Speed awareness course: cost, who’s eligible, and how long does it take?

If you're caught speeding, you may be eligible for a speed awareness course, which could allow you to avoid a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) and points on your driving licence. These courses are designed to educate drivers on the risks of speeding and emphasise the importance of following speed limits to help prevent future offences.

Even the most careful drivers can occasionally exceed the limit due to a momentary lapse in focus. With speed cameras becoming more common and new 20mph limits being introduced in many urban areas, staying aware of your speed is more crucial than ever. We have a complete guide to UK speed limits if you’re unsure of the law.

Not everyone is eligible for a speed awareness course, however, and there is usually a fee to attend. We’ll cover more on those points, as well as details about course availability, duration and content, in the following guide.

What is a speed awareness course?

The speed awareness course is a short programme designed to teach drivers about the dangers of speeding. It only lasts a few hours, but covers important sections of the Highway Code and best practices for remaining safe on the road. It can be a useful exercise to improve your attitude towards safe driving and learn about updates and changes to the rules you may not be aware of.

Although speed awareness courses are run by independent companies, the content of each course will be similar. Some providers will allow you to attend the course remotely, while others only offer in-person programmes.

Am I eligible for a speed awareness course?

If you’ve been caught speeding, you’ll only be eligible for a speed awareness course if it’s your first offence, or three years have passed since you last took the course.

Your speed also affects your eligibility. Each speed limit has a set threshold for qualifying for a speed awareness course – if you exceed it, you won’t be offered one. The amount by which you can break the speed limit and still be eligible to take a speed awareness course is between 10% of the speed limit plus 2mph, to 10% of the limit plus 9mph. However, this is dependent on the specific rules set out by the prosecuting police force. You can use the table below as a guide.

It’s also at the discretion of the police force involved, so you won’t always be offered the option. The letter notifying you of your speeding offence will outline your available options. Typically, you can either pay the fine and accept the points on your licence, go to court to contest the penalty, or, if eligible, take a speed awareness course instead.

How often can you take a speed awareness course?

You can only take a speed awareness course once every three years. As a result, not every driver caught speeding will be offered the chance to take a speed awareness course – if you do commit another speeding offence within three years of taking the course, you will automatically receive a fine and points on your licence.

On top of that, not all police forces subscribe to the programme, so you may not be offered one at all. 

How much does a speed awareness course cost?

Different police forces across the UK use different organisations to provide the speed awareness course, and each charge a different amount. The cheapest in the country are just over £70, while the most expensive are nearly £100. Most cost between £80 and £90, and some providers may let you pay the course fee in instalments.

This is slightly less than the standard Fixed Penalty Notice you’d receive for a speeding ticket (currently £100), and if you take the speed awareness course you won’t receive any points on your licence (a minimum of three points). Points on your licence usually results in a more expensive insurance premium, so taking the speed awareness course will almost always be the cheaper option.

You’re not required to take the speed awareness course in the area where you were caught speeding. You can take the course anywhere in the UK, so it’s possible to travel a bit further afield to find a cheaper one.

What should I expect from a speed awareness course?

Speed awareness courses are designed to explore why you were speeding in the first place, and reduce the likelihood of you speeding in future. It’s not a test – so there’s no ‘pass’ mark – but you’re expected to demonstrate a positive attitude throughout and engage in the group discussions.

The course will include information about stopping distances, how to improve your awareness of your surroundings, and how to work out the speed limit of an unfamiliar road. It will also touch on the possible consequences of speeding, and ideally aid in your defensive driving abilities. Think of it as an advanced driving course, because you should find information learned from the session helpful on future drives.

Remember to take a form of photo ID with you (ideally a driving licence, or two alternate forms), and make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes before the course starts. You must attend the full duration of the course and, once completed, the course provider will notify the police that you’ve attended and you won’t face any further action.

Can I take a speed awareness course online?

Depending on the company running your speed awareness course, you may be offered to join an online session. All speed awareness courses moved online during the Covid-19 pandemic, so you had to join a video call to participate, but many have since reverted to in-person. Generally, if you’re offered a course, you should probably prepare yourself for having to take it in person.

How long does a speed awareness course take?

Most courses run between three to four hours with time for a break in the middle, but this can vary as each course is run by an independent provider. If you’re offered an online course, these may take a little less time.

Courses take place throughout the week but also during the evenings and weekends, so you won’t necessarily have to take time off work to attend.

Can a speed awareness course affect your car insurance?

This is a slightly grey area. While any speeding convictions and points must legally be declared to your insurance company (or any potential insurer when getting quotes), it’s down to the insurer to ask whether you’ve taken a speed awareness course. While this is information many online comparison sites don’t require you to provide, some insurance companies do ask this question when you take out cover. If they ask, you are legally obligated to inform them about it, or else risk invalidating your policy.

It’s a sensible idea to go through your policy carefully to determine if this is an area your premium provider asked about when you took out your insurance. If it was, you should contact them and inform them you’ve taken the course. Do be aware that some companies will increase your insurance premium if they learn you’ve taken a speed awareness course. Despite the fact that you’ve not received any points on your driving licence, it's likely they’ll view you as more of an insurance risk than a driver who has not been caught speeding.

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