UK Law, fines and points.
Known officially in the UK as "EXCEEDING SPEED LIMIT", this table shows baseline penalties you can expect. It's correct as of July 2006. Each case will be looked at individually, to assess factors such as time of day, road type and conditon, weather conditions etc. The fine is now also based upon the financial circumstances of the offender, leading to payment within 12 months. Whilst guidelines exist, the actual results can vary widely for the same speeds - seemingly often up to how much the magistrates dislikes you.

If you have never visited a magistrates court - then it is likely to come as a real shock as you are unlikely to be treated as an innocent person with a case to be proved against you - the magistrates tend to see you as guilty as soon as you walk in. I have personally witnessed a magistrate about to announce a ban for a driver - but being interupted the clerk of the court - pointing out that they had not heard all of the evidence yet or even found the driver guilty! If you have ever watched Blackadder Goes Forth and seen the episode where he sentenced to death for killing a pigeon - then you will have a good idea of what to expect.

Offence Fine Costs Penalty Points
up to 15mph over the posted limit £44 £30 3
16mph to 25mph over the posted limit £45-£100 £30 4
26mph to 35mph over the posted limit £45-£200 £30 5-6
36mph or more over the posted limit £67-£300 £30 Ban 1 month to 12 months

The current guidelines from the Association of Chief Police officers (ACPO) are:

Limit Fixed Penalty Summons
20 mph
25 mph
35 mph
30 mph
35 mph
50 mph
40 mph
46 mph
66 mph
50 mph
57 mph
76 mph
60 mph
68 mph
86 mph
70 mph
79 mph
96 mph


So up to 79mph you should be just told off, 79-95mph is a fixed penalty and 96mph+ is a mandatory summons to appear in court. You should however be aware that some Police forces will every now and again run a zero tolerance scheme and then it gets a bit silly with people being prosecuted for 32mph in a 30mph zone. This kind of Policing tends dramatically reduce the support for the Police as the public generally see it as being OTT.



Police do have the power to issue a fixed penalty of £ 60 plus 3 penalty points on the spot, but not when it comes to GATSO cameras. For those cases, they must go to court. Each offence on the same day, but at different places is counted separately. This can result in disqualification under the 'totting' procedure:
Totting Procedure: If the total of penalty points reaches 12 or more within 3 years, you are known as a "Totter". You get a TT99 endorsement on your license, and get disqualified.

Endorsements remain on your licence for:

  • 11 years from date of conviction for offences relating to drink/drugs and driving, causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink/drugs and causing death by careless driving then failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
  • 4 years from date of conviction for reckless/dangerous driving and offences resulting in disqualification.
  • 4 years from the date of offence in all other cases


At the appropriate time, you can apply to remove your endorsement(s) from your licence by completing a D1 application form available from Post Offices.


This is a quick explanation of the 'SP' codes that will appear on your license.

SP Code Offence
SP10 Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits
SP20 Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)
SP30 Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road
SP40 Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit
SP50 Exceeding speed limit on a motorway
SP60
Undefined speed limit offence


See the information on the DVLA official website for more info on points and bans.


Temporary speed limits.
You should note that exceeding a temporary speed limit is a non-endorsable offence. This means that you can only get a fine, but not have any endorsements (points) applied to your license. Of course, like most things in law, there is an exception, and in this case it's national speed limits (ie. motorways and dual carriageways). If you exceed a temporary limit on a motorway, such as in roadworks, or the controlled-speed section of the M25, then it becomes an endorsable offence, ie. points. This information is in some dispute at the moment, but came from a traffic officer undergoing basic traffic training so I have no reason to believe that it's false.

UK Prosecution Examples
A lot of people email me asking the "what will I get" question. It's all subjective, unfortunately, because each policeman interprets the law in their own way. Here then are some supplied examples from people who've contacted me with information about their various prosecutions for being caught speeding. I've included driver ages and car types where available. I'm sure the police aren't biased by these things (not!) but you can draw your own conclusions. Note:people who have emailed me these have done so for information purposes to help add to my site. I'm not about to start giving out names and addresses.

If you have been caught speeding, then please email us with the penalty that you received - so that we can make this info more accurate and see how penalties varies by County. - Send us details of your fine

