UK speeding fines explained

If you’ve received a speeding ticket, you might be facing a fine, penalty points on your licence and, in some cases, even a driving ban. The police may offer you a course as an alternative to a fine or points on your licence this is known as the The National Speed Awareness course (NSAC). We know that it can be a stressful experience, which is why it’s important to understand how the process works and what your options are.

Our friendly experts have put together a clear, easy-to -understand guide to make sure you know exactly what to expect and how to navigate the situation.

How do speeding fines works in the UK?

If you’re caught speeding, whether by a speed camera or the police, you will be sent a Section 172 notice and a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP). If you ignore these notices, you may have to go to court.

The section 172 notice is a letter from the police which contains details of the offence, asks you to let the police know who was driving the vehicle at the time of the offence. This is to be returned within 28 days. Once you’ve returned it, you’ll either receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or a letter asking you to attend court.

How long do speeding fines take to come through?

A speeding fine or NIP typically arrives within 14 days. However, it could take a bit longer if the vehicle you were driving isn’t registered to your home address.

The fine or NIP will always be sent to the address of the registered keeper of the vehicle. So, if you’re driving a hire vehicle or company car, you may experience a delay beyond the 14-day timeframe.

It’s also important to make sure your details are up to date with the DVLA. If you’ve recently moved and haven’t updated your V5C logbook, the NIP could be sent to your old address, which might cause a delay in receiving it.

How much is a speeding fine?

In the UK, the minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 points on your licence. Unless you are offered to attend a speed awareness course. In some cases, you may need to go to court, If found guilty fines can be calculated as a percentage of your weekly income after tax and National Insurance deductions. The exact cost of your speeding fine depends on the level of your offence.

Band A: Minor speeding

• If you’ve been caught speeding slightly over the limit, you’ll likely receive a warning or a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). This comes with a fine of 25-75% of your weekly income and 3 penalty points on your licence.
• In some cases, you might be offered a speed awareness course instead of points and a fine.

Band B: Serious speeding

• If you’re caught exceeding the speed limit by a significant amount, you could face a fine of 75-125% of your weekly income, with either 3 or 6 penalty points on your licence.
• Depending on the circumstances, you may also have to attend court, especially if the offence occurred in a built-up area or near a school.

Band C: Excessive speeding

• If you’ve been caught driving well above the speed limit, you could face a fine of 125-175% of your weekly income, along with 6 penalty points or even a driving ban.
• In the most severe cases, it may result in a dangerous driving charge and the possibility of imprisonment.

In general, you can expect a minimum penalty of a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your licence. However, for more serious offences, the penalty can rise to as much as £2,500 and disqualification from driving, and even imprisonment.

How to pay a fine for speeding

• In England and Wales, you can pay your speeding fine online through the UK Governments Penalty Notice Portal.
• In Scotland, there are four ways to pay: online, by phone, at court or by post.
• In Northern Ireland, you’ll need to contact the Laganside courts Complex directly.

If you choose to plead guilty, the minimum penalty is £100, along with 3 penalty points on your driving licence. Unlike some parking fines, there’s no early payment discount for speeding fines.

You’ll typically have 28 days to pay. If the fine isn’t paid with that time, the case may be referred to court, which could lead to further penalties.

Similarly, if you decide to plead not guilty, the case will go to court. Bear in mind, you could face a larger fine and additional penalty points if found guilty.

Can speeding fines be paid in instalments?

No, in the first instance, you can’t pay a speeding fine in instalments. You must pay the full amount within 28 days. If for any reason you can’t make the payment within this time, the matter will go to court.

At that point, the court will set a date for payment or may arrange a monthly payment plan. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this might result in additional costs, so it’s better to pay within the initial 28 days if you can.

How to appeal a speeding fine

Yes, speeding fines can impact your insurance premium. when you get a speeding ticket, insurance providers may view it as a sign of increased risk, which could lead to higher premiums. this is because insurers base their pricing on claims statistics, and past motoring offences can be seen as a potential indicator of future claims.

The exact amount your premium increases by will depend on the severity of the offence. It’s also worth bearing in mind that each insurer has its own way of calculating costs.