Ok, I was doing 80 on a 70 dual carriageway. Hands up. Speeding. Naughty, but quite usual by many.

However, I have been offered the option of paying a £100 fine and three points, or taking a four hour speed awareness course, and no points. The course costs £76 plus half a day's pay (if it's on a weekday). Not a massive difference in terms of cost, with taking the course being the dearer option with pay loss.

What I want to ask is about insurance. I've heard rumours that they increase the premium if you have been on a course. Whereas, 3 points makes no difference. And how would they know if I had been on a course. It's not a conviction if I do the course, so cannot be made public.

Any legal guys got some advice? I'd have to send my licence away if I pay the fine, and I go abroad in a week or two, and want to rent a car.

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

You're unlucky to get done for doing 80 in a 70 since the usual form is you have to be doing 10% + 2mph over the limit which would be 79. In addition was that 80mph according to your speedometer, or according to plod? Your speedo probably overstates your speed.

Might be worth asking for the photographic evidence, calibration certificate etc for the equipment, in that case.

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The Ferret
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I have heard that in some cases Insurance companies will still 'Load' if one has been on a course on the basis that the fact one has been on a course and got no points doesn't detract from the fact that one was speeding in the first place. Suppose it depends on what questions are asked as part of the application process and the interpretation of the applicant as to the questions asked.

I heard this too willo. It's why I'm asking.

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

To find out how the insurance companies treat speeding go to one of the many car insurance comparison sites and fill in the forms both with and without the speeding conviction and see for yourself if there is any difference.

I seem to recall from when I got done that I did get a loading for several years for my SP30 endorsement but I don't remember having to declare having been on a speed awareness course

"Unlike penalty points, insurance firms cannot check whether a driver has taken a speed awareness course unless they admit to it, as this information is held by local police forces rather than the DVLA. However, if you fail to reveal that you have and later make a claim, you could find that your policy is invalid.

Opting for points on your licence as an alternative to attending a speeding course is likely to increase your insurance premium even further. Points are considered an admission of guilt and a legal conviction. Figures from the AA show that drivers with a single speeding conviction are 10-12% more likely to make a claim than those with a clean licence. It is therefore no surprise that the more penalty points someone has recorded on their licence, the more likely drivers are to face increases in their insurance premiums."

taken from willos link.

I've done the course and it doesnt factor into my situation as I have a company car but it was that or three points so I did it.

Personally i'd say do the course because of what you get out of it, its a bit of an eye opener if you go with and open mind.

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