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UK Speeding Fines Explained
A speeding fine can be costly. Whether you were caught by a fixed speed camera (Gatso, Truvelo, HADECS 3 etc.) or a mobile speed gun (radar or laser), the result is the same: a fixed penalty notice, points on your driving licence, and possibly a requirement to attend court. This page explains the current UK speeding fine system, how fines are calculated, what the offence codes mean, and what options you have.
To uphold a speeding offence, the police must prove the following with evidence:
‣ You were the driver
‣ Your vehicle was on the road
‣ The speed your vehicle was travelling
‣ The speed limit for that particular road
Current UK speeding fines
The minimum fine for speeding is £100 with three penalty points added to your driving licence. The maximum fine is £1,000, rising to £2,500 if you are caught speeding on a motorway.
If the speeding offence is being added to a clean driving licence, the police may offer you the option of attending a speed awareness course instead of issuing the fine and penalty points. If your licence already has points on it at the time of the offence, the speed awareness course will not be offered.
Speeding offences and the associated penalty points remain on your driving licence for three years. However, the endorsement cannot be removed from your licence until four years have passed from the date of the offence.
When you accumulate 12 points on your driving licence you will normally be disqualified from driving for a minimum of six months. You can contest a ban in court by demonstrating exceptional hardship, for example that you need your licence to maintain your employment.
How speeding fines are calculated: Bands A, B and C
The sentencing guidelines introduced in April 2017 set out three bands (A, B and C). The band that applies to your offence depends on how far above the speed limit you were travelling. Your fine within that band is then calculated as a percentage of your weekly wage.
How to calculate your weekly wage: Divide your annual income by 52. For example, if you earn £26,000 per year, your weekly wage is £500.
How to calculate your fine: Multiply your weekly wage by the percentage shown in the band table below. For example, a Band A fine at 50% of a £500 weekly wage would be £250.
Other factors the court or police may take into account when setting the fine amount include: whether the offence occurred in a highly populated area, weather conditions at the time, and any previous convictions.
| Speed limit | Recorded speed of your vehicle (Bands A, B and C) | ||
Band A |
Band B |
Band C |
|
20mph |
21-30mph |
31-40mph |
41mph and above |
30mph |
31-40mph |
41-50mph |
51mph and above |
40mph |
41-55mph |
56-65mph |
66mph and above |
50mph |
51-65mph |
66-75mph |
76mph and above |
60mph |
61-80mph |
81-90mph |
91mph and above |
70mph |
71-90mph |
91-100mph |
101mph and above |
| Points / Disqualification | 3 points | Disqualify 7-28 days or 4-6 points | Disqualify 7-56 days or 6 points |
Fine adjustment rates
The amount you are fined is adjustable by the enforcing police officer or the court. The table below shows the starting point (the standard fine as a percentage of your weekly wage) and the range within which it can be adjusted — generally 25% above or below the starting point.
| Starting Point | Range | |
| Fine Band A | 50% of weekly income | 25% - 75% of weekly income |
| Fine Band B | 100% of weekly income | 75% - 125% of weekly income |
| Fine Band C | 150% of weekly income | 125% - 175% of weekly income |
Speed awareness course — avoid points on your licence
The speed awareness course is offered to motorists who have been caught exceeding the speed limit by a relatively small margin and who hold a clean licence. If accepted, you avoid both the fine and the penalty points. The course is available from every police force constabulary across the UK.
When you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution in the post, the letter will typically offer you a number of options:
1. Speed Awareness Course
2. Fixed penalty (fine + points)
3. Court hearing
If you were driving considerably over the speed limit you are unlikely to be offered the course. If you are offered it and accept, you will be given a time, date and location to attend. The course lasts approximately four to five hours and consists of classroom-based theory training and, in some cases, a practical driving session. You cannot be offered the course again within three years of completing it.
Contesting a speeding offence
There are motoring lawyers who specialise in contesting speeding offences. They will examine the prosecution documents, review the procedures followed by the police when recording the offence, and assess the condition of your driving licence. In some cases, a speed camera offence is dropped by the police because they cannot provide sufficient evidence that it was you driving at the time.
Some motorists inform the police that another person was driving their vehicle at the time of the offence. Be aware that it is a criminal offence to provide false information about who was driving — doing so carries more serious penalties than the original speeding fine.
Speeding offence codes
When you are issued a speeding fine, the offence is recorded using one of the following codes. The code will appear on your driving licence and any court documentation.
SP10 — Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits
Applies if you were driving a goods vehicle under 7.5 tonnes (small lorries). In some circumstances this also includes motorhomes and caravans.
SP20 — Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)
An infrequently used code applying to vehicles such as tractors and other industrial vehicles.
SP30 — Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road
The most common speeding code in the UK. Applies to cars, vans, motorbikes and similar vehicles caught exceeding the signposted speed limit.
SP40 — Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit
Applies to larger passenger vehicles such as buses and coaches, which are subject to different speed limits on UK roads.
SP50 — Exceeding speed limit on a motorway
The standard motorway speed limit is 70mph. If you are caught speeding on a motorway this code will appear on your speeding notice. Some motorways have variable speed cameras enforcing a lower limit. Goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and vehicles towing a caravan are subject to lower maximum speeds.
Speeding fines: questions from motorists
Question: I drive about 40,000 miles per year and received a Notice of Intended Prosecution from Merseyside Police for 48mph in a 30mph zone on a Saturday. I was actually in a supermarket in Birmingham at the time. Two weeks later the police phoned to say sorry — they had read the number plate incorrectly.
Answer: This shows why it is always worth checking the details carefully. Human error does occur, and you are entitled to challenge any notice where the evidence does not match your circumstances.
Question: I received a Notice of Intended Prosecution for driving at 68mph in what turned out to be a 60mph zone on the A16 near Spalding. The road has National Speed Limit signs throughout and I have never seen a 60mph sign. A new camera has apparently recorded me. How can this be right?
Answer: You were right to contact the police authority responsible for the camera. You could also write to your local councillor or MP. Some roads do have reduced limits that are not clearly signed, and there have been cases where enforcement has been challenged successfully on those grounds.
Knowing the speed limit in advance
One of the most effective ways to protect your licence is to use a device that displays the current speed limit of every road you are driving on.
The Snooper MY-SPEED XL displays the speed limit for every road across Europe alongside your current speed. If you exceed the limit, a red circle appears around your speed readout; when you are within the limit it shows green. Audible warnings are also triggered. The device also functions as a GPS speed camera detector, alerting you to the locations of fixed and mobile cameras.
Last updated: 6th April 2026
