Speeding : points and fine or course?

downshifted

My better half has been caught speeding (on a motorway, variable speed) first time ever. He has been offered a National Motorway Awareness Course


The nearest course is an hour's drive away, lasts 4 hours and costs £98


The fixed penalty is £100 and 3 penalty points


As I understand it, you have to declare both when insuring, whichever you do makes no difference. This was unusual for him, he is a steady and careful driver normally and does not speed, so it is unlikely (touch wood) to happen again - it seems to me he might as well just take the points and fine - have I missed anything?

NBLondon

downshifted wrote: »

As I understand it, you have to declare both when insuring, whichever you do makes no difference.

Depends on the insurer. Check your previous renewal paperwork if you have it? I guess you're thinking about the cost of premium increase vs the cost of the time-off work to attend the course?

This was unusual for him, he is a steady and careful driver normally and does not speed, so it is unlikely (touch wood) to happen again - it seems to me he might as well just take the points and fine - have I missed anything?

Take the course - he might find out what he missed and/or some other things that have changed. Taking the points could lead to making the same mistake again.

Nobbie1967

I think only the Admiral group asked about speed awareness courses, but 3 points make little if any difference to insurance, so if you're confident they won't be getting any more then probably more convenient to take them.

MEM62

The prudent thing is to do the course.

Car_54

Nobbie1967 wrote: »

I think only the Admiral group asked about speed awareness courses, but 3 points make little if any difference to insurance, so if you're confident they won't be getting any more then probably more convenient to take them.

The vast majority of insurers don't ask. He needs to check his policy documents (a) to see if his current insurers do, and (b) whether they need to know now or at renewal. Some want to know straight away about any "pending" convictions.

Herzlos

I don't get why anyone doesn't know what to do here.


If you take the course, it's £98 and a day off work, you may learn something, and may or may not need to declare it to your insurer.
If you take the penalty, it's £100 and 0 hours (unless you need to go to a court to pay it), you will have to declare it to your insurer and you're 3 points closer to a totting ban.


Unless you earn a lot of money and have no vacation time left, it's almost certainly better to take the course, as you might find your insurance would go up by more than the unpaid day. It also means your 3 points further away from a ban, giving you more leeway.


You won't be offered a course if you set off another camera in the future.

DigForVictory

I always reckoned the course was a particularly motivated extra driving lesson & since not all insurers ask about awareness courses but they All ask about points, the course made much more sense Every Time.

They are also really interesting to go on - you do learn loads more than you might expect. I'd recommend the course, almost no matter how inconvenient, as it's interesting & makes insurance easier.

elsien

Jumping in to do a mini hijack as I'm in a similar position.
Do the courses run on weekends?

TheTalkingDead

elsien wrote: »

Jumping in to do a mini hijack as I'm in a similar position.
Do the courses run on weekends?

not that im aware of.

Comms69

downshifted wrote: »

My better half has been caught speeding (on a motorway, variable speed) first time ever. He has been offered a National Motorway Awareness Course


The nearest course is an hour's drive away, lasts 4 hours and costs £98


The fixed penalty is £100 and 3 penalty points


As I understand it, you have to declare both when insuring, whichever you do makes no difference. This was unusual for him, he is a steady and careful driver normally and does not speed, so it is unlikely (touch wood) to happen again - it seems to me he might as well just take the points and fine - have I missed anything?

Have I? You working for the CPS or something?...

Jumblebumble

Nobbie1967 wrote: »

I think only the Admiral group asked about speed awareness courses, but 3 points make little if any difference to insurance, so if you're confident they won't be getting any more then probably more convenient to take them.

My understanding is that Admiral no longer ask
JumbleBumble