Car insurance with 3 points on licence

AndrewSmith

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

But you are not convicted if you have attended a speed awareness course, the course is an alternative to a conviction.

Sort of yes, but you have still been found guilty of the offence of speeding. There is still a 'conviction' for the offence of speeding however the resulting 'punishment' is a speed awareness course instead of a fine or points.

You still have to make your insurance company aware of it as the speed awareness course is as a result of committing a speeding offence.

Thats why most insurers now ask if you have any 'motoring offences or convictions' instead of just penalty points on your license.

rudekid48

AndrewSmith wrote: »

Sort of yes, but you have still been found guilty of the offence of speeding. There is still a 'conviction' for the offence of speeding however the resulting 'punishment' is a speed awareness course instead of a fine or points.

You still have to make your insurance company aware of it as the speed awareness course is as a result of committing a speeding offence.

Thats why most insurers now ask if you have any 'motoring offences or convictions' instead of just penalty points on your license.

Not according to the Police or the agency that runs the courses - I've been on one and it was made clear that the course attendance was not regarded as a 'guilty' plea or an offense. If you disputed a fixed penalty, went to court and were found not guilty, then you would not declare anything as your record is clean - this is the same, it is not recorded as an offense or a conviction.

AndrewSmith

But that is not what we are talking about. If you are sent on a course as an alternative to a fine or points then you must inform your insurer.

In the above example I give it is an alternative punishment not alternative to being guilty of the offence.

I agree that sometimes you are offered the course instead of the guilty verdict however you can also be offered it as a result of being found guilty but as an alternative to points and a fine. In this case then yes it will have an effect on your policy and you should inform your insurer.

rudekid48

AndrewSmith wrote: »

If you are sent on a course as an alternative to a fine or points then you must inform your insurer.

You are making a sweeping statement and you are wrong. This is not the case for all speed awareness courses. There are trials taking place in a number of counties where the courses are offered as an alternative to conviction, you are not sent on them, it is your choice. It is explained in great detail that by doing so you are not being convicted of any offence and do not need to declare the course to anyone. It is the equivalent of getting caught by the police for speeding, jumping a light or any other 'offense' and being given a ticking off and sent on your way. You still committed the 'offense' but you would not declare to any potential Insurer that you had been given a b*ll*cking by a policeman on the M6 would you? It was explained to me by the police that the course should be treated as a 'warning' as you can only use this option once in a 3 year period, if you get caught again then you are not given the choice - you will get convicted and receive points.

Milky_Mocha

Quote wrote: »

Oh, that's great news.

I wonder if you could "live with" knocking down and killing a child while you're driving and using your mobile phone?

No thread would be complete without a judgemental contributor eh? Should I offer the insurer more money? Who knows, Maybe that would bring back all children killed while the drivers were talking on a mobile phone - even though I've killed no-one. Besides I wasn't driving at the time though my engine was still running but that's a whole other thread.

AndrewSmith

rudekid48 wrote: »

You are making a sweeping statement and you are wrong. This is not the case for all speed awareness courses. There are trials taking place in a number of counties where the courses are offered as an alternative to conviction, you are not sent on them, it is your choice. It is explained in great detail that by doing so you are not being convicted of any offence and do not need to declare the course to anyone. It is the equivalent of getting caught by the police for speeding, jumping a light or any other 'offense' and being given a ticking off and sent on your way. You still committed the 'offense' but you would not declare to any potential Insurer that you had been given a b*ll*cking by a policeman on the M6 would you? It was explained to me by the police that the course should be treated as a 'warning' as you can only use this option once in a 3 year period, if you get caught again then you are not given the choice - you will get convicted and receive points.

But you do not then take into account the last point I make in the post. You are also making a sweeping statement and are just as wrong. I am not talking about every case and neither are you.

In the above example I give it is an alternative punishment not alternative to being guilty of the offence.

I agree that sometimes you are offered the course instead of the guilty verdict however you can also be offered it as a result of being found guilty but as an alternative to points and a fine. In this case then yes it will have an effect on your policy and you should inform your insurer.

As I am saying here, I agree that in some cases it is offered as an alternative to a guilty verdict, in other words there is no conviction thus nothing to report to your insurer.

What I am saying though is that there are cases where the conviction is made and a guilty verdict given, then you are offered a speed awareness course as punishment instead of points or a fine. In these cases then you must inform your insurer as they ask whether you have any convictions or penalty points. That is why the question is worded in that way as they know that not all motoring offence convictions carry points and a fine.

Quote

Milky_Mocha wrote: »

Besides I wasn't driving at the time though my engine was still running but that's a whole other thread.

I hope not.

Milky_Mocha

Quote wrote: »

I hope not.

The policewoman's witness statement also states I was stationary but was issued the ticket because my engine was running and therefore technically I was driving.

trotskiy

Could someone please clarify this - if someone attends a speed awareness course, as opposed to taking the 3 points for an SP30, does it still have to be declared to the insurance company? I thought I'd found the answer in this thread BUT on the next reply I had conflicting advice

Quentin

If you are offered a course after getting a NIP, and you accept the course, then there is no conviction to declare.