You Decide, Points or Course.

Quentin

Do dummy quotes online to see whzt difference (if any) having 3 points does to the premium.

That should help answer the cost issue.

The variable is are you sure this won't happen again?

Put 6 points down on your dummy quotes and see what difference that makes to answer that one.

neilmcl

Ultrasonic wrote: »

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?

Don't be naive. It'll be any any excuse to increase your risk and up your premiums.

ACG

I know a few people who have been on the course. Some say its just a waste of time, others (who you wouldnt expect) say they did actually take something away from it.

The fact that there are no points on your license and you may learn something from it, i would be inclined to go on the course.

Forgot to say... I get the impression it isnt just some bloke being condescending saying you shouldnt speed for 4 hours - although that may just come down to the individual doing the course.

Rain_Shadow

I did a course in Wiltshire about five years ago. A very interesting and informative morning. It was the same cost as the fine at the time. But even for £20 more it has to be the way to go.

TadleyBaggie

Fines have recently been increased to £100, so a course at £80 is a reasonable deal.

JimmyTheWig

It depends how important that 4 hours in your life is to you.

You could have a dying relative and those 4 hours could be your last chance to see them. In which case I'd say take the points.
Or you could be between jobs with few commitments and little to do with your time, in which case I'd say take the course.

There is no doubt that the points will cost you more than £20 over the next few years on your insurance. Dummy quotes, as has been suggested, will tell you how much more. Don't forget to factor in future years quotes rather than just the next one.
So see how much money the points will cost you, then decide whether that 4 hours of your life is worth that amount of money.

neilmcl

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

Fines have recently been increased to £100, so a course at £80 is a reasonable deal.

Depends on when the offence took place. He could still be facing a £60 fine.

MEM62

One of the conditions of doing the course is that you have to 'actively' participate and be receptive to it - just being there is not sufficient. If you turn up with the attitude that its just wasting four hours of your life then you will be deemed to have failed the course and will get the penalty points anyway.

DigForVictory

I've done the course. (um, twice) Each time, I learned new things from it & had a brillaint (if expensive) driving lesson.
The course, every time!

Joe_Horner

MEM62 wrote: »

One of the conditions of doing the course is that you have to 'actively' participate and be receptive to it - just being there is not sufficient. If you turn up with the attitude that its just wasting four hours of your life then you will be deemed to have failed the course and will get the penalty points anyway.

Not quite. Theres no "fail" as long as you take an active part. If you want to, that can be spending the whole time arguing that speeding doesn't matter and you'll keep doing it cos you can.

In fact, on the course I did a few years back there was a guy who basically did that. Not a youngster as you might expect, but a respectable looking business type whose company had told him he'd do the course if he wanted to keep working for them (they had a clean licence policy). At the end, the presenter thanked him for being such a valuable example for the rest of us - we'd all concluded he was a complete !!!!!! btw

The only problem comes if you turn up then sit there completely unresponsive or sit playing on your phone / reading the paper etc.