Regulatory Signs

Regulatory signs tell drivers, riders and pedestrians what they must or must not do on UK roads. This page explains what these regulatory signs mean, how to recognise them quickly, and links to every individual road sign in this category so you can revise them for your car theory test, motorcycle theory test, HGV / LGV theory test, PCV theory test, or ADI Part 1 theory test.

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What are regulatory signs?

Regulatory signs are part of the UK road and traffic sign system used to give drivers and riders clear instructions about what is mandatory, what is prohibited and who has priority on the road. They help you understand where you must not enter, which direction you must follow, and what speed limits apply, so you can plan your journey safely and confidently.

You'll usually see:

  • Prohibitive signs (often red circles) showing what you must not do, such as 'No entry' or 'No overtaking'.
  • Mandatory signs (often blue circles) telling you what you must do, such as 'Turn left' or 'Keep right'.
  • Priority and speed limit signs giving instructions about who has priority at junctions and what maximum speed you must not exceed.

Understanding these regulatory signs is essential if you regularly drive on unfamiliar roads, in busy towns and cities or on rural routes - and they can all appear in your DVSA driving theory test and hazard perception test.

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Essential regulatory signs you need to know for the DVSA theory test

The DVSA driving theory test can include questions about regulatory signs.

When you revise with Driving Theory 4 All, you'll see these regulatory signs along with DVSA revision questions, hazard perception practice clips, and unlimited mock theory tests.

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Use this section to quickly find common regulatory signs in the UK road and traffic sign system. Select a sign to open its dedicated page.

Changes in direction prohibited except for buses and cycles exemption plate sign

Rectangular - white Cycle Bus Vehicle type Exemption plate Regulatory signs
View changes in direction prohibited except for buses and cycles exemption plate sign

Dual carriageway plate that supplements "turn" signs

Rectangular - white Direction of traffic Supplementing plate Regulatory signs
View dual carriageway plate that supplements "turn" signs

End of goods vehicles restriction sign

Circular - end of restrictions Direction of traffic Lorry Regulatory signs
View end of goods vehicles restriction sign

Except for access exemption plate sign

Rectangular - white Direction of traffic Vehicle type Exemption plate Regulatory signs
View except for access exemption plate sign

Except for loading and unloading by goods vehicles exemption plate sign

Rectangular - white Direction of traffic Lorry Vehicle type Exemption plate Regulatory signs
View except for loading and unloading by goods vehicles exemption plate sign

Give way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction sign

Circular - white with a red border Traffic priority Regulatory signs
View give way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction sign

Keep left sign

Circular - blue with white writing Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View keep left sign

Location of weight restriction ahead with indication of an alternative route sign

Rectangular - blue Size restriction Lorry Distance to Alternative route Regulatory signs
View location of weight restriction ahead with indication of an alternative route sign

Mini-roundabout sign

Circular - blue with white writing Roundabout Regulatory signs
View mini-roundabout sign

Nature of and distance to a prohibition, restriction or requirement sign

Rectangular - blue Direction of traffic Distance to Regulatory signs
View nature of and distance to a prohibition, restriction or requirement sign

No articulated vehicles sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Lorry Regulatory signs
View no articulated vehicles sign

No entry for vehicular traffic sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View no entry for vehicular traffic sign

No goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown in tonnes sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Size restriction Lorry Regulatory signs
View no goods vehicles over maximum gross weight shown in tonnes sign

No horse-drawn vehicles sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Animals Rural Regulatory signs
View no horse-drawn vehicles sign

No left turn sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View no left turn sign

No motor vehicles sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Motorcycle Vehicle type Car Regulatory signs
View no motor vehicles sign

No motor vehicles except solo motorcycles sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Vehicle type Car Regulatory signs
View no motor vehicles except solo motorcycles sign

No overtaking sign

Circular - white with a red border Overtaking Regulatory signs
View no overtaking sign

No pedestrians sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Pedestrian Regulatory signs
View no pedestrians sign

No ridden or accompanied horses sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Animals Rural Regulatory signs
View no ridden or accompanied horses sign

No right turn sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Traffic lights Regulatory signs
View no right turn sign

No solo motorcycles sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Motorcycle Vehicle type Regulatory signs
View no solo motorcycles sign

No towed caravans sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Vehicle type Caravan Regulatory signs
View no towed caravans sign

No U-turn sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View no U-turn sign

No vehicles allowed during times shown except for access or pedal cycles being pushed by hand sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Vehicle type Time restriction Exemption plate Regulatory signs
View no vehicles allowed during times shown except for access or pedal cycles being pushed by hand sign

No vehicles carrying explosives sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Car Dangerous goods Regulatory signs
View no vehicles carrying explosives sign

No vehicles except pedal cycles being pushed by hand sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Vehicle type Regulatory signs
View no vehicles except pedal cycles being pushed by hand sign

No vehicles or combinations of vehicles over maximum length shown sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Size restriction Lorry Regulatory signs
View no vehicles or combinations of vehicles over maximum length shown sign

No vehicles over maximum width shown sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Size restriction Regulatory signs
View no vehicles over maximum width shown sign

No vehicles over the maximum gross weight shown in tonnes sign

Circular - white with a red border Direction of traffic Bridge Size restriction Lorry Exemption plate Regulatory signs
View no vehicles over the maximum gross weight shown in tonnes sign

One way system plate that supplements "turn" signs

Rectangular - white Direction of traffic Supplementing plate Regulatory signs
View one way system plate that supplements "turn" signs

One-way traffic sign

Circular - blue with white writing Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View one-way traffic sign

Priority must be given to traffic from the other direction sign

Circular - white with a red border Traffic priority Regulatory signs
View priority must be given to traffic from the other direction sign

Proceed in direction indicated by the arrow sign

Circular - blue with white writing Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View proceed in direction indicated by the arrow sign

Specified traffic must not use mown verge sign

Rectangular - white Direction of traffic Pedestrian Cycle Motorcycle Vehicle type Car Regulatory signs
View specified traffic must not use mown verge sign

Stop for a police officer or traffic warden sign

Circular - white with a red border Speed Police Regulatory signs
View stop for a police officer or traffic warden sign

Stop for a school crossing patrol sign

Circular - yellow with red border School Speed Pedestrian crossing Regulatory signs
View stop for a school crossing patrol sign

Turn left ahead sign

Circular - blue with white writing Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View turn left ahead sign

Vehicles may pass either side to reach the same destination sign

Circular - blue with white writing Direction of traffic Regulatory signs
View vehicles may pass either side to reach the same destination sign

Weight restriction ahead sign

Rectangular - blue Size restriction Lorry Distance to Regulatory signs
View weight restriction ahead sign

View our full UK road signs directory

Previous: Pedestrian, Cycle and Equestrian CrossingsNext: Road Markings

Source: Department for Transport - Know Your Traffic Signs. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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