Does a Speed Awareness Course Affect Car Insurance?

Nearly two million UK drivers took part in speed awareness courses last year. Designed to educate rather than punish, these courses aim to help motorists understand the dangers of speeding and encourage safer habits on the road. They are frequently offered as an alternative to penalty points on their licences.

However, some people worry that taking a speed awareness course could affect their car insurance cover. As insurance pricing is based upon risk, and speeding is a risky behaviour, this could be a valid concern.

While a speed awareness course does not necessarily carry the same implications for insurance as points on your licence, there are ways in which it can interact with insurance. Here, we'll go through what you can expect from these courses, what you are and are not required to disclose to your insurer, and how speeding offences can affect your car insurance policy

In This Guide:

What is a speed awareness course?
Does a speed awareness course affect your car insurance?
Should I tell my insurer if I have been on a speed awareness course?
What to expect on a speed awareness course
What are the benefits of going on a speed awareness course?
What speed awareness courses really mean for your car insurance
FAQs about speed awareness courses

What is a speed awareness course?

A speed awareness course is a national driver education programme offered to motorists caught speeding. They are optional, and if you are offered one, you are not obliged to attend. You can instead choose to receive a fine and penalty points, or you may be asked to attend court.

Speed awareness courses are typically offered when:

You committed a relatively minor speeding offence, i.e. your speed was above the speed limit, but not so much that it was considered a serious threat to road safety
You've not attended a speed awareness course within the past three years

Speed awareness courses are designed for education rather than punishment. You can attend them in person or online

Does a speed awareness course affect your car insurance?

UK law does not require insurers to adjust your premium based on attendance at a speed awareness course. You are also not obliged to declare that you have been on one to your car insurance provider, and they won't appear during a DVLA check or standard licence review.

However, this doesn't guarantee that your insurance won't be affected, depending on the circumstances. Insurance providers underwrite policies using proprietary risk models that incorporate a wide range of data. If you self-declare having recently taken a speed awareness course, it may affect your policy price.

Whether or not a speed awareness course affects your latest car insurance quote depends on:

Whether the insurer explicitly asks about course attendance
Whether the insurer thinks speed awareness courses are relevant to risk modelling
How the insurer distinguishes between speeding offence convictions and remedial anti-speeding measures
How risk is weighted for new, experienced, young, or high-mileage drivers

Ultimately, a speed awareness course does not carry the same insurance implications as licence points. Still, it can add to your risk profile, depending on your insurer's specific risk model and policies

Should I tell my insurer if I have been on a speed awareness course?

The answer depends on whether your insurer asks the question directly.

You are not legally obliged to tell your car insurance provider if you've attended a speed awareness course. A speed awareness course is not a conviction, penalty point endorsement, or licence-altering event, so it does not fall into the mandatory disclosure category for motoring convictions.

That being said, there are a couple of things to bear in mind:

If an insurer explicitly asks about speed awareness courses, you should always answer honestly.
If you fail to disclose attending a speed awareness course when directly asked, your policy could be invalidated later.

If you're not sure whether or not to disclose a speed awareness course, read the application or renewal questions carefully. Some insurers phrase questions narrowly, referring only to driving convictions or points on your driving licence. Others use broader wording about driver education courses or speed interventions.

What to expect on a speed awareness course

Let's answer some questions about speed awareness courses:

How long does it take?

A typical course lasts around four hours. There is no exam, and there is no pass-or-fail outcome. All you have to do is attend and participate.

How much does it cost?

Course fees are set regionally rather than nationally, so the cost varies depending on the police force operating the course. The fee isn't covered by insurance.

What happens on the day?

On the day, you can expect:

A structured presentation delivered by a qualified facilitator
Discussion around speed limits, stopping distances, and reaction times
Human factors affecting speed choices
Video examples and group reflection

What are the benefits of going on a speed awareness course?

The benefits of attending a speed awareness course go beyond avoiding licence points. Key advantages include:

No penalty points added to your driving licence
No fixed penalty notice or speeding fine
Reduced risk of long-term insurance consequences
Greater understanding of the risks of speeding
Better decision-making behind the wheel

They are designed to be a reset opportunity for drivers who recognise that speeding is dangerous and want to avoid repeating the behaviour. Many participants find the courses beneficial and report that they are better drivers afterwards

What speed awareness courses really mean for your car insurance

So, a speed awareness course does not place penalty points on a licence, register as a conviction, or automatically alter car insurance premiums. Insurers cannot access attendance records via DVLA checks, and disclosure is only required if requested directly.

That being said, it is always best to be honest with your insurer and to check their specific guidance. When comparing insurers, look into their policies around driving offences and speed awareness courses.

FAQs about speed awareness courses

How long does a speed awareness course stay on my record?

Speed awareness courses are not recorded on your driving licence, and you don't get points on your licence for attending them. However, most police authorities will not offer the course again within three years, so a record of attendance does exist within the driver retraining scheme administration system.

Can my employer find out I took a speed awareness course?

An employer would only know about a speed awareness course if you chose to disclose it, or if the job role specifically requires a declaration of driver safety interventions.

Does a speed awareness course wipe my offence completely?

It prevents the offence from becoming a conviction or licence endorsement, but it does not erase the fact that you were caught committing a driving offence from the police system.

Can you fail a speed awareness course?

There is no test, so there is no pass or fail outcome. You can, however, be removed from the course if you fail to meet participation requirements, arrive late, or disrupt proceedings. In such cases, the course is not considered complete, and penalty points may be applied instead