Complete Guide to Speed Awareness Courses
Summary
A speed awareness course is offered as an alternative to 3 penalty points and a £100 fine for eligible speeding offences. You can attend once every 3 years for the same offence type. The course lasts about 4 hours and is run by NDORS-approved providers. It costs £80–£100 (you pay, not the police). No points go on your licence. Insurance: you do not have to declare a speed awareness course to most insurers, but some ask — check your policy. Around 2.5 million courses were offered in 2022/23 (source: NDORS). Eligibility depends on the speed recorded and the limit — typically 10% + 2mph to 10% + 9mph.
How eligibility works
You are typically offered a course if your speed was between the threshold (usually limit + 10% + 2mph) and the upper limit (limit + 10% + 9mph). For a 30mph zone, that means 35–42mph. Above 42mph, you get a Fixed Penalty Notice or court summons. Below 35mph, you would not normally be prosecuted. The police force decides — it is discretionary, not guaranteed.
What to know before accepting
Key points:
- ✓Cost: £80–£100 (you pay)
- ✓Duration: ~4 hours (classroom or online)
- ✓Points: none — no endorsement on your licence
- ✓Once every 3 years for the same offence type
- ✓You must accept within 28 days of the offer
- ✓You cannot attend if you hold a foreign licence (varies by force)
Insurance impact
Legally, you do not get penalty points from a speed awareness course. Most insurers do not ask about courses. However, some policies include a question about 'driving offences or courses' — answer honestly. The insurance impact is typically much less than 3 points.
Scale
Approximately 2.5 million speed awareness courses were offered in 2022/23. The course is now the most common disposal for minor speeding in England and Wales. Source: NDORS (National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme) data.
Sources
- NDORS data
- Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a speed awareness course cost?
- £80–£100 depending on the provider and location. You pay the course fee; it is not funded by the police.
- Will it show on my driving licence?
- No. There are no penalty points and no endorsement. The course does not appear on your DVLA licence record.
- Can I take a course more than once?
- Yes, but not within 3 years for the same offence type. If you are caught speeding again within 3 years, you will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice instead.
Related
- pcn-served-late
- inadequate-signage-traffic
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