Speed awareness course
Key takeaways
• You might be offered a speed awareness course instead of a £100 fine and penalty points
• You’re usually eligible if you were only slightly over the limit (up to 10% plus 9mph) and haven’t done a course in three years
• It’s not a driving conviction, but if your insurer asks about it, you must tell them
What is a speed awareness course?
You can be caught speeding by a roadside camera or the police. If you are, you can be hit with a fine and penalty points on your driving licence. A speed awareness course - or to give it its actual name, the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) - is sometimes offered as an alternative to some drivers.
It's essentially a theory-based lesson, with the course tending to last around four hours. During the lesson, you're re-educated on the dangers of speeding and dangerous driving, attempting to mitigate the risk of future offences.
Not all offenders are offered the course; it largely depends on the offence itself and the discretion of the police force. It's not a compulsory option - you can simply accept a fine and penalty points instead.
How much is a speed awareness course?
A speed awareness course costs in the region of £80 to £100. The cost can vary depending on your location and whether you decide to take an in-person session or an online course.
The cost of taking the course replaces the fine you're issued by a Fixed-Penalty Notice (FPN). The minimum cost of a speeding notice is £100, but taking a speed awareness course can also help you avoid penalty points on your licence.
Am I eligible for a speed awareness course?
Not everyone is eligible for a speed awareness course or offered the opportunity to undertake it. Typically, you're only eligible for the course if:
- You haven't completed or booked a speed awareness course in the past three years
- Your speeding offence is considered minor, having only narrowly exceeded the speed limit. This is generally categorised as speeding up to 10% plus 9mph of the limit
For reference, your eligibility rests on how much you exceeded the speed limit by. The guidelines are set out by the National Police Chief Council (NPCC) and state:
| Speed Limit | Eligibility maximum speed |
|---|---|
| 20 mph | 31 |
| 30 mph | 42 |
| 40 mph | 53 |
| 50 mph | 64 |
| 60 mph | 75 |
| 70 mph | 86 |
Despite the designated maximum speeds, the decision to offer a speed awareness course is at the discretion of the police force. A stricter stance can be taken, especially if you're caught speeding in areas with lower speed limits.
What happens on a speed awareness course?
The purpose of a speed awareness course is to highlight the risks of offending and change your attitude towards speeding. It is an interactive, non-judgmental session focusing on consequences, stopping distances, and hazard awareness.
It promotes safer driving and includes various elements such as video presentations and workshop-style discussions. You'll be required to participate during the course, showing you've listened to the content of the session provided by the tutor(s).
The course does not require you to drive or complete a test; you'll pass if you've participated in the workshop to the satisfaction of the tutor(s).
Can you fail a speed awareness course?
Yes. Reasons why you may not pass include:
- If you arrive late or leave early
- If you're disruptive and don't pay attention
- If you fail to engage and participate in elements of the workshop
You should also bring your driving licence with you, regardless of whether you're attending the course in person or virtually. If you don't have your driving licence, you must provide two forms of ID, such as a passport or birth certificate. If you don't have either, you may not be able to participate.
A course typically lasts around three hours, including registration and break time. Once the course has finished, a tutor will inform the police if you've passed or failed. If you fail, your opportunity to participate in a speed awareness course may be withdrawn, and the original fines and penalty points can be reinstated.
Does a speed awareness course affect my car insurance?
You're not legally obligated to tell your insurer if you've participated in a speed awareness course, unless you're asked. The police do not inform insurers of anyone who has attended a speed awareness course, so there's no certainty as to whether an insurer will ask.
However, if they do ask, you must disclose your participation. Failure to do so can invalidate your car insurance policy, and any potential claim you make can be rejected.
If you tell your insurer that you've participated in a speed awareness course, your premiums may rise as a result. This is because insurers may view your involvement in a speed awareness course as a risk in offering you car insurance.
Typically, you'll be asked about any driving convictions you’ve had in the last five years when you're applying for car insurance. But crucially, completing a speed awareness course is not a driving conviction, so you do not have to disclose it unless asked.
How often can I take a speed awareness course?
You can only take a speed awareness course once over a three-year period. If you commit another speeding offence during this period, having already completed the course, you'll have to accept an FPN and penalty points.
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