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Speed Awareness Course vs Penalty Points

By GetRighted Legal Research TeamLast updated July 2026

Summary

A speed awareness course (National Speed Awareness Course, NSAC) is offered at police discretion for speeds within a band above the limit — typically up to 10% + 9mph. Taking the course means no fixed penalty, no £100 fine, and no endorsement on your licence. The course costs approximately £80–£100 and takes half a day. Taking the points means a £100 fixed penalty notice, 3 points on your licence for four years, and a potential insurance premium increase. Verdict: almost always take the course if offered — insurance premium savings alone typically outweigh the course fee within one renewal cycle, and a clean licence avoids problems if you accumulate further points later.

Speed Awareness Course vs Points — What You Get

Direct comparison of both options:

Legal Framework

Fixed Penalty Notices for speeding are issued under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, s.75. Speed awareness courses are offered under the Rehabilitation of Offenders framework and are a conditional offer outside the formal FPN process — they are not a statutory disposal but a diversionary scheme operated by Chief Constables under Home Office guidance (2013 NPCC Speed Enforcement Policy Framework). Accepting a course is not a conviction, not a caution, and creates no criminal record. The endorsement from a fixed penalty (code SP30 or equivalent) is recorded on the DVLA driver record under the Road Traffic Act 1988, s.44.

Insurance: The Hidden Cost of Points

The financial argument for taking the course is strongest when insurance renewal is considered. A single SP30 endorsement typically increases annual premiums by 10–30% depending on insurer, driver age, and claims history. For a driver paying £800 per year in insurance, a 15% increase is £120 per year — more than the £100 fine in the first year alone, and the endorsement stays on your record for four years. Over four renewal cycles the total premium increase can reach £400–£600. The course fee of £80–£100 is paid once. The maths consistently favours the course.

Course Eligibility Thresholds

Most forces offer the course for speeds in the range of the limit + 10% + 2mph up to the limit + 10% + 9mph. For a 30mph zone this means 35–42mph; for a 70mph zone it means 79–86mph. Above those thresholds, a fixed penalty or court summons is the only option. Speeds detected above approximately 100mph in a 70mph zone are typically summonsed to court and are not eligible for either the course or a fixed penalty.

Three-Year Rule and Totting Up

You cannot attend a National Speed Awareness Course more than once in any three-year period. If you have attended one in the last three years, you must take the fixed penalty or contest the matter. Separately, drivers with 12 or more penalty points face a totting-up disqualification under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, s.35. Three points from a single speeding offence can push a driver over the threshold if they already have 9 points. If you are at 9 points, the course is even more valuable — it avoids the disqualification risk entirely.

Sources

  1. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, ss.35, 44, 75
  2. Road Traffic Act 1988, s.44
  3. NPCC Speed Enforcement Policy Framework 2013
  4. Home Office National Speed Awareness Course guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

Does attending a speed awareness course affect my insurance?
You must disclose the course to your insurer if asked — some insurers ask specifically about courses attended. However, a course does not create an endorsement on your DVLA record, so insurers cannot verify it through the standard DVLA check. Most insurers do not materially increase premiums for a single course attendance, compared to the 10–30% increase typical for a SP30 endorsement. Check your specific insurer's policy on disclosure before deciding.
Can I refuse the course offer and choose to take the points instead?
Yes. The course is entirely voluntary. If offered a course, you can decline and accept the fixed penalty (£100 fine and 3 points) instead. You may also choose to contest the speeding allegation in court rather than accept either option — but if you are found guilty at court, the court can impose a higher fine and more points than the fixed penalty.
What if I'm offered a course but have a company car or a hire vehicle?
The course offer is to the driver, not the vehicle. If you were driving a company car, you can still attend the course in a personal capacity. The points (if you take the FPN) go on your personal licence, not the company's. If you are the registered keeper of a hire vehicle and a Notice of Intended Prosecution is sent to the keeper, the hire company will typically pass it to the named driver — and that driver can then be offered the course.
What happens if I ignore both the course offer and the fixed penalty?
Ignoring a conditional offer of a speed awareness course is treated as rejecting it — you will be issued a fixed penalty notice. If you then ignore the FPN, the matter is referred to the magistrates' court. A court conviction for speeding carries a fine up to £1,000 (£2,500 for motorway offences), 3–6 points, and potential disqualification. Ignoring a court summons results in a conviction in your absence.

Related

  • speed-awareness-course
  • fixed-penalty-notice
  • nip-notice-of-intended-prosecution
  • speeding-ticket-nip-late
  • endorsable-offence
  • section-172-notice
  • conditional-offer
  • exceptional-hardship

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