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Need an at-a-glance view of speed awareness courses? Here’s our lowdown:
A National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) is offered by the police as an alternative to a fine and/or penalty points.
Fines for speeding range from £100 to £2,500 with up to six penalty points on your licence.
You may be eligible for an NSAC if you haven’t taken one in the past three years.
You’ll only be offered an NSAC if you were caught speeding within an ‘acceptable range’. Drivers caught going way over the limit are unlikely to be offered an NSAC.
You’ll receive a letter by the police if you qualify to take the NSAC.
A speed awareness course costs roughly £80 to £100, depending on the provider.
Courses are offered both online and in-person – and last from two hours 45 minutes to four hours.
Courses are theory-based and don’t involve any practical driving tests.
Taking an NSAC can reduce re-offending by 18% over the three years following the course.
Why take a speed awareness course?
There are two key reasons: improving road safety and avoiding worse penalties.
According to a government report, speed was a factor in more than half (56%) of the UK’s 1,441 fatal collisions in 2023.
The report also found that speed-related fatal collisions were statistically more likely to:
Happen in the evenings or at night
Occur on a weekend
Involve younger drivers aged between 17 and 34.
In addition to the obvious safety concerns, speeding can land motorists with hefty penalties, including:
A minimum £100 fine for a minor offence
A maximum £2,500 fine if you’re caught speeding on the motorway, or you plead not guilty and are later convicted
Up to six penalty points on your licence
A driving disqualification
Prison – if your dangerous driving caused an accident.
You may also see an increase in your car insurance premium.
For eligible drivers, taking a speed awareness course could be a way of avoiding these penalties.
How many drivers will take speed awareness courses this year?
In 2024, close to two million people took an NSAC. And it’s unlikely we’ll see much of a change in this trend for 2025.
How will I know if a speed awareness course is an option?
If you’re stopped for speeding by the police or caught by a speed camera, you’ll be sent a notice of intended prosecution within 14 days. If you’re eligible to go on a course, you’ll be given three options:
A speed awareness course
A fixed penalty notice
A court hearing to appeal the offence.
You’ll be given a date, time and location to attend the speed awareness course. You can choose to accept the offer or decline and take the fixed penalty instead.
Who isn’t eligible for a speed awareness course?
The criteria vary depending on the police force. Typically, you may not be eligible if you’ve been on a speed awareness course in the past three years.
The speed you were driving at also impacts your eligibility. This is referred to as the ‘acceptable range’, and the police band these as follows:
Up to 31 mph in a 20 mph area
Up to 42 mph in a 30 mph area
Up to 53 mph in a 40 mph area
Up to 64 mph in a 50 mph area
Up to 75 mph in a 60 mph area
Up to 86 mph in a 70 mph area.
But remember these are guidelines and not law. The police will use their discretion about eligibility depending on your situation.
If you were speeding way over the limit, you’re unlikely to be offered the option of a speed awareness course.
Who runs speed awareness courses?
Speed awareness courses are run by the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), which is managed by UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd).
Your local police force will be able to tell you the details of where and when courses are held.
What happens on a speed awareness course?
Speed awareness courses are classroom-based and focus on theory rather than practical lessons. So you won’t usually need to drive during the course.
The courses can be delivered online as well as in person. In both formats, the emphasis is on getting drivers to think about the impacts of speeding while teaching practical ways to drive more safely.
The trainer will use videos and other visual aids to improve your knowledge of and respect for speed limits. There’s a lot of focus on group discussion and participation too.
Topics covered on a speed awareness course include:
How to identify speed limits and work out the speed limit on unfamiliar roads
Why it’s dangerous to speed and the potential consequences
How speeding can affect stopping distances
How to recognise and resist pressure to speed
The importance of concentration in spotting potential hazards
How to improve awareness of your surroundings
The importance of giving other motorists space
How to manage time so you don’t end up speeding to get somewhere.
At the end of the course, you’ll have the chance to make a personal plan about how you’re going to drive differently and avoid speeding in the future.
How successful are speed awareness courses?
Taking a speed awareness course doesn’t just help you avoid penalty points. It can also reduce the number of drivers who reoffend.
