmet, just like the French. From 1 July 2018, speed limits on secondary or non-urban roads will go down from 90 to 80km/h. Click here for the FEMA organization FFMC
Germany Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h (recommended), non-urban roads: 100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed, but the maximum speed (also on the highway!) is 60 km/h. Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Children under the age of seven must use a special seat. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is recommendend to have a safety jacket with you. It is recommendend to have a first aid kit with you. It is compulsory for glasses or contact lens wearers to carry spare glasses. Click here for the FEMA organization Biker Union Click here for the FEMA organization BVDM Click here for the FEMA organization Kuhle Wampe
Greece Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressways: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l for motorcyclists, 0,5 g/l for car drivers. It is required to have a first aid kit with you. Towing a trailer is allowed for visitors. Click here for the FEMA organization Motoe
Hungary Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressways: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l. Towing a trailer is allowed. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Iceland Maximum speeds: motorway: 90 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0.5g/l. Children that are six years or younger need back support; children must be able to reach the footrests and wear a approved helmet. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. Click here for the FEMA organization BLS
Ireland Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0.5g/l. It’s illegal to carry or use radar detection equipment. If you have a navigation system that shows fixed speed cameras, you must deactivate this function. Click here for the FEMA organization MAG Ireland
Italy Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h (in case of rain, snow or any other precipitation 110 km/h), non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Children older than five years may ride on the back of the motorcycle. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Latvia Maximum speeds: non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Towing a trailer is allowed. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Liechtenstein Maximum speeds: non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h (there are no motorways)
Alcohol limit: 0,8 g/l. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. Children have to be able to reach the footrests, children under seven have to be in a suitable seat. Towing a trailer is allowed.
Luxembourg Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Towing a trailer is allowed. Children twelve years and older may ride on the back of the bike. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Malta Maximum speeds: motorway: 80 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,8 g/l. Towing a trailer is not allowed.
Netherlands Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, express ways 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Click here for the FEMA organization MAG NL
Norway Maximum speeds: motorway: 100 km/h (some 110 km/h), non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. When towing a trailer the speed limit is 80 km/h for a trailer with brakes or a brakeless trailer with a max. total weight up to 299 kg. If a brakeless trailer weighs 300 kg or more, the limit is 60 km/h. Bikes are allowed in bus lanes (sidecars and trikes are not). Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. Click here for the FEMA organization NMCU
Poland Maximum speeds: motorway: 140 km/h, non-urban roads: 100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l. With a child under seven years as a passenger the speed limit is 40 km/h. Towing a trailer is allowed.
Portugal Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, expressway: 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a motor trailer is allowed at a maximum speed of 80/100 km/h. Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Children older than seven years may ride on the back of the bike. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Romania Maximum speeds: motorways: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 90/100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l. Towing a trailer is allowed. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Slovenia Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressway: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Towing a trailer is allowed. Children twelve years and older may ride on the back of the bike. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Slovakia Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressway 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you. It is compulsory to have a first aid kit with you. Trikes and bikes with side cars must carry a warning triangle. Motorcyclists (or their passengers) are not allowed to drink, eat or smoke while riding. Children passengers must be at least twelve 12 years old.
Spain Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, express ways 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you. Towing a trailer is allowed, but only during the day. The maximum speed is 10% lower than the normal maximum speed applicable to the towing vehicle (on the highway this is 108 km/h (120 km/h -10%)). Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l. Children passengers must be at least twelve 12 years old, seven when riding with their parents. They have to wear a approved helmet.
Sweden Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, non-urban roads: 70 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l. Towing a trailer is allowed. Children under seven years do not have to wear a approved helmet, but they have to wear head protection, like a bicycle helmet. Motorcyclists are allowed to use some bus lanes in Stockholm. Areas signed ‘Motorcycles’ are generally free to park motorcycles and mopeds with two wheels. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. Click here for the FEMA organization SMC
Switzerland Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed, with a maximum speed of 80 km/h. Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime. Children under seven have to be in a suitable seat. It’s illegal to use radar detection equipment. If you have a navigation system that shows fixed speed cameras, you must deactivate this function. For Swiss highways you must purchase a Autobahn vignette, available at the customs and at the service stations at the border. Click here for the FEMA organization IG Motorrad
Turkey Maximum speeds for motorcycles: motorway: 80 km/h, expressways: 80 km/h non-urban roads: 70 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h (for cars: 120 km/h, 110 km/h, 90 km/h, 50 km/h)
Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l (0,5 g/l when towing a trailer). Children passengers have to be over twelve years old and must be able to reach the footrests. It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
United Kingdom Maximum speeds: motorway and dual carriageways: 112 km/h, non-urban roads: 96 km/h, urban roads: 48 km/h
Alcohol limit: 0,8 g/l (0,5 g/l in Scotland). Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed. Towing a trailer is allowed. Children may ride on the back of the bike, but must be able to reach the footrests. Daytime running lights/headlights are not compulsory except when light conditions are poor. Click here for the FEMA organization BMF Click here for the FEMA organization MAG UK
This overview has been compiled with the utmost care; however, it is possible that inaccuracies occur. FEMA is in no way responsible for this. This overview has been compiled using various sources, such as: FEMA members, national tourism agencies, Wikipedia and the European Commission. Verifiable tips, corrections and/or additions to this overview are welcome at wimtaal@fema-online.eu.
Wow! Thanks Ragnar. You've gone to one hell of a lot of trouble for us there. If we ever meet up, a drink is on me! Didn't know about he reflective sticker on the helmet in France. For those that don't know about the "give way to traffic emerging from the right" rule in France, last year I was driving with my cousin, who was a driving instructor over there. If you approach a side road on the right that has no road markings on the mouth of their junction, you must give way (and in the wet, it can be difficult to see). Not very common where we were in Brittany, but I nearly got caught out in one village where, only thanks to a sharp "STOP" bellowed in my ear, a possible collision was avoided. Also, as the Crit'Air scheme appears to be being progressively rolled out across French cities, so why not just order one on-line, just in case, if you're thinking of touring there. From memory they're about £5.
If I could give a "Like" to the post, I would do. Thank you.
![Riding Abroad this Summer - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8mobileLQ.jpg)
![Riding Abroad this Summer - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8desktopLQ.jpg)
