How To Contest A Speeding Ticket

Have you just got a speeding ticket? You may be feeling a bit cross. Don’t worry you’re not alone. Every month over 130,000 people come to our website for advice on things like this.

In this article, we’ll explain:

• The reasons you might get a speeding fine.
• How much a speeding fine might be in the UK.
• How to work out if you need to pay the fine or not.
• Steps to take if you want to challenge the fine.
• How a fine might change your car insurance costs.

Our team knows a lot about fines because some of us have had them too. We know how you might be feeling, and we want to help you understand what to do next.

We’ll also talk about other types of fines, like parking fines, and how to deal with them. So, if you’re ready to find out more about how to handle a speeding fine, let’s get started.

Can I contest a speeding fine UK?

You have the right to challenge a speeding fine in the UK. One common reason is that you weren’t driving when the fixed penalty notice was issued.

Other common reasons used to challenge a speeding fine include:

• The Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) you got was wrong and had incorrect information in it
• Road signs showing a speed limit were missing or incorrect 
• The equipment used to measure my speed was not used correctly, or it wasn’t calibrated correctly

These are just a few examples of valid reasons for an appeal. If you’re interested in a few more, here’s a table I recommend you check out.

Note: You’ll need to provide an excellent excuse to have your speeding fine overturned. Plus, you are at risk of paying more!

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Should I appeal a speeding ticket?

You have the right to appeal a speeding ticket. But whether it’s worth it or not is another matter. A court may decide the police have enough evidence against you. The result? A relatively small speeding fine could be a lot more expensive.

Successful appeals against speeding fines tend to be based on ‘technicalities’. For instance:

• How was the speeding ticket issued?
• Where was the fine issued?

You must tell the authorities who was driving when the fine was issued if it was not you (the registered keeper). Just saying you can’t remember could result in a fine of up to £2,500, and you could get banned from driving.

In short, challenging a speeding fine could be a gamble which is why many experts estimate that only a tiny percentage (1%) of speeding fines are challenged. Plus, only about half of the appeals succeed! It is also important to remember that there is likely to be a stack of photographic speeding camera evidence against you.

Can I represent myself for a speeding fine?

You could represent yourself if you decide to challenge the speeding ticket. It’s certainly cheaper to do so. But understanding the law and having enough evidence to support your case is essential.

My advice? If you are convinced you’ll beat a speeding fine, seek legal representation and advice.

What steps do I take to contest a speeding ticket?

First, reply to the speeding ticket and fill in the ‘not guilty plea’. Next, you’ll get a court summons. Then either contact a driving offence lawyer or do lots of legal research to represent yourself. It’s risky but less expensive!

How long will it take to get a speeding fine?

You’d get a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) through the post if you were caught speeding by a camera. That said, the NIP could be verbal if you were caught by a police officer using a radar gun.

Note: A NIP sent through the post must get to the registered keeper within 14 days of the speeding offence.

How long do I have to respond to a NIP?

You must reply within 28 days of receiving the NIP. Plus, you must provide all relevant information, whether you want to pay or appeal the speeding fine.

What common defences could I use against a UK speeding fine?

There are some common defences you could use to challenge a speeding ticket. This includes:

The Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) contains incorrect details. This could be the time of the speeding offence and the location.

• You weren’t the driver when the speeding ticket was issued. However, you must provide information on who was driving, giving their names and addresses, or you could face a hefty fine.
• Speed limit signs were incorrect or missing altogether
• Measuring equipment to measure the speed you were doing was not calibrated or used incorrectly

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How much is a speeding fine UK 2021?

When you are just over the speed limit, the lowest penalty you may pay is £100, with three penalty points. However, you may be banned from driving if you get 12 points or more under the Penalty points system UK.

The highest speeding penalty is £1,000, but on a motorway, it could be as much as £2,500 (maximum).

Note: Law enforcement was encouraged to hand out higher speeding fines in 2021 to reduce excessive speeding in the UK.

Below, I share a table showing the speeding categories and the penalty range.

What is classed as a minor speeding offence?

Low-level speeding is classed as a ‘minor offence’. However, you still have to declare it to your insurance provider.

Note: The penalties for minor speeding offences are typically issued automatically. Plus, you may be offered the chance to attend a speed awareness course. But the fine will remain in place although you won’t get points on your driving licence!

A speed awareness course is designed to reduce the likelihood of speeding in the future and includes information about the dangers you and others face if you speed.

A course will show you the consequences of driving too fast and then educate you on stopping distances, determining speed limits on varying types of roads, and improving your awareness of your surroundings and UK road safety when you’re behind the wheel.

A speed awareness course isn’t much cheaper than a speeding fine, with the typical cost being about £85 – £100 But opting to take the course over receiving penalty points could save you money in the long run, as car insurance premiums can jump significantly if you’re given points on your driving record.

To be offered the option of going on a speed awareness course rather than paying a fine and getting points on your licence, you must fit the following criteria:

• It must be your first offence in the last three years
• You’ve been caught driving over 10% plus 2mph of the limit but below 10% plus 9mph. In other words, if you were in a 30mph zone, this means anything between 35mph and 42mph, while for those driving in a 70mph zone, it means anything between 79mph and 86mph.

Otherwise, you’ll have no choice but to receive a fixed penalty notice and a minimum of three points on your licence. Unlock says a Fixed Penalty Notice is not a conviction. It won’t affect your banking or housing, but the police will record it.¹

To make things a bit easier, I have created a free speeding fine calculator so that you can get a quick estimate of how much your speeding fine will be.

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.

Impact on Car Insurance Premiums

You can expect your car insurance premiums to increase if convicted of speeding. A study by Saga found that receiving three penalty points could raise your car insurance premium by an average of 5%, while six penalty points could push the cost of your insurance up by an average of 25%.

Lastly, knowing how to contest a speeding ticket is essential

I strongly recommend you pay the fine if you don’t know the law and think you may lose a case in court. Very few speeding fine challenges are successful, so it’s a risk you may want to think about.

An initial speeding fine could be a lot more expensive if you lose. Plus, you’ll have to pay court costs.

My advice? Only challenge the speeding fine if you’re sure you’ll win because you have lots of evidence to support your case.

References

1. Unlock-Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) / Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND)