You Decide, Points or Course.

paddedjohn

I got caught speeding last month and have just been offered the option of attending a speed awareness course for £80 or accepting a fixed penalty of 3 points and a £60 fine. I have a clean licence and am in 2 minds what to choose, pay £80 and lose 4hrs of my life or save £20 but have 3 points put on my otherwise clean licence. What would you do?

forgotmyname

Previously the course would have won hands down. BUT some insurers are now asking if you have done a speeding course and want it declared just the same.

scotsbob

Your age and how long you have held the licence for will have some bearing on that equation. I got 3 points, about 10 years ago, now and it didn't affect my insurance.

Personally I would take the fine and the points. Paying £80 to sit through a 4 hour lecture plus travelling doesn't appeal to me.

paddedjohn

forgotmyname wrote: »

Previously the course would have won hands down. BUT some insurers are now asking if you have done a speeding course and want it declared just the same.

Ive read that but the form says and I quote,

"Your details will not be released to any other parties except a Police Force if they are considering making an offer of a course in the future. Your personal detail will at no time be made available to the public."

OddballJamie

Surely the course is the better option, so it's £20 more but it might teach you to be a better driver. Alternatively you take 3 points now but what happens when you next slip up, you've got 6 points and your insurance starts to take notice and bump up the premium.

Bit of a no brainer tbh.

jacko74

So is there anyway for an insurance company to find out if you have been on a course or are they just bluffing?

rs65

forgotmyname wrote: »

Previously the course would have won hands down. BUT some insurers are now asking if you have done a speeding course and want it declared just the same.

It seems to be just the Admiral group that ask at the moment.

I would take the course without doubt. Those three points could be critical to you at a later date.

Hintza

jacko74 wrote: »

So is there anyway for an insurance company to find out if you have been on a course or are they just bluffing?

I reckon they are just bluffing, and if they later claim you were on a course the question would then be how did they come by that information, which should not be revealed so if they have the information they will have got it via illegal means. That then opens a bigger can of worms for the insurer.

Ultrasonic

Even if insurance companies are asking about these courses, wouldn't they look more favourably on someone possibly improving their driving rather than just accepting points?

Weird_Nev

Course course course.

What if the worse happens? A year down the line you could be looking at the loss of your licence Vs having your very last chance. It's your one free shot at avoiding points.

I've heard mixed reports of the courses themselves, but there's a chance you may get a good one. If you go into it with an open mind you may actually learn something.

motorguy

Points on your licence that you must tell insurance companies about for 5 years to say £20?

No brainer for me - take the course.