Insurance
What happens on a speed awareness course?
Speed awareness course questions and answers
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 26/09/2025
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 26/09/2025
According to the charity Brake, driving over the speed limit – or driving too fast for the conditions – is recorded by the police as a contributory factor in around a third of all fatal crashes and a quarter of those that end with a serious injury.
If you’re driving above the speed limit and get flashed by a camera, there will be a number of thoughts running through your head. First, you might be asking yourself why you decided to drive so fast and wondering if it was worth it.
Then you may move on to the potential speeding penalties and points you could receive on your licence…
You may also be given the opportunity to attend a National Speed Awareness Course.
UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd) is the not-for-profit company responsible for the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS). UKROEd’s role is to support the police in offering high-quality courses that help make the roads in the UK safer for everyone.
The NDORS scheme is a UK-specific initiative that was developed as an alternative to penalty points and fines. NDORS allows motorists the opportunity to attend a course that focuses on education and improving a driver’s knowledge of speeding and safety on the road.
UKROEd also ensures all course leaders are up to a high standard and extremely knowledgeable about the subject they’re teaching.
The driving courses offered by UKROEd include:
Those attending the course will learn about how different levels of speed can make a huge difference to the severity of injuries. The course instructor will explain (in a non-condescending manner) how sticking to speed limits helps keep everyone safe.
Some of the aspects of road safety the course covers include:
Speed awareness courses can take place in person at local venues or online. This gives drivers attending the course the flexibility to attend at a time and place that suits their needs and schedule.
Whether arranged through Drivetech, the police or a local council, there are a number of regional differences, including price and structure, between speeding course providers. Your course will be arranged by the company that looks after the area in which the offence took place.
You can find the list of speed awareness course providers on the UK Road Offender Education website.
Once you have confirmed you want to take a speed awareness course, you’ll receive a letter with a link to a website where you can book onto one. Once you visit this, you should have various options – including whether you want to book an online session or in person (subject to availability). As the course is a live and interactive workshop, the schedule of when you can attend may vary.
You are responsible for paying the full course fee before attending. If you pay and then choose to rearrange, you may have to pay a re-booking or administration fee. You can find out more on the UKROEd’s courses page.
Nobody wants to have points on their driving licence and taking a speed awareness course is one way of avoiding this.There are other huge benefits to undertaking a course, including an improved understanding of road safety and dangers of speeding.
You’ll gain further understanding of speed limits and why we have them, develop your observational skills when it comes to spotting potential hazards and perhaps even find out about the inner workings of motorways and how variable speed limits actually work, depending on which course you attend.
Speed awareness course trainers must hold various qualifications and have passed a number of training course assessments. This ensures they are experienced in delivering training and know how to present relevant information in a group setting in an inclusive and effective way. You can find out more on the Person Specification for NDORS Trainers section of the UKROEd website.
You can only take one speed awareness course every three years. If you’re caught speeding again within this time period, you could get fined and receive points on your driving licence.
This varies on the type of course you are taking but they can vary from 30 minutes for a Safe and Considerate Cycling Course to 6 hours 55 minutes for a Safe and Considerate Driving Course. The most common courses tend to last between 2 hours 45 minutes and 3 hours.
Again, this will vary depending on the type of course you’re undertaking and who runs it but the average price, according to PassMeFast, is between £80 and £100.
Given the nature of driving penalties and how they can affect your premium, you might be wondering if you should declare that you’ve been on a speed awareness course to your insurance company.
Things are a little different with speed awareness courses. You only have to inform them if they ask you if you have been on one. It varies between insurers whether they ask this question. If they do ask you, answer honestly as an incorrect answer could invalidate your insurance policy.
It’s worth noting that these courses are not driving convictions. Since 2013, you’ve only had to give this information to your insurer when they ask for it. If you are asked and have attended a course, you could face an increase on your premium as you will be deemed more of a ‘risk’ to insure.
It may be tempting to see if you can get away with not attending a speed awareness course but unless you have a valid excuse, you’ll be receiving a court summons. If you are found guilty, you will get a fine and points on your licence. This also applies to online courses. It’s a case of ‘camera on’ at all times.
If you are running late and try to enter an in-person course after the registration process has begun, you will not be allowed in and will have to re-book your course. You can find out more about rebooking a speed awareness course at www.ukroed.org.uk.
