How to retrieve speed limits with HERE APIs or SDKs
Symptoms / Triggers
You may need this article if you are trying to:
Retrieve the posted speed limit for a specific latitude/longitude
Get speed limits along a route or GPS trace
Display the current road speed limit in a mobile or in‑car app
Trigger speeding or ISA warnings
Understand why speed limits are missing or conditional (weather, time‑based)
---
### Quick Answer
HERE provides multiple ways to access speed limit data, depending on whether you need speed limits for a single point, a route, matched GPS traces, or live navigation. The most common solutions are Map Attributes API v8, Route Matching API v8, and HERE SDK Navigate for real‑time in‑app usage. Automotive ADAS and ISA use cases require dedicated map content products.
---
Choose the Right Solution Based on Your Use Case
------------------------------------------------
### 1. Speed limit at a coordinate or map view
Use: Map Attributes API v8 (SPEED_LIMITS_FCn)
Retrieves legal posted speed limits directly from HERE map content
Works with map tiles or specific link references
Suitable for map display, analytics, and driver alerts
Typical use cases
"Speed limit at this location"
"Show speed limits on the map"
"Batch processing of road speed limits"
Documentation: Map Attributes – Speed limits
---
### 2. Speed limits along a route
Use: Routing API v8 + Map Attributes API v8
Calculate a route first
Query speed limit attributes for links along that route
Useful for navigation previews and route analysis
Typical use cases
"Show speed limits along my route"
"Detect speeding sections on planned trips"
Blog & examples: Find speed limit with HERE Location Services
---
### 3. Speed limits from raw GPS traces
Use: Route Matching API v8 with attributes=SPEED_LIMITS_FCn
Matches GPS points to the road network
Returns speed limits for matched road links
Handles noisy or imprecise GPS data
Typical use cases
Fleet tracking
Trip replay and driver behavior analysis
Route Matching speed limit example Find speed limit with HERE Location Services
---
### 4. Live speed limit display in mobile or in‑car apps
Use: HERE SDK Navigate (Android / iOS)
Exposes SpeedLimit objects for the current road
Supports:
+ Regular limits
+ Advisory limits
+ Conditional limits (rain, snow, time-based)
Automatically updates based on position and route
Typical use cases
Turn‑by‑turn navigation
Speed limit warning UI
SDK reference - Get speed limit warnings & SDK sample app - Speed Limit Watcher
---
### 5. ISA, ADAS, and automotive-grade systems
Use: HERE ISA Map / HERE ADAS Map / HERE HD Live Map
Designed for regulatory compliance and automotive requirements
High‑precision, frequently updated speed limit data
Delivered via automotive-specific interfaces (e.g., ADASIS)
Typical use cases
Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
ADAS, HAD, and ISA Product overview: Maps for ADAS and HAD
---
Common Notes & Limitations
--------------------------
Speed limits depend on map coverage and regulatory availability in each country
Some limits are conditional (weather, time, vehicle type) and may not always be active
Map Attributes and Route Matching APIs return limits per road link, not abstract road names
Automotive-grade ISA use cases require dedicated products, not standard REST APIs
---
Applies To
----------
HERE Location Services APIs v8
HERE SDK Navigate (Android, iOS)
HERE Map Attributes API
HERE Route Matching API
HERE Automotive Map Content (ISA / ADAS)
---
References
----------
Finding speed limit of given waypoints using HERE Location Services
Map Attributes API v8 – Get HERE map content for driver alerts (Speed limits)
HERE SDK Navigate – Stay aware with warners - Get speed limit warnings (Android)
HERE SDK Example App – Speed Limit Watcher Sample (Android)
Accessing Speed Limit Data via HERE Location Services (ADCi Blog)
HERE ADAS & HAD – ISA (Intelligent Speed Assistance) and Automotive Map Products
---
Search Tags
-----------
speed limit, speed limits api, speeding alert, isa, route speed limit, gps speed limit, speed limit at coordinate, here map attributes, here route matching, here sdk speed limit
---
Speed Limit Retrieval Use Cases and HERE Solutions Summary
----------------------------------------------------------
| Customer use case (problem language) | Typical customer question | Recommended HERE solution | Why this is the right solution |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Get speed limit at a single coordinate | "How do I get the speed limit at my GPS position?" | Map Attributes API v8 – SPEED_LIMITS_FCn layer | Directly retrieves posted/legal speed limits for map links or tiles without needing a full route |
| Get speed limits along a route | "How can I see speed limits along my calculated route?" | Routing API v8 + Map Attributes API v8 | Routing gives geometry; Map Attributes adds speed limits per link along the route |
| Match noisy GPS traces and get speed limits | "I have raw GPS points—how do I get speed limits?" | Route Matching API v8 with attributes=SPEED_LIMITS_FCn | Snaps GPS traces to the road network and returns speed limits for matched links |
| Show current road speed limit in a navigation app | "How do I display speed limits while driving?" | HERE SDK Navigate (Android / iOS) | SDK exposes SpeedLimit objects, including conditional and advisory limits, updated in real time |
| Speed warnings / ISA / driver alerts | "How can I warn drivers when they exceed the limit?" | Map Attributes API v8 (SPEED_LIMITS_FCn) or HERE SDK Navigate | Supports legal, conditional, and advisory speed limits for alerts and ISA use cases |
| Fleet analysis or large‑area speed data | "Can I get speed limits for many roads or regions?" | Map Attributes API v8 (tile-based) | Tile-based access scales better for analytics and batch processing than routing requests [docs.here.com] |
| ADAS / ISA / automotive-grade systems | "What should I use for ISA or ADAS compliance?" | HERE ISA Map / HERE ADAS Map / HD Live Map | Automotive-grade products with regulatory-grade speed limit coverage and update mechanisms [here.com] |
###
You may need this article if you are trying to:
Retrieve the posted speed limit for a specific latitude/longitude
Get speed limits along a route or GPS trace
Display the current road speed limit in a mobile or in‑car app
Trigger speeding or ISA warnings
Understand why speed limits are missing or conditional (weather, time‑based)
---
### Quick Answer
HERE provides multiple ways to access speed limit data, depending on whether you need speed limits for a single point, a route, matched GPS traces, or live navigation. The most common solutions are Map Attributes API v8, Route Matching API v8, and HERE SDK Navigate for real‑time in‑app usage. Automotive ADAS and ISA use cases require dedicated map content products.
