between £80 and £120Different police forces use different organisations to provide the speed awareness course, and each charge a different amount, though they typically cost between £80 and £120.
two and a half hoursA virtual speed awareness course session is usually two and a half hours long with a 10-minute break in-between. You'll be sent instructions on how to join using a secure link and attend the online sessions. In case you're unable to attend the course, you can usually reschedule your booking.
about four hoursWhat happens on a speed awareness course? The course is designed to encourage you to drive responsibly within safe speed limits. It usually lasts for about four hours. This may sound a bit dull, but in fact the majority of people who take the course praise the experience and say they've learnt something new.
A speed awareness course does not contain any tests, so technically you cannot fail a course. However, the workshop leaders will expect you to engage and to take part in discussions. After the course, they'll call the police to let them know that you've fulfilled your commitment.
You don't legally have to tell your insurance provider that you've been on a speed awareness course, unless they specifically ask you. You won't be asked when starting a quote with us, as it's not classed as a driving conviction.
However, bearing all that in mind, research suggests three points could raise a driver's car insurance premium by an average of 5%, while six penalty points could push the cost of insurance up by an average of 25%.
Immediately or at renewal: Most insurers only ask you to declare any points received while you've been covered by them at renewal time, but some state in their terms that you must tell them as soon as you receive the conviction, so do check.
Can You Do a Speed Awareness Course Online? Currently, all speed awareness courses are offered online. These sessions are only 2 1/2 hours long, with a 10-minute break. For an online speed awareness course, you need a fully charged laptop, phone or tablet with a webcam/camera and access to fast internet.
How long is a National Speed awareness course? A speed awareness course lasts four to five hours. Fortunately, there are sessions available both during the week and on the weekend, plus in the evenings, so you won’t necessarily have to take time off work to attend.
The minimum fine is £100, but the maximum is £1,000 – or £2,500 on motorways.
Depending on your income, it’s possible that the fixed-penalty fine may seem a better option as the minimum amount is only marginally more than the cost of the course and does not require you to take five hours for the session.
Written by Kara Gammell, Finance Writer. Edited by Samantha Downes, Content Writer, 6 May 2021. Motorists caught speeding can avoid a fine and points on their licence by attending a National Speed Awareness course. We explain how the driving awareness course works and how much it costs.
The increase in your car insurance costs soon add up over time , particularly if you reoffend. Alternatively, if you accept a place on a speed awareness course, your licence will remain point-free and the impact on your motor cover should be less.
So, if you have been caught speeding and have been offered the chance to take a speed awareness course here’s what you need to know.
If you’ve already been on a speed awareness course in the last three years, you won’t be able to do it again and you’ll likely be slapped with at least three points and a fine.
If you’ve been caught speeding, you may be invited to attend a speed awareness course. Here’s what you can expect. Speed awareness courses - sometimes referred to as driver awareness courses – are for motorists who’ve been caught speeding and want to avoid points on their licence and a fine.
Some insurance companies may raise your premium as a result, but not all of them do. If you find that the cost of your car insurance has gone up after declaring that you’ve been on a speed awareness course, it might be a good time to shop around for a better deal.
Speed awareness courses are an alternative to a accepting speeding ticket. But what are they all about? If you’re caught speeding in the UK there are usually two possible penalties: the first is the dreaded speeding ticket, this entails a hefty fine and points on your license.
This is usually offered to first-time offenders and those who have only strayed ever so slightly over the limit. Speed awareness courses aren’t exactly popular with a lot of drivers, with many considering them to be just another tax in disguise or simply a waste of time.
You're not allowed to have anyone else in the same room as you while taking the course, and nor are you not permitted to take pictures or record the material. Any interference could result in your online speed awareness course ending without a chance of rescheduling.
There is evidence that insurance companies have hiked premiums for drivers who have accepted offers to attend speed awareness courses but, of course, the same happens for drivers who have points on their licences too. You must inform your insurance company if you attend a course – but only if you are asked.
A speed awareness course will prevent points being added to your licence, but only minor lapses will be considered .
Out of the 1.4 million drivers sent on training courses in 2017, more than 1 million were for speeding offences, followed by around 100,000 drivers taking the ‘What’s Driving Us’ course, which covers a wide range of offences, such as drivers using a mobile phone at the wheel.
So, unless the insurer asks directly about a speed awareness course, then it does not need to be disclosed.
Taking a speed awareness course is not a conviction and should not be treated as such by insurance companies. Data from the courses is not shared with insurance companies. It’s unlikely that you would need to inform your insurance company about a course taken during the lifetime of your current policy.
Now, this is a very good question if you're not familiar with this course. Basically, it's a course that motorists can take if they have been caught speeding and want to avoid any points on their license and a fine.
Just because you've been caught speeding, doesn't mean that you'll get off with not getting any points and that you can just take the speed awareness course as a lesser penalty. Sadly, it doesn't work like that.
Cost is everything! Whether you'd prefer to do the course or if you have to pay the fine, speeding is going to cost you. These courses aren't much cheaper than your average speeding fine, so you'd be looking at around £85.
It all comes back down to money. Depending on your income, a fixed penalty fine might seem like the better option for you if you don't have the time to be spending around half a day doing the course.
On the big day of your speed awareness course, you should probably free up around 4-5 hours for it. Your course will be shared with around 25 other people, so you don't need to worry about all eyes being focused on you. Think of the course as a workshop. It's very much like a classroom, so expect to take part in some lively discussions.
The Honda Civic through the ages Can we use the excuse that there aren't enough car chargers any more?
It encourages speeders to look at why they were driving too fast and gives tips on how to reduce the likelihood of speeding in the future. There can be up to 24 people on each course, lead by two course trainers.
It means you don't have to take the penalty points on your licence. Every time you're caught speeding, three points can be added. If you get 12 or more within three years, you could be disqualified from driving.
It will also touch on the possible consequences of speeding. If you're offered a speed awareness test, it's a good idea to take it. It means you don't have to take the penalty points on your licence.
You will be able to enrol on a speed awareness course if it is your first speeding offence or if you haven’t been caught in the past three years. You’re only eligible for a speed awareness course if the police offer it to you as a choice.