Getting caught speeding can be an annoying and expensive experience. You’ll need to pay a fine and may get points on your license. But do you also need to inform your car insurance provider? Let’s take a look at the rules around reporting speeding tickets in the UK.
Do you have to declare speeding tickets to insurance companies?
Yes, if you get caught speeding, you must inform your car insurance provider. This applies even if it’s your first offense and you just get a fixed penalty notice and fine. Failing to report a speeding conviction could invalidate your policy.
Insurance companies want to know about any driving offenses or convictions you receive. This allows them to accurately assess your risk profile as a driver. Speeding is a major factor that increases accident risk, so insurers will want to know if you have a speeding ticket.
When do you need to declare a speeding ticket?
You should inform your insurer as soon as possible after receiving a speeding fine. Don’t wait until your renewal date to tell them. The majority of providers require you to declare driving offenses within 7 days. Check your policy documents for details on when you need to report a conviction.
If you don’t notify your provider within the specified timeframe, they may charge you an administration fee. More seriously, failing to report a conviction could allow them to cancel your policy.
How to notify your insurance of a speeding ticket
Start by calling your insurance company’s customer service number. Explain you’ve received a speeding fine and the date of the offense. They’ll update your details and may ask some questions about the circumstances.
You’ll also need to update your details through your insurer’s online portal if they have one. Follow up the phone notification in writing too, either via email, letter or using your insurer’s mobile app.
Make sure you keep copies of any correspondence you send them regarding the conviction. This provides a record that you met your obligation to inform them in case any issues arise later.
Will my premium increase after a speeding ticket?
In most cases, a single speeding offense within limits will lead to a relatively small increase in your premiums. But the exact impact depends on factors such as:
- How much you were exceeding the limit by
- Your overall driving record
- No claims bonus protection
- Insurer’s policies on speeding convictions
The increase is typically between 10% to 15% for a minor speeding ticket. But for more serious offenses, the rise can be 20% or higher. Some insurers may even cancel your policy, requiring you to find coverage elsewhere.
How long will a speeding ticket affect my premiums?
A single speeding conviction will normally affect your premiums for 5 years from the offense date. However, the impact gradually reduces over this period. By the 5th year, the increase will usually be minimal or removed completely.
Receiving multiple speeding tickets over several years has a cumulative effect. This can keep premiums elevated for longer. But most insurers will eventually wipe the record after around 5 years offense-free.
Can I avoid increased premiums from a speeding conviction?
There’s no way to avoid increased premiums or having to declare a speeding conviction to your insurer. Failing to notify them is illegal and breaches the terms of your policy.
Some ways to potentially minimize the impact include:
- Avoid further driving offenses for 5 years
- Take a defensive driving course
- Shop around at renewal to see if other insurers offer better rates
- Accept a bigger excess to offset premium increases
But in most cases, you’ll just have to accept higher premiums as a consequence until the conviction drops off your record.
What happens if I don’t tell my insurer about a speeding ticket?
Failing to report a speeding conviction is a serious matter that can have major implications:
- Your policy may be canceled – Leaving you uninsured
- Claims for any accidents may be denied
- You may have to pay expensive uninsured driver penalties
- Future insurance applications require you to declare convictions
- It counts as insurance fraud if deliberately concealed
In addition, if your insurer finds out through their own means about an undeclared conviction, you’ll struggle to get affordable coverage again. So it’s critical you notify them, even if you think your premiums will rise significantly.
What details do I need to provide about a speeding ticket?
When notifying your insurer about a speeding conviction, make sure to have all relevant details to hand including:
- The date and location of the speeding offense
- Your speed recorded
- The speed limit
- Number of penalty points received, if any
- Amount of fine
- Which police force issued the penalty notice
- Any other pertinent circumstances
Having all this information allows your insurer to make an accurate reassessment of your policy and premiums based on the offense. Fully disclosing all details is vital – further offenses linked to the same incident could invalidate your policy if not reported upfront.
How can I check for speeding convictions on my license?
You can check your license record and any active endorsements, such as speeding convictions, in several ways:
- View your license – Order a copy from the DVLA to view endorsements
- Check online – Use the DVLA’s View Driving License service
- Request code – Get a one-time code from DVLA to share driving record
- Insurance details – Your insurer can also confirm if you have any unspent convictions
It’s important to validate your license status to avoid any surprises about offenses or penalty points that may affect your insurance.
Does a speed awareness course affect insurance?
If eligible, doing a speed awareness course allows you to avoid penalty points. However, you must still inform your insurer about the speeding offense.
Even without points on your license, a speed awareness course will likely lead to increased premiums but generally not as much as a formal conviction. Failing to disclose the speeding incident could still invalidate your policy.
Some insurers may take successful completion of speed awareness training into account when calculating premium changes. Refresher driver training shows you’re taking positive steps to improve road safety.
Can I appeal a speeding ticket conviction?
You may be able to appeal a speeding conviction in certain circumstances, such as:
- You believe the speeding offense details are incorrect
- There were mitigating circumstances, like an emergency
- Proper process wasn’t followed when you were penalized
Appealing could potentially lead to penalty points and fines being overturned. But you must still notify your insurer initially about the speeding ticket. If your conviction gets overturned later, you can then inform your provider to have your policy and premiums reassessed again.
Key takeaways
- Drivers must declare speeding tickets to insurers within 7 days, even if it’s a minor first offense
- Failing to report convictions can lead to policy cancellation and void insurance
- A single speeding ticket will typically increase premiums for around 5 years
- Insurers need full details about the speeding conviction for policy reassessment
- Consider ways to offset premium rises, like increasing your voluntary excess
Speeding tickets can be frustrating, especially when they bump up your car insurance costs. But notifying your provider is a legal necessity. Taking steps to improve your driving skills and road safety awareness can help minimize the financial impact in the long run.
Speeding Offense Penalties | Fine Amount | Penalty Points |
---|---|---|
Exceeding limit by between 21-30mph | £100 | 3-6 points |
Exceeding limit by between 31-40mph | £150 | 4-9 points |
Exceeding limit by more than 41mph | £150-£2,500 | 6 points or disqualification |
This table summarizes the typical penalties applied for different severities of speeding offense. Fines and points can vary depending on exact circumstances.
Speeding Conviction Insurance Premium Increases
Here are estimated premium increases you can expect after reporting speeding tickets to your insurer:
- Fixed penalty notice (no points) – Average increase of 11%
- 3 points for minor excess speed – Average increase of 15%
- 6+ points for major excess speed – Average increase of 22%
- New customer with recent conviction – Average increase of 29%
These figures are guidelines only – exact premium changes will depend on your policy, history and the insurer’s discretion.
Speeding Offense Declarations by Insurers
Insurer | Declaration Period |
---|---|
Aviva | 5 years |
AXA | 5 years |
Churchill | 5 years |
Direct Line | 5 years |
LV= | 5 years |
This table shows the typical conviction declaration periods required by major UK insurers. This is the length of time they will take speeding tickets into account when calculating your premium.