Pay more & no penalty points on my licence?

BlondeHeadOn

I was caught recently driving at 36 mph in a 30 mph zone - my fault I know, so I filled in the letter the constabulary sent me to admit that yes it was me, very sorry, and expecting to have to pay the fine and receive 3 points on my otherwise clean licence.

However I've just been sent a letter saying that I can choose instead to go on a 'Driver Awareness Course' instead, at a cost of £74 and no points on my licence. The fine would be £60 (and the points).

My first DFW thought was that I don't want to pay an extra £14.00 plus the travel expense to wherever the course is held , but then I thought am I being daft here and should I pay the extra and keep a clean licence?

I don't know the implications of having 3 points on my licence - does it make my insurance costs in the future higher?

What would other people do?

sweetiesarahjaneuk

Hiya,

If it were me I'd pay the extra £14 and miss out on the points - I think it does have some bearing on your car insurance price anyway so you could be saving the extra come renewal time!! I could be wrong though please correct me if I am!!

Also I just wouldn't want the points!!

Sarah x

Fortheloveofmoney

Take the course. The points stay on your licence for either 3 or 5 years (i can't remember which) and you still have to declare them to insurance companies for 5 years so you will pay more than £14 in increased insurance premiums during that time.

BlondeHeadOn

I hadn't realised how much DFW has crept into my being - usually I would just have chosen the course whatever! Now I am dithering over an extra £14.00 + travel costs - what has this forum done to me..................?........?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

All good though, I think it must be progress that I am actually considering the cost of alternatives - first time ever!!!

Toto

I had 3 points and I paid nealy 100 a year extra on my insurance. I think it's a super idea to offer the course, hopefully it will make the roads safer. Def go on the course, I would in a heartbeat.

milkydrink

I can't believe you're even asking is it worth doing the couse???????!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmmmmmm £14 or 3 points................

[Deleted User]

Hello

In terms of future insurance a single speeding cconviction probalby won't affect your insurance premium *that* much, but I think there is the chance depending on other factors too, however if you start racking them up it obviously changes.

I guess it comes down to what you think is best for you.

Hope this Helps
Becca

rog2

For me the choice is obvious, bho.

Take the 'Driver awareness Course'. Everybody gets 'complacent' the more they drive, and we tend to think that the 'set' limits are 'minimum' driving speeds.
After 30 years of 'points-free' driving, I was 'clocked' in Northern Ireland for doing 76 mph on what I thought was a dual carriageway. I phoned the police and they informed me that it was not dual carriageway - the additional lane (both sides of the central reservation) was due to the inclusion of a 'crawler' lane, therefore the limit remained at 60 mph. And, anyway, he went on to point out that, even if it were a dual carriageway I had been clocked at 76 mph, whereas the 'legal' limit would have been 70 mph. He aslo told me that, if I had been doing 75 mph, I would NOT have received the notice.
I couldn't argue with that - unfortunately, since my licence was a DVLA licence I could not just pay the fixed penalty - it had to go through Dungannon Magistrates Court, and I was issued a Northern Ireland Driving Licence Counterfoil with my three points.
The only GOOD thing about it is that these points are ONLY valid in Northern Ireland.
Take the Course - BlondeHeadOn - You even get coffee and biscuits.

floss2

Basically, it will cost you a lot more than £14 in increased insurance costs.

Bite the bullet, take the course & pay the £74 - and most importantly, learn the lesson!

Burlesque_Babe

My OH was caught doing 36 in a 30 in May. He has a clean licence and was offered the choice of 3 points + £60 fine or the course and no points. He took the course and was surprised how much he enjoyed it.

It was about 3 hours one morning at the County Police HQ and a chap just spoke about road speeds and the dangers.

Do the course - definitely.

mrbadexample

Although most insurance companies don't increase the premiums very much (if at all) for 3 points for speeding, they stay on your licence for 4 years, and count towards the "totting up" for 3 years.
Take the course. Who knows, you might even learn something.