List of vehicle speed records
The following is a list of speed records for various types of vehicles. This list only presents the single greatest speed achieved in each broad record category; for more information on records under variations of test conditions, see the specific article for each record category. As with many world records, there may be some dispute over the criteria for a record-setting event, the authority of the organization certifying the record, and the actual speed achieved.
Land vehicles
By type of vehicle
By surface
| Category | Speed | Speed | Vehicle | Operator | Date | Certifier | References |
| On ice | Audi RS 6 | Janne Laitinen | 9 Mar 2013 | FIA | - | ||
| On the Moon | Apollo 17 Lunar Roving Vehicle | Eugene Cernan | 31 Jul 1972 | - | |||
| On Mars | Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with semiautonomous control | Jul 2004 | GWR | - |
Rail vehicles
| Category | Speed | Speed | Vehicle | Operator | Date | Certifier | References |
| Rocket sled | Super Roadrunner | 29 Apr 2003 | USAF | - | |||
| Maglev rocket sled | USAF rocket sled | 4 Mar 2016 | USAF | - | |||
| Rocket sled | Sonic Wind No. 1 | John Stapp | 10 Dec 1954 | USAF | - | ||
| Maglev train | SCMaglev L0 Series Shinkansen | 21 Apr 2015 | GWR | - | |||
| Wheeled train | TGV POS V150 | Eric Pieczac | 3 Apr 2007 | - | |||
| Propeller-driven rail car | Schienenzeppelin | Franz Kruckenberg | 21 Jun 1931 | - | |||
| Steam train | LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard | Joseph Duddington and Thomas Bray | 3 Jul 1938 | - |
Aircraft
Aircraft speed records are based on airspeed, rather than ground speed.Watercraft
Spacecraft
In order to unambiguously express the speed of a spacecraft, a frame of reference must be specified. Typically, this frame is fixed to the body with the greatest gravitational influence on the spacecraft, as this is the most relevant frame for most purposes. Velocities in different frames of reference are not directly comparable; thus the matter of the "fastest spacecraft" depends on the reference frame used.Because of the influence of gravity, maximum velocities are usually attained when a spacecraft is close to its primary body, either just after launch, during the early stages of atmospheric entry, or at a point of closest approach.