Speed caught MPH
Speed limit
Road type
Trap type
Time for NIP to arrive
Prosecution
Driver Age Sex
Region, Town or County
Vehicle Type
135
70
M
 VASCAR Instant lost licence, £300 fine, 1 year ban, re-take driving test for new licence -   -
130
70
M
 LADAR Instant no points, £750 fine, £35 costs, 2 month ban -   -
122.5
70
DC
 Mobile VASCAR Instant £100 fine, £50 costs, 21 day ban 42/M   Yamaha RD350R
122.5
70
DC
 Mobile VASCAR Instant £200 fine, £30 costs, 6 points 32/M   Yamaha YZF750R
120
70
A
 VASCAR Instant 45 day ban, £435 fine 29/M   Ford Focus
120
70
DC
 VASCAR Instant £200 fine, £35 costs, 1 month ban 21/M   Ford Fiesta RS1800i
118
70
M
 VASCAR Instant £250 fine, 28 day ban 24/M   BMW 325i Convertable
115
70
M
 VASCAR Instant 12 month ban, £250 fine and resit test
October 2001.
Police pushed it to dangerous driving to get this penalty.		 46/M   Merc 300 diesel!
115
70
DC
 VASCAR Instant 28 day ban, £300 fine, £35 costs ?/M   Yamaha FZR400
114
70
M
 Mobile LIDAR Instant 6 points, £700 fine, £35 costs -   -
110
70
DC
 - Instant £225 fine, 6 points 34/M   Alfa 164 3.0l
110
70
M
 Mobile VASCAR Instant £200 fine, £35 costs, 21 day ban 31/M   Honda CBR600F
110
70
A
 Lidar Instant £250 fine, £35 costs, 6 points 26/M   Citroen Saxo VTS
109.3
60
M
 VASCAR Instant 28 day ban, £600 fine, £40 costs -   -
108
70
M
 LTI20.20 1 week £175 fine, £35 costs, 14 day ban 28/M   Audi A4 1.8i
108
70
DC
 LTI20.20 Instant 6 points, £300 fine, £35 costs 39/M   Renault Megane 2.0 16v Coupe
107
70
DC
 Vascar Instant 6 points, £300 fine, £35 costs 30/M   GSXR600
Telford area
106
70
M
 Vascar Instant 6 points, £340 fine, NO ban 28/M   Vectra diesel
106
70
M
 Mobile Radar Instant 6 points, £200 fine, £35 costs -   -
105.4
70
M
 Mobile Gatso Instant 6 points, £200 fine,7 day ban 29/M   Nissan Almera SRi
105.1
70
DC
 VASCAR 45 days £200 fine, £35 costs, 14 day ban ?/M   Toyota MR2 GT
105.6
70
A
 Handheld Laser 28 days 0 points and £80 fine 18/F   Clio Sport
105
70
M
 Police Speedo Instant 6 points, £542 34/M   Audi TT
105
70
M
 Police Speedo Instant 6 points, £335 M   ?
105
70
M
 Mobile Gatso 45 days 6 points, £200 fine, £40 costs, 7 day ban -   -
104.6
50
A
 LTI20.20 Instant 3 month ban, £500 fine ?/M   Yamaha RD500
104.09
70
DC
 - - 6 points, £200 fine, £40 costs 20/M   Suzuki RGV250K
104
70
M
 VASCAR Instant 6 points, £220 fine, £30 costs 39/M   Suzuki GSX750F
103.9
70
M
 VASCAR Instant 5 points, £140 fine, £30 costs, 7 day ban 32/M   Suzuki GSXR1100
102
70
LTI20.20 Instant 7 day ban, £35 costs 38/F   Mondeo
102
70
M
 LTI20.20 Instant £200 fine, 2 week ban 57/M   Subaru Impreza Turbo
101.3
70
M
 VASCAR Instant £250 fine, £30 costs, 6 points -   -
101
70
M
 Vascar 2 months 6 points, £335 31/F   Merc A Class
101
70
DC
 LTI20/20 1 month (!) £150 fine, £30 costs, 6 points 25/M   Peugot406 SRi
101
70
A
 LTI20/20 at a range of 425metres about 2 minutes £400 fine, £35 costs, 6 points, 3 month ban 28/M   Mazda Rx7 Turbo
101
70
M
 LTI20/20 7 days £250 fine, £35 costs, 6 points 40/F   BMW 318i
101
70
M
 Mobile Gatso instant £250 fine, £40 costs, 1 yr ban and a retest -   -
101
70
DC
 LTI 20/20 LIDAR instant £250 fine, £35 costs, 6 points, 28 day ban 38/M   Opel Manta
101
70
DC
 LTI 20/20 LIDAR instant £810 fine, £300 costs, 6 points ?/M   Ducati motorbike
100.8
70
M
 VASCAR instant 6 points, £150 fine, £30 costs -   -
100.5
70
M
 VASCAR instant £250 fine, £50 costs, 14 day ban ?/M   Vauxhall Cavalier GSi 2000
100
70
M
 LIDAR instant 6 points, £540 fine, £35 costs -   -
100
70
M
 VASCAR instant 5 points, £250 fine, £30 costs -   -
100
70
DC
 ? ? 6 points, £235 fine 25/M   Peugot 106 GTi
99
70
M
 LADAR instant 5 points, £180 fine, £35 costs -   -
99
70
M