---
Choose the Right Solution Based on Your Use Case
------------------------------------------------
### 1. Speed limit at a coordinate or map view
Use: Map Attributes API v8 (
SPEED_LIMITS_FCn)Retrieves legal posted speed limits directly from HERE map content
Works with map tiles or specific link references
Suitable for map display, analytics, and driver alerts
Typical use cases
"Speed limit at this location"
"Show speed limits on the map"
"Batch processing of road speed limits"
Documentation: Map Attributes – Speed limits
---
### 2. Speed limits along a route
Use: Routing API v8 + Map Attributes API v8
Calculate a route first
Query speed limit attributes for links along that route
Useful for navigation previews and route analysis
Typical use cases
"Show speed limits along my route"
"Detect speeding sections on planned trips"
Blog & examples: Find speed limit with HERE Location Services
---
### 3. Speed limits from raw GPS traces
Use: Route Matching API v8 with
attributes=SPEED_LIMITS_FCnMatches GPS points to the road network
Returns speed limits for matched road links
Handles noisy or imprecise GPS data
Typical use cases
Fleet tracking
Trip replay and driver behavior analysis
Route Matching speed limit example Find speed limit with HERE Location Services
---
### 4. Live speed limit display in mobile or in‑car apps
Use: HERE SDK Navigate (Android / iOS)
Exposes
SpeedLimit objects for the current roadSupports:
+ Regular limits
+ Advisory limits
+ Conditional limits (rain, snow, time-based)
Automatically updates based on position and route
Typical use cases
Turn‑by‑turn navigation
Speed limit warning UI
SDK reference - Get speed limit warnings & SDK sample app - Speed Limit Watcher
---
### 5. ISA, ADAS, and automotive-grade systems
Use: HERE ISA Map / HERE ADAS Map / HERE HD Live Map
Designed for regulatory compliance and automotive requirements
High‑precision, frequently updated speed limit data
Delivered via automotive-specific interfaces (e.g., ADASIS)
Typical use cases
Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
ADAS, HAD, and ISA Product overview: Maps for ADAS and HAD
---
Common Notes & Limitations
--------------------------
Speed limits depend on map coverage and regulatory availability in each country
Some limits are conditional (weather, time, vehicle type) and may not always be active
Map Attributes and Route Matching APIs return limits per road link, not abstract road names
Automotive-grade ISA use cases require dedicated products, not standard REST APIs
---
Applies To
----------
HERE Location Services APIs v8
HERE SDK Navigate (Android, iOS)
HERE Map Attributes API
HERE Route Matching API
HERE Automotive Map Content (ISA / ADAS)
---
References
----------
Finding speed limit of given waypoints using HERE Location Services
Map Attributes API v8 – Get HERE map content for driver alerts (Speed limits)
HERE SDK Navigate – Stay aware with warners - Get speed limit warnings (Android)
HERE SDK Example App – Speed Limit Watcher Sample (Android)
Accessing Speed Limit Data via HERE Location Services (ADCi Blog)
HERE ADAS & HAD – ISA (Intelligent Speed Assistance) and Automotive Map Products
---
Search Tags
-----------
speed limit, speed limits api, speeding alert, isa, route speed limit, gps speed limit, speed limit at coordinate, here map attributes, here route matching, here sdk speed limit
---
Speed Limit Retrieval Use Cases and HERE Solutions Summary
----------------------------------------------------------
| Customer use case (problem language) | Typical customer question | Recommended HERE solution | Why this is the right solution |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Get speed limit at a single coordinate | "How do I get the speed limit at my GPS position?" | Map Attributes API v8 – SPEED_LIMITS_FCn layer | Directly retrieves posted/legal speed limits for map links or tiles without needing a full route |
| Get speed limits along a route | "How can I see speed limits along my calculated route?" | Routing API v8 + Map Attributes API v8 | Routing gives geometry; Map Attributes adds speed limits per link along the route |
| Match noisy GPS traces and get speed limits | "I have raw GPS points—how do I get speed limits?" | Route Matching API v8 with attributes=SPEED_LIMITS_FCn | Snaps GPS traces to the road network and returns speed limits for matched links |
| Show current road speed limit in a navigation app | "How do I display speed limits while driving?" | HERE SDK Navigate (Android / iOS) | SDK exposes
SpeedLimit objects, including conditional and advisory limits, updated in real time || Speed warnings / ISA / driver alerts | "How can I warn drivers when they exceed the limit?" | Map Attributes API v8 (SPEED_LIMITS_FCn) or HERE SDK Navigate | Supports legal, conditional, and advisory speed limits for alerts and ISA use cases |
| Fleet analysis or large‑area speed data | "Can I get speed limits for many roads or regions?" | Map Attributes API v8 (tile-based) | Tile-based access scales better for analytics and batch processing than routing requests [docs.here.com] |
| ADAS / ISA / automotive-grade systems | "What should I use for ISA or ADAS compliance?" | HERE ISA Map / HERE ADAS Map / HD Live Map | Automotive-grade products with regulatory-grade speed limit coverage and update mechanisms [here.com] |
###