UK Speeding Fines & Penalties
Speeding fines in the UK are calculated based on Sentencing Council guidelines. The penalty depends on how far over the speed limit you were driving and is split into three bands.
Speeding Fine Bands
| Band | Speed Over Limit | Fine (% Weekly Income) | Points | Disqualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1–9 mph over the limit | 25–75% | 3 | None |
| B | 10–20 mph over the limit | 75–125% | 4–6 (or 7–28 day disqualification) | 7–28 days possible |
| C | 21 mph or more over the limit | 125–175% | 6 (or 7–56 day disqualification) | 7–56 days likely |
Based on Sentencing Council guidelines for magistrates. Fines are capped at £1,000 (or £2,500 for motorway offences).
Learn More About Fines & Penalties
Fine Calculator
Estimate your fine, points, and speed awareness course eligibility.
Learn moreFine Bands Explained
Detailed breakdown of sentencing bands A, B and C with examples.
Learn morePenalty Points
How the points system works, totting up, and new driver rules.
Learn moreSpeed Awareness Course
Eligibility, what happens, cost, and how long it takes.
Learn moreContesting a Ticket
How to challenge a speeding ticket and on what grounds.
Learn moreNotice of Intended Prosecution
The 14-day rule, what a NIP contains, and what to do when you receive one.
Learn moreHow UK Speeding Fines Work
When you are caught speeding in the UK, the registered keeper of the vehicle receives a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days. This is followed by a conditional offer: typically a fixed penalty of £100 and 3 points, or an offer to attend a speed awareness course (if eligible).
For more serious offences, or if you decline the fixed penalty and the case goes to court, the magistrate will use the Sentencing Council's guidelines to determine the fine. The guidelines set fines as a percentage of the offender's weekly income, with more serious speeding resulting in higher percentages and more points or disqualification.
The maximum fine for speeding is £1,000 on most roads or £2,500 for speeding on a motorway. In the most serious cases (Band C), the court may impose a driving disqualification of up to 56 days instead of, or in addition to, penalty points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum fine for speeding in the UK?
The minimum fine for a speeding offence is £100 and 3 penalty points on your licence. This applies to the lowest severity offences in Band A.
Can I get a speed awareness course instead of a fine?
You may be offered a speed awareness course if you were caught slightly over the limit (typically between limit + 10% + 2 mph and limit + 10% + 9 mph), have not attended a course in the past three years, and the offence falls within Band A. Accepting a course means no fine and no points, but you must pay the course fee (around £100).
How are speeding fines calculated in the UK?
Speeding fines are calculated as a percentage of the offender's weekly income based on sentencing bands. Band A: 25-75% (starting point 50%), Band B: 75-125% (starting point 100%), Band C: 125-175% (starting point 150%). The band depends on how far over the speed limit you were driving.