The REAL cost of a motoring conviction!
Over a million fixed penalties are handed out to motorists every year for what many would regard as minor motoring offences. A prime example of a minor motoring offence is speeding, where a person is travelling at a speed that is only slightly over the limit. Another example is driving whilst using a mobile telephone.
Not all of those people who receive a fixed penalty are guilty of an offence. I suspect that a large number of people accept the fixed penalty for convenience or simply due to the fear of further sanctions, should they reject the fixed penalty and challenge the allegation in court.
A survey conducted by The AA has highlighted the effect the acceptance of a fixed penalty for a motoring offence could have on a person's ability to obtain motor insurance.
The survey involved 8 insurers on the AA panel. Half of the insurers surveyed confirmed that they would not provide a quote for a driver awarded 3 points for a mobile telephone offence, even if that person was a first time offender. The other half confirmed that they would increase the premium, with some quoting an increase of nearly 20 per cent.
It would appear that since the UK's plunge into an economic crisis, the insurers have changed their stance somewhat. A survey published by The AA in 2009 found that 50 per cent of insurers would overlook a minor speeding offence yet a minor motoring conviction in 2012 could result in a person being unable to secure motor insurance, whether it is due to the cost being prohibitive or a lack of insurers willing to provide cover. For a vast number of people, the inability to drive would have disastrous consequences both personally and professionally.
Quotes obtained by The AA
| Insurer | Clean | 1 x Speeding (3 pts) |
2 x Speeding (6 pts) |
1 x Mobile Tel |
1 x Carelss Driving (6 pts) |
| A | £298.15 | £332.73 | No quote | No quote | No quote |
| B | £312.79 | £344.07 | No quote | No quote | No quote |
| C | £331.33 | £366.20 | £398.92 | £376.72 | £423.44 |
| D | £378.20 | £395.98 | £509.06 | £499.22 | £504.52 |
| E | £391.50 | £441.22 | £491.33 | No quote | No quote |
| F | £491.28 | £508.63 | £532.55 | £563.99 | £588.55 |
| G | £434.17 | £466.73 | £494.95 | £494.39 | £505.81 |
| H | £434.44 | No quote | No quote | No quote | No quote |
| Average Increase | 9.3% | 23.6% | 18.5% | 24.4% |
The figures above are based on a 40-year-old man driving a Ford Mondeo. You can only imagine the amount that would have been quoted had the person been a new or young driver!
If you have received the offer of a fixed penalty for an alleged speeding offence or mobile telephone offence, the first thing you should do is seek some expert advice as there may be a factual or technical defence available to you.
A person is granted 28 days from the receipt of the fixed penalty to confirm whether they are going to accept it. That affords you plenty of time to seek some advice and consider your options!
For free, untimed initial advice contact one of our expert motoring offence solicitors on 0800 814 8159.
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