Did you get a speeding ticket and feel unsure about what to do next? This guide is here to help. Every month, more than 130,000 people visit our website looking for guidance on fines and parking tickets.
In this guide, we’ll talk about:
What a Fixed Penalty Notice means and why you get one.
If you need to pay the fine right away or if there’s a time limit.
How you can challenge the notice if you think it’s not fair.
Times when you might not have to pay the fine at all.
What might happen if you decide not to pay the fine.
You might be frustrated or worried after getting a speeding ticket. Don’t worry; we’re here to help you understand your options.
Let’s get started!
Do NIPs have Time Limits?
NIPs do have limits though. As long as it isn’t a verbal NIP, the police only have 14 days to send you one.
Given that NIPs are based on recent events, should you fail to receive one during this timescale, you cannot be prosecuted.
This means that you cannot be forced to pay a fine or in more serious cases, be taken to court.
If you do receive an NIP within the timescale, you will have to complete a form and send that back within 28 days.
Within this form, you’ll be given a chance to notify the police whether you or someone else was driving and other information that may help to exclude or clarify the events.
Check out the message from one worried motorist who got a speeding fine and wanted to know when it would arrive in the post.
As I see it, it’s best to keep a copy of the NIP for yourself to help clear up any issues, should any arise.
Additionally, keeping track of when you finished and sent off the form is also a good idea.
Responding to an NIP is crucial as it can determine whether you face more fines or not, and understanding how to respondis also good to know.
What Happens Once I Get My Speeding Ticket?
If you get your NIP and you accept it, the police will send you a Fixed Penalty Notice – this is the actual speeding ticket.
Once again, however, this comes with a time frame.
The police have six months to give you the Fixed Penalty Notice.
Just like with an NIP, if you don’t receive it within the allotted time, you are once again free of any fines, convictions or prosecutions.
If you plead guilty to the offence, the payment will be a minimum of £100 and three points on your licence.
However, in some cases, you may have the option to attend a speed awareness course instead.
This depends on a variety of things like if the police deem it appropriate given the nature of the offence, or if you haven’t been on one in over three years.
But receiving a speeding ticket can change again when it comes to how long you’ve been driving.
If you’ve been driving for less than two years, you only need six points on your licence for it to be taken from you, as opposed to the twelve points for anyone driving three years or over.
Paying and Appealing
After you’ve received your FPN (Fixed Penalty Notice) you’ll have 28 days to pay it.
If you fail to do so, you’ll have to pay the original fine, as well as 50% more.
For example, if you’re fined £100 but don’t pay on time, you’ll then have to pay £150.
If you still don’t pay you’ll have to pay court costs as well.
If you think there’s something wrong with the ticket you may also appeal to get it revoked or discounted.
To do this with an FPN, you’ll need to go to a magistrates’ court and follow the instructions on the back of your ticket.
The Time Limit On Speeding Tickets
If you get caught speeding the police have 14 days to send you a Notice of Intended Prosecution unless you’re given a verbal NIP.
If you accept this, they then have up to six months to send you the Fixed Penalty Notice. This will determine your punishment.
However, if either of these is not done within the specific timeframes, you cannot be prosecuted. That is the law.†
Is Payment Necessary?
In some cases, you can avoid paying for a speeding ticket.
If you have a good enough reason, believe or have evidence to suggest the contrary, you may find yourself with a bit of money for a rainy day.
However, if this isn’t the case and you don’t want to get fined even more, then paying the fine will most likely be necessary.
However, this does depend on receiving a Notice of Intended Prosecution, and whether you get one on time.
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