 LTI20.20 instant 5 points, £360 fine, £40 costs 24/M   Vauxhall Calibra Turbo
98.7
70
DC
 VASCAR Instant 6 points, £150 fine, £35 costs ?/M   Kawasaki ZX-6R
98.6
70
M
 VASCAR Instant 5 points, £485 fine (£450 + £30 court costs) 33/M   Lotus ElanSE
98
70
M
 LIDAR Instant 5 points, £360 fine, £35 costs 43/M   Volvo 850R (250bhp)
98
70
M
 VASCAR Instant 5 points, £135 fine ?/F   ?
98
70
M
 LTI20/20 7 days 4 points, £450 fine ?/M   Skoda VRS
98
70
M
 LTI20/20 1 month (hire car) 5 points, £300 fine, £35 costs 26/M   Opel Vectra 2.0L 16v
98
70
M
 LTI20/20 1 week 4 points, £195 23/M   Rover 216
98
70
M
 - 18 days 5 points, £150 fine, £35 costs 38/M   Ford Mondeo
98
70
A
 VASCAR 13days 5 points, £150 fine, £35 costs -   -
97.9
70
B
 Autovision 6 days £350 fine, £35 costs, 28 day ban 28/M   Xantia 1.8SX
97.4
70
M
 VASCAR Instant 3 points, £60 fine 22/M   Toyota MR2 GTi Turbo
97.4
70
M
 Vascar 2 mile chase, then instant 3 points, £60 fine 22/M   Vauxhall Nova 2.0 16v (171bhp)
96
70
DC
 VASCAR Instant 1 month ban, £335 fine 43/M   Peugot 306 1.9TD
95
70
M
 Laser 3 days 3 points, £60 fine 28/M   Volvo S60
94
60
A
 VASCAR Instant 6 points, £200 fine, £40 costs -   -
91
50
A
 Pro-Laser Instant 6 points, £220 fine, £35 costs, 14 day ban 33/M   Honda ST1100 Pan European
91
60
A
 Pro-Laser Instant 6 points, £200 fine, £35 costs -   -
91
50
M
 n/a Instant no points, £75 fine, £35 costs, 2 week ban -   -
90.58
60
A
 Robic Next day 5 points, £300 fine 30/M   Mazda 626 2.0
90
60
A
 Unmarked car with LTI20.20 Instant 5 points, £180 fine, £35 costs ?/M   Kawasaki ZX6-R
89.01
50
A
 - - 6 points, £250 fine, £35 costs 25/M   Honda Civic 1.8 VTi
89
60
A
 LTI20/20 - 6 points, £150 fine, £35 costs 28/M   -
89
50
M
 GATSO - no points, £250 fine, £35 costs, 2 week ban -   -
88
70
DC
 ? 6 Days 3 points, £40 fine 50/M   BMW 323i
88
70
M
 VASCAR Instant 3 points, £60 fine 30/M   1996 BMW M3 Evo Convertible (LHD)
87
60
DC
 VASCAR Instant 7 day ban, £156 fine, £40 fine 29/M   Yamaha Fazer600
86
60
A
 LIDAR 6 days 5 points, £150 fine, £35 costs 24/M   Skoda Felicia (!)
86
50
A
 - - 6 points, £400 fine, £35 costs 25/M   Honda Integra Twincam 16v (135bhp)
82
70
M
 Pro-Laser 2 Instant 3 points, £40 fine 27/M   Renault Laguna RT
80
40
A
 Pro-Laser 2 Instant 5 points, £700 fine, £35 costs -   -
79
50
A
 laser 4 days £335, 6 points 28/M   Celica VVTI
76
70
DC
 Laser Instant £155, 6 points M   VW Van
75
50
A
 Unmarked car - 3 points, £60 fine 18/M   Ford Fiest 1.6D Van
74
40
A
 - - 6 points, £250 fine, £50 costs 24/M   Vauxhall Calibra Turbo
73
40
A
 Gatso - 6 points, £485 in a temp 40 limit on dualcarriageway ?   ?
72
50
A
 - - 3 points, £40 fine 25/M   Honda Integra Twincam 16v (135bhp)
71
50
A
 - - 3 points, £500 fine, £35 costs 25/M   Honda Integra Twincam 16v (135bhp)
71
50
A
 - - no points, £185 fine -   -
70
50
A
 - - 3 points, £40 fine -   -
61
30
B
 LTI 20.20 7 days £360 fine, 1 week ban, £35 costs 26/M   Renault 19 16v
60
30
B
 GATSO ? £225 fine, 2 week ban 32/M (David Ginola - footballer)   Mercedes
58
40
DC
 GATSO 12 days 4 points, £40 fine, £30 costs 17/F   1984 Vauxhall Nova
57
30
DC
 Mobile radar Instant 6 points, £100 fine 30/M   Suzuki GSXR1100
54
30
A
 Laser Instant 5 points, £155 fine F   car
50
30
B
 LTI20.20 5 mile chase, then instant 3 points, £40 fine 22/M   Vauxhall Nova 2.0 16v (171bhp)
48
30
B
 Gatso   3 points, £60 fine 22/M   Motorcycle - Kawasaki ZX7R
44
30
DC
 Mobile Gatso 14 days 5 points, £150 fine, £35 costs 27/M   Nissan 200SX Turbo
43
30
DC
 Mini Gatso Instant 3 points, £40 fine 22/M   1999 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16v
 
           
 
           

 

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