Noise from roads, trains or planes

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Vehicle noise limits

There are limits to the amount of noise that vehicles can make on public roads. This applies to all types of vehicles.

In general, larger vehicles with bigger engines are able to make more noise.

Noise limits on tyres

There are noise limits on tyres and since November 2012 all new tyres are graded and labelled to show how noisy they are.

Modified exhaust systems

It’s illegal to modify the exhaust system to make a vehicle noisier after it has been ‘type approved’ (checked it meets environmental and safety standards).

The police can also take action if your vehicle’s silencer doesn’t work in the way it was designed or if you’re driving in a way that creates too much noise.