UK Speeding Fines Explained
UK Speeding Fines Explained
Exceeding the speed limit can happen easily, whether due to a brief lapse in attention, a burst of enthusiastic driving, or simply keeping pace with the vehicle ahead. Even a minor deviation above the speed limit can result in accumulating license points and financial penalties. But what's the potential cost? Is there room for a slight margin?
Why is Speeding a Problem?
However good your reactions are, the faster you are travelling, the longer it takes to bring your car to a halt. It takes twice the distance to stop from 30mph as it does from 20mph for example.
Not only do you increase the chance of being able to stop before an impact when driving more slowly and therefore avoid injury and damage if you do have an accident, but it will also be less severe at a lower speed.
What Is the Fine for Speeding?
The ramifications can include:
Accruing points on your driving license
Attending a speed awareness course
Receiving an intended prosecution notice (NIP)
Dealing with a notice of intended prosecution and navigating various aspects of speeding offenses.
Whether it's a verbal caution, a speed camera incident, a fixed penalty notice (FPN), or a speeding ticket, awareness is essential.
How Many Points Can I Get and How Much is a Speeding Fine Speeding?
How much over the speed limit you are caught will determine how many points you will receive, any fines incurred and if you’ll receive a driving ban. The offence severities are banded A, B and C.
Band A is from 1 mph above the posted speed limit to 11 mph above the limit. If you fall into band A, you are likely to collect three points on your licence and a fine of 50% of your weekly income.
Band B is from 11 mph above the speed limit to 21 mph above the limit. Band B incurs 4-6 points or 7-28 days disqualification. The fine will be 100% of your weekly income.
Band C is over 21 mph above the speed limit. If you’re caught over 21mph above the speed limit - band C - you’ll have 6 points added to your licence or 7-56 days disqualification. It will be a fine of 150% of your weekly salary too.
The judge can flex the fine up or down from the percentages of your weekly salary (25% either way). This means for band B, for example, the fine could be between 75% and 125%.
Fines are capped at £1,000 (£2,500 if you are caught speeding on a motorway).
How Long Does It Take for a Speeding Fine to Arrive in the UK?
According to the UK government, each speeding fine caught on a speed camera is issued within 14 days of the incident. You will then need to return the form back within 28 days.
If you are stopped for speeding by the police, they can give you a verbal warning or issue a court order which instructions will be delivered to you in the post.
Is A Couple of MPH Over the Speed Limit Okay?
The official answer is no. However, the National Police Chiefs’ Council advises 10% plus 2 mph leeway. This is, however, entirely at the discretion of the police force and a good reason to display some courtesy and humility if you are stopped.
Speed Awareness Courses
For minor indiscretions, you may be offered a speed awareness course. Again, this is at the discretion of the local police force.
You may be offered the course if you weren’t travelling much above the limit. This is typically considered between 10% + 2mph and 10% + 9 mph above the speed limit (so that would be 46-53 mph in a 40 mph zone).
You almost certainly won’t be offered this alternative if you have attended a speed awareness course in the previous three years.
It will cost you around £100 to attend the course but you’ll avoid points on your licence.
How Long Do Points Stay on my Licence?
Points stay on your licence for different lengths of time, depending on the offence. And each offence has its own code.
Speeding points (codes SP30, SP40, etc.) stay on your licence for four years. Other traffic offences such as causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink (CD40) stay on for 11 years.
Other costs of speeding
Insurance companies hike up premiums if they see points on your licence, so you’ll pay extra each year until the points expire. Ensure you are clear on what your insurance covers when leasing with us, advice can be found on our website or give us a call today.
How to Pay a Speeding Fine?
Depending on where you live in the UK, there is a different site to pay your speeding fine.
Residents in England and Wales can pay their speeding fines here. Those residents in Scotland can pay their fines here, and those in Northern Ireland can pay their speeding fines here.
What Happens If I Get a Speeding Ticket on my Lease Car or Vehicle?
If you have chosen to lease your car from Car Leasing, or any other leasing companies your terms and conditions will state that you are not their vehicle owner. Therefore, if you have been caught by a speed camera in your leased vehicle, the ticket will be issued directly to the owner, which in most cases is the finance provider.
In this case, your finance provider will either pay the ticket and add it to your next monthly payment or issue the ticket to you to pay on a sperate basis.
It is important to note that if you do get a speeding ticket on a leased vehicle, the finance provider may add on an additional cost to the fine to cover admission fees.