The course trainer will inform the police you have attended the course once complete and this should ensure that you receive no penalty points on your licence.
Try and see the course as an opportunity to learn rather than simply avoiding penalties. The information you will receive will help you understand the dangers of speeding and ultimately become a safer driver.
If you’re caught speeding by a camera, you’ll be sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution and Section 172 Notice. You’ll have to return the Section 172 Notice back within 14 days, confirming who was the driver. Once you’ve returned this, you’ll receive another letter either with a Fixed Penalty Notice or letter telling you to go to court.
The Fixed Penalty Notice may give you the option to attend a speed awareness course.
The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme, which runs a host of courses including the National Speed Awareness Course and National Motorway Awareness Course, aims to inform and educate speeding offenders about the dangers of speeding to both themselves and others.
The courses do this by examining the dangers faced when it comes to driving above the UK speed limit and encouraging those attending to change their driving habits in the future. There is no test or exam to pass to complete the course, but there will be group discussions – whether online or in person – that you will be expected to contribute to.
Drivers should be aware that not all speeding offences will have the option of attending a speed awareness course. Eligibility for the course depends on how far over the speed limit you were driving. These are the minimum and maximum speeds:
Speed limit | Minimum Speed | Maximum Speed |
20mph | 24mph | 31mph |
30mph | 35mph | 42mph |
40mph | 46mph | 53mph |
50mph | 57mph | 64mph |
60mph | 68mph | 75mph |
70mph | 79mph | 86mph |
If you’re caught driving above the maximum speed, you might not get the option of a speed awareness course but could still get a fine and penalty points.
You can find out more about speed limits on the UK government’s website.
Most speed awareness courses will have group discussions where everyone is expected to take part. These may involve some questions and answers but they will be in a relaxed and informal setting and you won’t fail if you get an answer wrong. The purpose of these courses is to inform and educate.
This depends on the individual but if you want to avoid points on your licence (which could increase your premium) and learn more about why you’ve been caught speeding, the course may be a more suitable option. In 2022, 1.64 million drivers attended a speed awareness course in the UK.
A speed awareness course is not a test so you can’t fail. You do need to attend the full duration of the course and be involved in the discussions taking place. If you don’t complete the course, the instructor will contact the police and you may receive the points and penalties you were hoping to avoid.
You are not automatically offered a place on one of these courses. It is entirely down to the local police force whether you can or not. If you’ve already taken the same course in the past 3 years or were driving above the maximum speed eligibility, you are more likely to receive a fine and points.
When you accept to attend a speed awareness course, you probably won’t have to pay your speeding fine but the cost of the course may be very similar to what you would have paid for the offence.
You’ll need government-issued ID (driving licence or passport) to prove who you are and it’s also worth taking a pen and notepad to jot down all your learnings.
A national speed awareness course involves a three-hour interactive workshop discussing speeding risks and the Highway Code. Instead of a test, it requires active participation and completion of paperwork.You must bring photo ID and be ready to engage in discussions during the course. Completion prevents prosecution for the original offence, but participation is recorded for three years. If caught speeding again within this period, you can expect a fine and penalty points.
Your camera and microphone must be on for verification and participation during a speed awareness course. Non-compliance may result in removal and potentially a police referral. Ensure your device's camera and microphone work and grant necessary permissions to your video conferencing software. Choose a quiet, distraction-free location and join 15 minutes early to address any potential technical issues.
A speed awareness course lasts approximately three hours. It focuses on enhancing driving knowledge rather than discussing your offence. Successfully completing the course and meeting police conditions prevents prosecution for the initial offence. This practical approach can help you avoid points on your licence and further understand the reasons why speeding can be so dangerous.
Completing a speed awareness course prevents penalty points and fines, but is only available once every three years. Repeat offences can result in these penalties. Course completion is logged on the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) database. Despite not being a conviction, it's advisable to check how it might impact your insurance.
You don't need to declare a speed awareness course to your car insurer unless asked, as it's not a conviction and doesn't earn licence points. Insurers lack access to this data, but dishonesty could invalidate your cover. Some may view the course as risky driving, potentially raising your premium, but this is typically cheaper than penalty points. Always disclose if asked to keep your policy valid.
