Queensland posts 110 km/h on its fastest motorway and highway sections, defaults to 100 km/h outside built-up areas and 50 km/h inside them, and runs 40 km/h school zones from 7 to 9 am and 2 to 4 pm. Unlike the holiday-based systems elsewhere, Queensland doubles demerit points year-round for drivers who repeat a high-speed offence within twelve months.
Queensland speed limits at a glance
| Road type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Built-up areas (default) | 50 kph (31 mph) |
| School zones | 40 kph (25 mph) |
| Rural roads and highways | 100 kph (62 mph) |
| Motorways / freeways | 110 kph (68 mph) |
About speed limits in Queensland
Queensland's ceiling is 110 km/h, posted on rural sections of the Bruce Highway, parts of the Pacific Motorway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and long runs of the inland highway network. The default outside built-up areas is 100 km/h and inside them 50 km/h unless signed otherwise, with many Brisbane residential streets and busy precincts posted at 40 km/h. Distances are enormous: the Bruce Highway alone covers about 1,700 km from Brisbane to Cairns, cycling constantly between 110 km/h open road and 50 or 60 km/h through coastal towns, a rhythm that generates a large share of the state's speeding tickets.
Queensland runs double demerit points all year, not just on holidays. Any second or subsequent offence of speeding by more than 20 km/h over the limit committed within twelve months of an earlier high-speed offence attracts double points, with the same rule covering seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences. A driver who twice gets caught 21 km/h over inside a year collects four points for the second offence plus four more as the double-up, eight in total, and with a 12 point limit over three years that pace ends in a suspension notice. The clock runs from the date of the first offence, so the exposure window is precise.
School zones are 40 km/h and generally operate from 7 to 9 in the morning and 2 to 4 in the afternoon on school days, with flashing-light signs at higher risk sites and some split-campus zones running all day. Enforcement leans heavily on the Camera Detected Offence Program: fixed cameras with warning signs, mobile cameras that can be marked or completely covert and are rotated randomly across thousands of approved sites, point-to-point average speed pairs on the Bruce Highway near the Sunshine Coast, and AI mobile phone and seatbelt cameras that photograph the front seats of every passing vehicle around the clock.
Queensland indexes its penalty units every 1 July, usually by 3.5 percent, so fines rise automatically each winter. The unit climbed from $161.15 to $166.90 in July 2025 and to $172.70 in July 2026, pushing the lowest speeding fine to $345. The serious end is harsher than the dollar figures suggest: more than 40 km/h over the limit carries eight demerit points and an automatic six month high-speed suspension issued by Transport and Main Roads, separate from any court outcome. Drivers who reach 12 points can choose a one year good behaviour period instead of suspension, but a single further offence of two points or more during it doubles the original suspension.
Enforcement
The Queensland Police Service combines patrol enforcement with the Camera Detected Offence Program: signed fixed cameras, randomly rotated mobile cameras that may be covert, point-to-point average speed pairs on the Bruce Highway and AI cameras that detect phone and seatbelt offences 24/7. Camera revenue is hypothecated to road safety programs, and regional highways see regular trailer-mounted camera deployments.
Tolerance
Queensland does not publish an enforcement threshold and official messaging insists any speed over the limit can be fined. Practical experience suggests only a small allowance for measurement error, and the lowest fine band starts at less than 11 km/h over. The year-round double demerit rule means repeat high-range offenders face escalating points with no seasonal reprieve.
Speeding fines in Queensland
Fines index each 1 July. From July 2026 the bands sit at about $345 for less than 11 km/h over with 1 point, $517 for 11 to 20 over with 3 points, $777 for 21 to 30 over with 4 points, $1,295 for 31 to 40 over with 6 points, and just under $2,000 for more than 40 over with 8 points plus an automatic six month suspension. A repeated offence of more than 20 over within twelve months doubles the points.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum speed limit in Queensland?
110 km/h, posted on rural sections of the Bruce Highway, parts of the Pacific Motorway and other divided highways. The default limit outside built-up areas is 100 km/h, and Queensland has no roads signed above 110 km/h.
How do double demerit points work in Queensland?
They apply year-round, not just on holidays. A second or subsequent offence of speeding more than 20 km/h over the limit within twelve months of an earlier one attracts double points, so two mid-range offences in a year can cost eight points in one hit.
What are the school zone times in Queensland?
Most school zones are 40 km/h and operate from 7 to 9 am and 2 to 4 pm on school days. Zones with unusual layouts, such as split campuses, can run all day, and flashing-light signs mark many higher risk sites.
What happens if you are caught more than 40 km/h over in Queensland?
You receive eight demerit points, a fine of just under $2,000 at current rates, and an automatic six month high-speed licence suspension from Transport and Main Roads, regardless of your points balance. The fine amount rises with indexation every July.
Speed limits in nearby states
- New South Wales speed limit — highway, rural, and school-zone limits.
- Northern Territory speed limit — highway, rural, and school-zone limits.
- South Australia speed limit — highway, rural, and school-zone limits.
Related tools
- Convert KPH to MPH — convert any speed reading between units.
- Car speed test — verify your speedometer accuracy.
- Live GPS speedometer — see your actual speed in the browser.
- Stopping distance calculator — how far you need to brake from each speed.
- Australia speed limits overview — national defaults and how states differ.