Driving in Monaco vs United Kingdom: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Monaco versus the United Kingdom, distinct variations in regulations and practices emerge. From lane usage and speed limits to signaling at roundabouts, understanding these unique driving conventions is crucial for ensuring your safety abroad. Explore the key contrasts to drive confidently through these diverse locales.
Lanes
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
monaco:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
monaco:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
monaco:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
monaco:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
united kingdom:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
united kingdom:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
monaco:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
monaco:
N/A
united kingdom:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
monaco:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
monaco:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
monaco:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
united kingdom:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
monaco:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
monaco:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
monaco:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
monaco:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
monaco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
monaco:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay