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Speed limits in Texas are governed by the Texas Transportation Code, Title 7: Vehicles and Traffic, Subtitle C: Rules of the Road, Chapter 545: Operation and Movement of Vehicles, Subchapter H: Speed Restrictions. All relevant laws and regulations regarding speeding and speed limits are found in this subchapter of Texas laws.
How fast can you drive in Texas, and what are legal speed limits in this state? Let’s do a brief overview of Texas speed limit laws.
Always watch out for local speed limit traffic signs! Our overview of Texas speed limits above is based on general state laws. Every municipality, county, town or even road can have specific regulations and restrictions. This is why you must always watch for traffic signs with posted speed limits which supersede these general rules.
Texas has the highest speed limits in United States, where some rural highways have up to 85 mph speed limits.
Texas is one of very few states which uses a “prima facie” or “presumed” speed limits. This means you are permitted to drive above legal speed limits if conditions allow. For example, in case you are driving 35mph on a street with 30 mph limit and the road has very little or no traffic, you may drive faster than legal speed limits in Texas allow.
You can claim in court that you were still driving safe given conditions. It’s up to individual police officer to determine whether you were driving unsafely and whether to issue you a ticket. Generally speaking, you are unlikely to be issued a ticket for driving 5mph over the speed limit.
However, this should not be used as an excuse for reckless speeding. Fighting traffic tickets in court can be costly and often not worth the hassle, so it’s always best to adhere to legal speed limits.
Texas Transportation Code (Sec. 545.363) regulates the following:
An operator may not drive so slowly as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.
Furthermore, this Section also allows authorities to set specific minimum speed limits where needed. Where minimum speed signs are erected you must adhere to their posted limits.
Driving over speed limit in Texas has different penalties and fines. First time violators are typically fined between $1 and $500, and their driver license may be suspended for no longer than one year.
Fines vary greatly depending on where you received the ticket. Here are usual fines in some of the largest cities in Texas:
Additional surcharges or costs and driver license penalty points may also be issued.
Note that driving less than 5 mph over legal speed limit in Texas state is typically considered acceptable and you should not get a traffic ticket for it. This is a reasonable margin of error and most law enforcement officers will not pull you over for exceeding speed limits by less than 5 miles per hour.
All fines and penalties may increase in case you have been convicted with another speeding violation in the past. Additional traffic violations may also increase penalties.
Excessive speeds may get you in other legal trouble based on Street Racing Laws or Reckless Driving Laws. Driving 30 mph over legal or posted speed limits is often considered reckless driving, which can carry harsh fines and even prison sentences.
This article about Texas Speed Limit Laws was last updated in 2024. If any of our information is incomplete or outdated please let us know. Thank you!