A speed awareness course enhances understanding of speed limits, risks of speeding, and hazard perception, using video content and group discussions. It refreshes Highway Code knowledge, promotes safe driving, and helps create a personal plan to prevent future speeding. The instructor-led course, lasting three hours, can be completed online or in-person, focusing on theory without practical driving or tests.
A speed awareness course doesn't involve 'passing' or 'failing', but active participation. The trainer encourages everyone to contribute to discussions. Successful completion relies on engagement with the material and maintaining a non-disruptive behaviour. The course aims to enhance understanding of speed limits and their significance for road safety.
Three points on your licence for offences like speeding could raise your car insurance by about 5%. If points reach 12 or more, expect an insurance premium hike of up to 89% annually. Remember, insurers calculate risk differently, affecting your premium. Always compare insurance policies to find the most suitable one.
Attending a National Speed Awareness Course won't incur penalty points on your licence. It's an alternative to a Fixed Penalty Notice, avoiding both fine and points. However, it's not automatic; police must offer it based on eligibility. The four-hour course educates on speeding risks and prevention. Generally, you can attend once every three years. While not obligatory, disclosing course attendance to your insurer may affect premiums.
A speed awareness course is not equivalent to a formal police caution; it doesn't go on your criminal record. Attending one typically helps you avoid points on your driving licence. Although it promotes safer driving, it doesn't carry the same legal implications as a caution.
From 1st October 2022, speeders in the Metropolitan Police Service London area have been referred to a speed awareness course by TTC 2000 Ltd, a leading UK provider of police-referred road safety schemes. This is part of the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), established on behalf of Transport for London (TfL).
Your completion of a speed awareness course is logged on the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) database for 3.5 years. This doesn't tarnish your record, but impacts eligibility for future courses. If caught speeding again within this period, you'll likely face a fine and penalty points instead of another course. Speed awareness courses are a one-off alternative to penalties, not a licence to speed.
If you exceed the speed limit by 10% plus 9 mph, you may qualify for a speed awareness course, allowing speeds up to 31 mph in a 20 mph zone or 53 mph in a 40 mph zone. However, you can't have attended a course within the last three years and eligibility will depend on local police discretion.
If you commit a speeding offence, you may be offered a speed awareness course by the police. Register for this on the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme website using your offer letter details. Choose a course provider, location, and format (online or in-person), then book and pay. Make sure you bring your driving licence to the 3 hour session.
Driving at 43 mph in a 30 mph zone disqualifies you from a speed awareness course, as per the National Police Chief Council guidelines. The speed limit for eligibility is 42 mph in a 30 mph area. These courses aim to educate drivers who've marginally exceeded the limit about speeding dangers, helping them avoid licence points.
In the UK, a speeding fine stays on your driving record for four years from the offence date, but is only active for the first three years for 'totting-up' penalties. If you accumulate 12 points within this active period, a driving ban may be imposed. It's crucial to drive responsibly to avoid such consequences.
In the UK, exceeding the speed limit, even by 3 mph, can result in a fine as it's a legal offence. Speed cameras have a discretionary 10% + 2 mph tolerance, but it's not obligatory. Offenders may receive a Fixed Penalty Notice, accrue penalty points, or be offered a speed awareness course. Accepting responsibility and considering the course can help avoid licence points.
If caught driving at 44 mph in a 30-mph zone, you're likely to face a Band B speeding penalty. This means a fine equivalent to a week's income, 4 penalty points on your licence, and potentially a driving ban of up to 28 days. Always adhere to the speed limit.
A speed awareness course usually lasts 3 hours, with a short break. The duration may vary as each course is independently managed. Online courses may be slightly shorter. The course length is structured to ensure you fully grasp the crucial information, enhancing your safety on UK roads.
Your camera and microphone must be on during your online speed awareness course for active participation, attendance verification, and security against unauthorised recording. Preparation requires a device with a camera and microphone, stable internet, a quiet space, and valid photo ID, like a driving licence or passport.
On a speed awareness course, you'll participate in group discussions in a relaxed, informal setting. Your involvement, including answering questions, is encouraged. There's no 'pass' or 'fail', so incorrect answers won't have negative consequences.
A speed awareness course is beneficial, not only to avoid penalty points but also to learn safe driving skills. It can prevent your car insurance premiums from increasing and teaches speed limit recognition and speed resistance. However, it's not guaranteed for everyone as police decide on individual cases. Despite the cost and time, it's a proactive step towards a safer driving licence and roads.
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