Alyssa Lane
If you've been caught speeding, you might be offered the option of taking a speed awareness course as an alternative to receiving a penalty notice. These courses are designed to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding and how to manage their speed, and they can help keep insurance costs down by avoiding penalty points. However, the effect of a speed awareness course on your insurance premium is not guaranteed and depends on the insurer. While some insurers might not need to know about your course, others might ask about it during the quotation or renewal process, and failure to disclose it could invalidate your policy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost of course | £80-£100 |
| Fine for speeding | £100 |
| Penalty points for speeding | 3 points |
| Impact on insurance | No impact unless the insurer specifically asks |
| Impact on licence | No impact |
| Course content | Videos, visual aids, group discussions, and topics like speed limit recognition, time management, and dangers of speeding |
| Course provider | National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme |
| Course objective | Educate drivers about speeding to prevent reoffending |
| Course duration | Variable |
| Course eligibility | Must not have taken a course in the last 3 years, must admit to speeding, must return paperwork within 28 days, speeding incident must have happened within the last 12 weeks, speed must be within a certain range |
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What You'll Learn
Do I need to tell my insurance provider about a speed course?
If you've been caught speeding, you may be given the option to attend a speed awareness course as an alternative to receiving a penalty notice or fine. These courses are designed to educate people about the dangers of speeding and how to manage their speed better, making them safer drivers.
While taking a speed awareness course can help you avoid penalty points on your licence, which can increase your insurance costs, there is no legal requirement to tell your insurance provider that you're attending or have attended one, unless they specifically ask. This is because attending a course is not considered a conviction, and data about your attendance will not be shared with insurance companies. However, if your insurance provider does ask about the course, you must answer truthfully and disclose it, or your policy could be invalid.
It's worth noting that not everyone is eligible to take a speed awareness course. Criteria for eligibility typically include not having taken a speed awareness course in the last three years, admitting to driving the speeding vehicle, and having a speeding incident within the last 12 weeks. Additionally, your speed must have been within a particular range for you to be offered the course instead of a penalty.
While taking a speed awareness course can help keep your insurance costs down, it's not guaranteed. It's always a good idea to check with your insurance provider about their specific requirements and how the course may impact your policy.
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How does a speed course affect my insurance premium?
Completing a speed awareness course can help keep your insurance costs down by preventing penalty points from being added to your licence. However, this is not guaranteed, and some insurers may increase your premium if you declare that you have attended such a course.
Penalty points on your licence will increase your insurance costs, and speeding convictions will remain on your record for at least four years. Completing a speed awareness course can help you avoid this outcome. The course is designed to educate people who have been caught speeding and can be offered as an alternative to a penalty notice. It covers topics like how to recognise speed limits, manage your time, and understand the dangers of speeding.
In the UK, you don't have to tell your car insurance provider about attending a speed awareness course unless they specifically ask. If they do ask and you don't tell them, your policy could be invalid. However, if you don't declare it and they don't ask, it cannot be used against you in terms of your premiums. While some insurers may increase your premium if you declare a speed awareness course, others may not. It's best to check with your provider.
In the US, speeding tickets can result in a license suspension, financial penalties, and an increased car insurance premium. In Florida, for example, a speeding ticket can cause an 113% increase in GEICO's rates and an 185% increase in Travelers' rates. Completing a Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course can prevent this outcome for speeding violations of under 30 mph over the limit.
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What are the benefits of taking a speed awareness course?
The National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) is offered by the police as an alternative to a fine and/or penalty points. Fines for speeding range from £100 to £2,500 with up to six penalty points on your licence. The course is designed to educate drivers about the risks and negative consequences of speeding and how it affects safety on the roads. It also covers the following:
- How to identify speed limits
- The benefits of sticking to speed limits
- How speeding affects other road users
- Tips to avoid speeding in the future
The NSAC is a theoretical, classroom-based course that may include workshops, discussions, and interactive activities. There is no pass or fail test, but participants must arrive on time, stay for the full duration of the course, and show a positive attitude throughout. The course is not mandatory, and drivers have the option to take the fixed penalty instead.
Taking a speed awareness course can help drivers avoid penalty points on their licence and potentially prevent an increase in insurance premiums. It can also reduce the likelihood of reoffending, with studies showing that attendees are 6-23% less likely to speed again after completing the course.
In summary, the benefits of taking a speed awareness course include avoiding fines and penalty points, reducing insurance premiums, and promoting safer driving habits. The course provides valuable knowledge and tools to help drivers understand the risks of speeding and make responsible choices when behind the wheel.
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$27.53 $49.99
What happens if I don't complete the course?
If you don't complete a speed awareness course, the matter is passed back to the police, and you may receive a court summons. The police will then consider their next course of action once the enforcement period (contained in your police correspondence) has expired. If neither the fixed penalty nor the course offer has been complied with once the enforcement period has expired, the matter will be placed before the courts. The police or the courts will then contact you to explain the next steps.
If you don't complete the course within the timescales set by the police, you will have to pay the fine and may receive penalty points on your licence. Penalty points can cause your insurance premiums to go up. Speeding convictions stay on your record for at least four years, and your insurance costs could increase for up to 11 years.
If you can't attend the course, you should get in touch with the course provider as soon as possible to rebook. If you don't turn up without giving a valid excuse, you should expect to receive a court summons. If you are found guilty, you will have to pay a fine and may receive points on your licence.
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What are the alternatives to taking a speed awareness course?
If you have been caught speeding, you may be given the option to attend a speed awareness course. This is a session designed to educate people caught speeding in their vehicles. The course is offered as an alternative to receiving a penalty notice and having points added to your driving licence, both of which can increase your car insurance costs.
However, there are several alternatives to taking a speed awareness course. Firstly, you can decline to take the course and simply pay the fine and accept the penalty points. This is likely to be the only option if you have exceeded the speed limit by a large amount or have committed a speeding offence in Scotland.
Another alternative is to take a different type of re-education course, such as a red light course or a course about the effects of alcohol consumption. These courses are also offered to drivers who have committed other road traffic offences, such as jumping red lights or drink-driving. Like speed awareness courses, these courses are offered at the discretion of the relevant Chief Constable and may not be available in all areas.
If you are unable to attend a speed awareness course or prefer not to, you could also consider taking private lessons. This type of cover will be needed for your theory, hazard perception, and practical driving tests. However, it is important to note that private lessons may not have the same impact on your insurance premium as a speed awareness course.
Finally, if you are caught speeding and do not wish to take a course or pay a fine, you may be able to argue that you were not exceeding the speed limit by a significant amount. Each individual police force decides its own margins for when a speed awareness course should be offered, so you may be able to avoid any penalties if your speeding was minor.
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Frequently asked questions
You don't need to tell your insurance provider about a speed awareness course unless they specifically ask. If they do ask and you don't tell them, your policy could be invalid.
Completing a speed awareness course won't add points to your driving licence, so it shouldn't increase your premium. However, some insurance companies ask about speed awareness courses during the quotation process, and failing to disclose this information may affect your premium.
Speed awareness courses typically cost between £80 and £100.
