In this article, you will learn about penalties for speeding in UK and how they can affect your driving record. You can understand main rules, penalty points, fine bands and possible driving bans.
After reading, you will clearly know what to expect when you violate speed limits plus how to stay safe & legal on the road.
Speeding Fine in UK: Speeding Fine Bands
How much are speeding fines in the UK? In England, official law divides speeding violations into three different groups based on the level of the violation. The amount of speeding you need to pay is also decided according to the band of violation.
Band C Speeding Fine
Band C is a very serious category for speeding offenses. That means, you will face the hardest penalties and higher fines. When you drive at 50 mph or more over in the speed limit zone of 30 mph, you are considered under band C group.
As a result, you need to pay around 150% (common range is 125-175%) of your weekly income. Further, you will face 6 penalty points on your license. In extreme cases, you may get a driving ban for 7 to 56 days.
Band B Speeding Fine
When you exceed the speed limit by a large margin, your speeding violation falls under band B category. For example: if police find you driving 41 to 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, you will get a band B speeding fine. This fine is mostly around £100 or 100% of your weekly income.
But another possibility is that you receive 3 or 6 penalty points on your driving licence. Not only limited to that, you can be banned from driving for at least 28 days. Also remember, you have to go to court in case you break the speeding law near school or residential area.
Band A Speeding Fine
If we talk about band A offense, it is the minor speeding violation in the United Kingdom. That’s why it has the lowest fine and penalty points than other bands. Commonly, most speeding crimes are in band A.
Let’s make it simple, if you drive a car at 31 to 40 mph in a 30-mph zone, you are now classed under band A. For this violation, you will get a fixed penalty notice (FPN) or speeding ticket. Along with this, you have to pay a £100 fixed penalty or between 25% and 75% of your weekly salary.
Fixed Penalties For Speeding in UK
You will always get fixed penalty notice for minor speeding or first time speeding offences. In most cases, you will receive this penalty ticket by post or from a traffic officer. On that paper, you will find fine amount and exact number of points added to your licence. Below are different types of fixed penalty notice.
Conditional
A conditional penalty is a type of fixed penalty where you have to accept a fine and any points on your license due to a speeding offence. For example, if the speed camera catches you when you drive over the speed limit, you will face a fine of £60.
You must pay this amount within 28 days. With your payment, you also need to send your driving licence papers to the fixed penalty office. Then, you will receive back your licence and papers after five weeks.
Endorsable
This speeding penalty basically adds points to your driving licence due to a minor speeding limit violation. When you are driving on a UK road without insurance, you will face an endorsable fixed penalty. You have to pay a fine between £60 and £200 within 21 days.
Furthermore, you must submit your full driving licence to a local police station in seven days. After that, the police will send it to the fixed penalty office. Well, you will get it back in four to six weeks.
Non Endorsable
If we talk about non endorsable fixed penalty notices, you only need to pay a fine when you receive it. That means, no penalty points will be added to your license in case of over speeding. The common example of non endorsable penalty is parking offence.
Mostly, you have to submit a £30 fine to settle the case. The time limit for fine submission is 21 days. There is no need to send your driving license to the office in this type of penalty.
Different Speeding Penalties UK
The minimum speeding penalty in England is £100 fine and 3 points on your licence. Keep in mind, if you collect 12 or more points to your license within three years, you can lose your licence and face a driving ban as well.
Caught By a Speed Camera
When a speed camera records your car in UK, you will get a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and a Section 172 notice before 14 pass. After that, you have to return the Section 172 notice and inform the police who was driving the car.
You will have a 28 days limit to complete this process. Otherwise, you have to go to court. Once you return the Section 172 notice to the police, you will either receive a court letter or Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).
Stopped By the Police
When the police stop for speeding, you may face different scenarios. For example: police officers give you a verbal warning in case the offence is minor. But, they can also issue or send you FPN.
This notice includes a fine and possible points on your licence. In more serious cases, the police can ask you to go to court. Thereafter, you will receive a letter with the details of what to do next.
Penalty For New Drivers
For new drivers in the UK, there are special rules that apply. For instance: If you are still within two years of passing your driving test or have six or more penalty points during this period, your driving licence will be revoked.
Receive FPN
When you receive a fixed penalty notice, you will have the following two options.
- Plead Guilty To Speeding Ticket: If you accept that you violate the speed limit, you will generally have to pay a £100 fine and also get 3 points on your license.
- Plead Not Guilty To Speeding Ticket: In case you plead not guilty, you will have to go to court. After that, the court will make a final decision. When you are found guilty, you need to pay a higher fine and receive more penalty points. This amount depends on the speed limit. Mostly, it is in the range of £1000 or £2500 on a highway. But there are also chances that you may be suspended from driving.
