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Speed Awareness Courses: What You Need To Know

Key Summary

A speed awareness course is a good way to avoid points on your licence. A speed awareness course is available if you were caught within a certain range over the limit. If you have completed a course in the last three years, you can't take another. A speed awareness course costs around £100, with the aim to teach you how to drive safely. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the option to complete courses online emerged, giving you flexibility with how you attend. 

Caught speeding? 👀

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In the UK, lots of drivers are caught speeding every day. At Marsh Finance, we know that it’s easy to creep over the limit sometimes. Picture this, you have made a minor offence. A speed awareness course can help you avoid points on your licence. Let’s go into what happens at a speed awareness course and what you need to know.

Understanding Speed Awareness Courses

Eligibility For The Course

Frequency of Attendance

What Happens at a Speed Awareness Course

Course Format

Online Course Option

After The Course

Applying For Car Finance With Marsh Finance

Final Thoughts

A close up of paper saying police speed awareness, with a car keyring on top.

Understanding Speed Awareness Courses

You can complete a course if you are only just over the limit. The Police choose whether you can do a speed awareness course, and you can only go on one if you haven't completed a course in the last three years. If you go with a course, it's a good way to learn more about the road without getting penalty points.

Eligibility For The Course

You can do a speed awareness course if you're caught speeding between 10% + 2mph and 10% + 9mph over the limit. For example, in a 40mph zone, you'd qualify if you were caught driving between 46mph and 53mph.

A calendar with dates crossed out, sat on top of folders and pens.

Frequency Of Attendance

You can only take a speed awareness course once every three years. If you’re caught speeding again within this period, you'll face the usual penalties. This will include points on your license.

What Happens At A Speed Awareness Course

The course costs around £100. The aim is to teach you to drive safely. There's no test at the end, but you need to make sure you go. There are lots of topics covered on your course. These include:

  • Understanding speed limits.
  • The dangers of speeding.
  • Responsible driving behaviour.
A person writing on paper, whilst simultaneously typing on a laptop.

Course Format

Speed awareness courses last about four hours. They tend to include talks, presentations and sessions that you can get involved in. Courses are always available. You can take part at any time of the week. Book a course to fit around you and your schedule.

Online Course Option

With the Covid-19 pandemic, lots of things moved online. Speed awareness courses were one of these. You can complete a course via zoom, which will last about two-and-a-half hours. This might sound like a while, but don't worry, you get a break!

After The Course

Put your feet up once you finish the course. The course provider will contact the Police, and you won't face further punishments for the speeding ticket. If you don't complete the course, you could face the original penalties.

A person leans on their car bonnet smiling, symbolising a driver happy with their car.

Applying For Car Finance With Marsh Finance

Speed awareness courses might be tricky. But applying for car finance with us is not. Use our car finance calculator to predict monthly payments. Our 30-second pre-approval process can give you a decision with no impact on your credit score. Click here to check it out. You can also browse our car marketplace to find and finance your dream car in one place.

Final Thoughts

A speed awareness course is a good way to learn about road safety and avoid penalties. They stress the importance of safe driving while helping drivers avoid higher insurance costs and other penalties. Staying informed and following speed limits is crucial for safe driving. 🚗💡🚦

Finance is subject to status 

Speed Awareness Course FAQs

How much does a speed awareness course cost?

The cost of a speed awareness course depends on the area, but generally courses cost between £73 and £100. 

Why was I not offered a speed awareness course?

There are a few reasons why you might not have been offered a speed awareness course. These tend to be:

  • You have attended a course in the last three years, and so you can't attend another just yet.
    You were well above the speed limit, and your offence is therefore seen as more serious. 
  • The Police may decide not to offer you a course, and they are within their rights to do so.
How long is a speed awareness course?

A UK speed awareness course lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes, with regular breaks available. You are also able to take the course from home.

What happens on an online speed awareness course?

An online speed awareness course is in the same style as a traditional course, just over a digital screen. You will take part with others, likely in a zoom call, in which you cover the following areas:

  • The consequences of speeding.
  • The benefits of speed limits.
  • Driver responsibility. 

You don't have to take a test to pass the online speed awareness course, but must complete the full session to pass. You could be asked questions during the course, but these don't decide whether you pass or fail.

How often can you do a speed awareness course?

You can only take a speed awareness course once every three years.

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