SP30 Speeding Fine – Everything You Need to Know

Are you feeling worried because you’ve been given an SP30 speeding fine? You’ve come to the right place. Each month, over 130,000 people visit our website for help with fines and parking tickets. 

In this easy-to-read guide, we will explain:

• What an SP30 speeding fine is.
• If you must pay it straight away.
• How you can challenge the fine.
• When you might not have to pay the fine.
• What could happen if you choose not to pay.

It’s common to feel confused about Fixed Penalty Notices. In fact, a group of MPs and Peers say FPNs, which can cost up to £10,000, are hard to understand and might be unfair.¹

Don’t worry; we’re here to help you understand what your fine means and what steps you can take next.

What is the Band System for speeding fines?

The UK penalty points system comes in bands A, B, and C. For Band A offences, the recorded speed will look like this: 

• Speed limit 30, Band A recorded speed 31-40
• Speed limit 60, Band A recorded speed 61-80

Penalty points for Band A offence are three, and the fine is 25-75% of weekly income. 

Band B offences come with a higher penalty. Here are some examples of what Band B recorded speed might look like: 

• Speed limit 50, Band B recorded speed 66-75
• Speed limit 70, Band B recorded speed 91-100

Penalty points for Band B offences are between 4 and 6, and the potential to be disqualified from driving for 7 and 28 days. The fine for Band B offences is between 75-125% of weekly income. 

• Band A is for drivers between 1 and 9mph over the legal speed limit.
• Band B is for drivers who are between 11 and 20 mph
• Band C is for drivers who were going 20mph over the speed limit

Band C fines are the highest bracket and come with the harshest punishment, with between 7 and 56 days of disqualification or 6 points, and 150% of weekly income as a starting point but a range of 125%-175% of weekly income. 

Or you can use my free speeding fine calculator to get an estimate of your fine.

Speeding Fine Calculator

Salary (annual)

£

Speed Limit

20 30 40 50 60 70

Alleged Speed

This is a guidance tool only and not an assessment. For accurate speeding fine figures, contact the issuing authority credit. Do not rely solely on this calculator’s results.

What is an SP30 Speeding Fine?

Most people think that an SP30 fine means that the speeding law was broken on a road where the speed was 30mph.

However, SP30 is just the code used for the offence committed. It applies to any speeding violation on a speed-limited public road that is not a motorway. 

In basic terms, speeding on any 10mph and 60-mph road can get you an SP30 fine. 

An SP30 speeding fine is the most common offence code, accounting for about 80% of all penalties. 

How can I get out of paying the fine?

To contest your SP30, here is what you’ll need to do: 

• Plead not guilty
• Await the hearing date
• Arrive at the hearing and present your case; provide reason and evidence supporting your claim that the SP30 should be declared invalid.

You can represent yourself at the hearing, but seeking legal advice and representation is better.

To help with your speeding fine legal defence, I have a sample letter: Speeding Fine Appeal Letter Sample UK – Complete Overview 2022. 

Fixed Penalty Notice Appeal Reasons

If you believe the fine was unfairly issued, you have the option to appeal. Here are some valid appeal reasons that can help you increase your chances of success.

If you want to learn more about the appeal process, don’t forget to read our detailed guide.

Violation Category	Specific Offense	Common Appeal Reason
Traffic Signal	Running a Red Light	Traffic light was malfunctioning/out
Insurance	Driving without Insurance	Proof of valid insurance at the time
Speed Limit	Exceeding Speed Limit	Incorrect speed limit signage/malfunctioning speedometer
Seat Belt	Not Wearing a Seat Belt	Belt was worn but not visible or medical exemption
Mobile Phone Use	Using a Mobile Phone while Driving	Emergency situation or not in use
Vehicle Condition	Driving a Vehicle in Poor Condition	Recent vehicle maintenance or misjudgment of condition
Parking	Illegal Parking	Unclear, obscured, or misleading parking signs
Documentation	Failure to Display Tax Disc	Disc was displayed but not visible
Driving License	Driving without a Valid License	License was valid but not present
Vehicle Registration	Driving Unregistered Vehicle	Registration was in process/delayed

I have a speeding fine, and I want to fight it. What should I do?

You can find out how to pay or appeal your speeding fines here: Motorway Speeding Fine – Do I Pay or Appeal? 2022 Laws, Can You Go To Court For A Speeding Ticket? 2022 Guide.

You might be very interested to read that there are some loopholes in speeding tickets, too: Speeding Ticket Loopholes – Everything You Need To Know 2022.

What factors can reduce the severity of an SP30?

Sometimes, you might have some factors that can reduce the fine amount or make it invalid. Here are some of the mitigating circumstances for speeding:

• Absence of previous convictions (recent or related)
• An emergency was happening (you’ll need to prove it)
• Exemplary conduct and good character

What is the punishment for SP30?

If you have activated a speed camera, have been pulled over by the police or have been caught on a police van camera speeding, you will receive an SP30 in the post (or an SP50 if your offence was on a motorway) as part of the UK traffic law.

Within 14 days of the offence, you will receive a letter that outlines some of the following things: 

• You may have a conditional offer to pay a Fixed Penalty. 
• You may receive a driving ban if the points added to your licence for this offence take you to 12 or more points (within three years)
• You may be offered the chance to take a speed awareness course.
• Penalty points will be added to your licence, and you will receive a financial penalty laid out by a Magistrate.

If you can take a speed awareness course, you will not receive points on your licence, you are, however, liable for the cost of the course, and you need to pass the examination too. 

How much will it cost me?

The minimum fine for an SP30 is set at £100 and three points on your licence.

However, the penalty cost has increased in line with the average salary. Here is what that could look like: 

If you earn £27,600 a year and get a Band A fine set at 75% of your weekly earnings, along with your three points, you will need to pay £398.08. 

The same earnings of £27,600 except a Band B fine set at 100% would cost £530.77. 

And for those on the same salary but who get a Band C fine, the maximum of 175% of weekly earnings would mean a fine of £928.85. 

You might be lucky enough to be offered a speed awareness course depending on your driving history and the speed at which you were caught. While you still have to pay around £80-£100 for the course, it prevents you from being given penalty points and a fine and potentially avoids an insurance premium increase.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

Can the speeding fine affect my car insurance?

When you have an SP30 conviction, you must declare this to your car insurance provider for the next five years. The number of points on your licence will dictate how much this impacts your insurance. 

It is also important to remember that your employment could be at risk if you have a job requiring you to drive for a living, such as a delivery, courier, or taxi driver.

How long does an endorsement stay on your driving record?

An endorsement is the penalty points you have received as a driver for driving offences. 

You can continue to drive when you have endorsements on your licence. According to the UK government, endorsements stay on your DVLA driving record for 4 or 11 years based on the severity of the offence.

You can find out how many points you have and when they will be removed here: View or share your driving licence information – GOV.UK. 

References

1. UK Parliament — FPN