Penalty Points UK Speeding
How many penalty points for speeding in UK? The number of penalty points you will get is based on how fast you drive over the speed limit. Suppose, the speed limit is 30 mph. So, when you violate this speed rule the penalty points will be decided based on the speed you drive over 30 mph.
| Your speed | Penalty points / Driving ban | Bien |
| 31 to 40 mph | 3 points | 25% to 75% of your weekly income |
| 41 to 50 mph | 4 to 6 points or driving ban 7 to 28 days | 75% to 125% of your weekly income |
| 51 mph and over | 6 points or a driving ban for 7 to 56 days | 125% to 175% of your weekly income |
How Long Do Speeding Points Stay on Your License UK?
In the United Kingdom, penalty points stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years. This time limit depends on the offence. For example: minor offences generally stay 4 years. But serious offences which lead to death can stay 11 years from the date of conviction.
Driving Ban For Speeding UK
You can be banned from driving if you are convicted of a driving offence. You can also be disqualified from driving when you get 12 or more penalty points within three years. Based on the seriousness of the speeding offence, the court decides the driving ban time limit.
For example: a first ban can be 6 months, a second 12 months and a third 2 years. If you are banned for 56 days or more, you need to apply for a new licence or retake your driving test before you drive your car again.
Speed Awareness Course UK
For minor speeding offences, you need to complete a speed awareness course instead of points. A UK Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) is basically a 3 to 4 hour workshop for eligible drivers. You will learn identification of speed limits, risk of speeding, safe driving tips and how to avoid distraction.
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 & Speeding Penalty
If we talk about Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, it is the main law which controls speed limits and driving offences in the UK. Under its standards, it is illegal for you to drive faster than the speed limit.
According to this act, any road with street lights has a 30 mph speed limit. This speed limit is applied if you find no speed limit señales en la carretera. When you break the speed limits under this law, you may face a fixed penalty, points on your licence or a driving ban.
How Are Speeding Fines Calculated?
Below table will show you how speeding fines are calculated in England based on speeding offences.
| Límite de velocidad (mph) | Band A (Minor) | Band B (Moderate) | Band C (Serious) |
| 20 | 21 to 30 | 31 to 40 | 41 and above |
| 30 | 31 to 40 | 41-50 | 51 or over |
| 40 | 41-55 | 56 to 65 | 66+ |
| 50 | 51 to 65 | Between 66 & 75 | 76 or above |
| 60 | 61-80 | 81 to 90 | More than 91 |
| 70 | 71 to 90 | 91 to 100 | 101 and above |
| Penalty or Driving Ban | 3 points | 4 to 6 points or disqualified 7 to 28 days | 6 points or disqualified for 7-56 days |
Now, you will understand how a speeding fine is decided based on the band your offence falls into.
| Speeding Fine Band | Starting Point | Fine Range |
| Fine Band C | 150% of weekly income | 125 to 175% of weekly income |
| Fine Band B | 100% of weekly income | 125-150% of your weekly income |
| Fine Band A | 50% of weekly income | 75 to 125% of weekly income |
Driving Speed Limits in UK
In United Kingdom, speed limits are enforced to keep roads safe for drivers & pedestrians. Basically, these speed limits are based on the type of road you are driving on.
- Built up areas (with street lights) generally have a 30 mph limit.
- Single carriageways mostly have a 60 mph limit.
- Dual carriageways and motorways have a speed limit of 70 mph for cars.
How To Pay a Speeding Fine UK?
When you receive a speeding fine, you have several ways to pay it. For example: you can pay online, by your phone or by post. Moreover, the FPN you receive will explain to you exact payment methods and deadlines. You should pay a fine before the deadline to avoid extra charges or legal action.
How To Avoid Speeding Fines in UK?
- You should always follow speed limit señales de seguridad which are placed on roads.
- You must slow down your car when you notice the warning sign of a speed camera or reduce the speed limit.
- Beware of average speed cameras that are placed in roadworks and motorways.
- Plus, you can use your car’s speedometer to keep your speed within the legal limit.
- It’s important to stay focused on the road and avoid distractions when you are driving.
You can also explore this quora discussion to know how you can avoid accidental speeding and stay within the speed limits on UK roads.
Nota final
Hence, speeding fines in the UK can lead to penalty points, heavy fines, speed awareness courses and a driving ban. So when you follow speed limits, you protect your licence, your money as well as your safety.
You should always follow señales de tráfico and drive at a safe speed. If you want to stay informed, read our safe driving guide and understand more smart tips for riding on roads.
Preguntas frecuentes
How Long Does it Take To Get a Speeding Ticket?
You will receive a speeding ticket from a camera within 14 days of the offence. However, it may take a few days or up to 30 days. In most cases, it depends on your area, postal delays or processing time.
Can I Appeal a Speeding Ticket?
Yes, you can challenge a speeding ticket in UK. This action is recommended when you think a speeding ticket was issued to you by mistake. To do this, you must plead “not guilty” and then take the case to court.
Will a Speeding Fine Affect My Insurance?
Speeding fine can increase your car insurance cost because insurers find it as a higher risk. Penalty points can also affect your premium or rate for around 3 to 5 years. But, a minor offence may only cause a small increase.
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