Getting caught speeding in the UK triggers a process that confuses many drivers — particularly around how fines are calculated, what happens at different speed thresholds, and what your options are. Here’s a clear guide to how the system works in 2026.
The Fixed Penalty Notice
For most speeding offences, the starting point is a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN): a £100 fine and three penalty points on your licence. This is the minimum penalty and applies to lower-level speeding offences where the excess speed is modest relative to the limit.
You have 28 days to respond to an FPN. You can accept it (pay the fine, take the points), request a court hearing if you wish to contest it, or — if offered — accept a place on a speed awareness course instead of the points. Speed awareness courses are typically offered for first offences where the speed was within a relatively small margin over the limit. They cost around £80–£100 and don’t appear on your licence, but you can only attend one every three years.
The Banding System
For cases that go to court — either because the offence was serious enough or because you requested a hearing — fines are calculated using a banding system based on the Sentencing Council guidelines. There are three bands:
Band A covers the lower end of speeding offences. The fine is 25–75% of your weekly income, with three penalty points (or a short discretionary ban of 7–28 days as an alternative to points).
Band B applies to more significant excess speeds. The fine is 75–125% of weekly income, with four to six penalty points or a discretionary ban of 7–28 days.
Band C is for the most serious speeding offences. The fine is 125–175% of weekly income, with six penalty points or a longer discretionary ban of 7–56 days.
The weekly income figure is based on your gross income before tax, and the court can reduce it if paying the full amount would cause genuine hardship, or increase it if you appear to have hidden assets.
Maximum Fines
The maximum fine for a speeding offence on a motorway is £2,500. On all other roads, the maximum is £1,000. These maximums apply to the most serious cases — driving at extreme speeds — and are rarely imposed in practice. Most court cases result in fines considerably below the maximum.
Which Band Applies?
The Sentencing Council guidelines set out starting points for each band based on how far the recorded speed exceeds the limit. As a rough guide:
In a 30mph zone: up to around 40mph falls in Band A, 41–50mph in Band B, above 51mph in Band C. In a 70mph zone: up to around 90mph is Band A, 91–100mph is Band B, above 101mph is Band C. These are starting points rather than rigid rules, and courts adjust for aggravating factors (poor conditions, a heavy goods vehicle, driving for hire) and mitigating ones (early guilty plea, clean record, genuine emergency).
Points, Disqualification, and Totting Up
Penalty points from speeding convictions stay on your licence for four years from the date of the offence (visible for four years, then removed). If you accumulate 12 or more points within any three-year period, you face automatic disqualification under the totting-up provisions — typically six months for a first disqualification, longer for subsequent ones.
New drivers — those who have held a full licence for less than two years — face a lower threshold. Six penalty points within the first two years results in revocation of the licence and a return to learner status, requiring both theory and practical tests to be passed again.
Speed Awareness Courses
If you’re offered a National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC), it’s generally worth accepting. The course takes around four hours (usually delivered online), costs around £80–£100, and results in no points on your licence. It’s designed to be educational rather than punitive, and most participants find it straightforward.
You can only attend an NSAC once every three years. If you’ve attended one in the previous three years, the offer won’t be made again and you’ll be offered the fixed penalty instead.
Contesting a Speeding Ticket
You have the right to request a court hearing if you believe the evidence is wrong or the process was flawed. Grounds for contest might include: the speed detection device wasn’t properly calibrated, there was no adequate signage for the speed limit, or the recorded vehicle wasn’t yours.
Be realistic about the prospects. Camera evidence is generally reliable and courts are accustomed to handling speeding cases. Contesting a charge without genuine grounds risks losing the fixed penalty discount and potentially receiving a higher fine from the court. If you have a genuine case, consulting a motoring solicitor before deciding how to respond is worthwhile.
The 10% Myth
A persistent belief among UK drivers is that you won’t be prosecuted for driving up to 10% above the speed limit. This is not a legal rule — it’s a guideline used by some police forces for when to issue a warning rather than an FPN, and it’s not universally applied. Average speed cameras in particular are programmed to tight tolerances. Don’t treat any margin above the limit as a free pass.
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