A government study found that those who had participated in a speed awareness course were 6-18% less likely to reoffend in the following three years, as compared with those who paid a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) fine and had penalty points added to their licence.
Time since NSAC completed | Estimated reduction of re-offences |
|---|---|
6 months | 13-23% |
1 year | 11-17% |
2 years | 9-12% |
3 years | 6-18% |
The impact of speeding offences on insurance
If you’re not eligible to take an NSAC, the penalties you face could also end up impacting your car insurance premiums.
Drivers who get a criminal conviction or points on their licence usually face higher premiums. This is because you’ll be considered a higher risk to insure.
Not only this, but you might find it harder to get cover in the first place.
What other road safety courses are there?
The NSAC isn’t the only police-approved course that UK drivers may be offered instead of penalties following a driving incident. Here are some others:
Safe & Considerate Driving Course (SCD)
This in-person and on-road course can be offered to motorists who were driving without due care and attention.
It covers the importance of concentration and the consequences of inconsiderate or risky driving.
What’s Driving Us Course (WDU)
Drivers may be offered this in-person or online course if they were involved in a collision-free road traffic incident.
During this course, participants learn about the importance of concentration and observation, and why their own driving may be unsafe.
National Motorway Awareness Course (NMAS)
Drivers who've been caught speeding, disobeying a red X lane closure sign or misusing motorway lanes may be offered this course.
Delivered online or in-person, it covers what motorway signs mean, what lanes you can drive in, how to use an emergency refuge and how to know what the speed limit is.
Your Belt, Your Life Course (YBYL)
This interactive online course covers the importance of wearing a seatbelt and using the correct child car seat.
How many drivers will need to take other road safety courses
Data from UKROEd shows that, aside from the National Speed Awareness Course, the National Motorway Awareness Course (NMAC) is the most-attended road safety retraining scheme in the UK.
Type of course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
Safe & Considerate Driving (SCD) | 7,428 | 8,505 | 9,997 |
What’s Driving Us (WDU) | 93,177 | 117,340 | 120,705 |
National Motorway Awareness Course (NMAC) | 168,542 | 210,998 | 198,235 |
Your Belt, Your Life (YBYL) | 16,321 | 16,961 | 16,697 |
Why do a speed awareness course?
The main motivation for many drivers choosing a speed awareness course is to avoid penalty points on their licence.
A speeding conviction will stay on your driving record for at least four years. Penalty points could also have an impact on your job prospects – especially if you drive for a living.
A speed awareness course isn’t classed as a driving conviction. As you’ll avoid getting penalty points by doing the course, your licence will remain clean.
But it’s not just a way of avoiding penalties. If you’re prone to speeding, a speed awareness course could help you become a better and safer driver.
Do I have to tell my insurance provider that I’ve been on a speed awareness course?
No. You don’t legally have to tell your insurance provider that you’ve been on a speed awareness course. But if they ask, you must be honest or you could invalidate your car insurance.
A speed awareness course isn’t classed as a driving conviction. So we won’t ask you about it when you compare quotes with us.
However, you must declare any unspent driving convictions in the past five years and points on your licence. If you don’t, it could invalidate your policy.
If you’re not sure if any past convictions are spent, you can check your licence information at GOV.UK.
Will a speed awareness course impact the cost of my car insurance?
It depends on the insurance provider. If they know about the course, some may judge that you’re a riskier driver and raise your premium as a result.
On the other hand, some insurance providers may take a positive approach to the new driving skills you’ve learned.
What’s more, becoming a safer driver may mean you pay less for your car insurance in the long run since you’re more likely to build up a no-claims discount.
If your insurance provider increases your premiums, you do have options:
Switch your car insurance provider – you’re likely to be charged an admin fee for ending a policy early but you may save money overall if the new price is cheaper.
Consider a telematics policy – these are policies that monitor your driving through a device fitted to your car, and they often reward the safest drivers with lower premiums.
Beef up your car’s security – keeping your car in a secure place, ideally a locked garage, may lower your premiums.
Keep your miles down – driving less and keeping your annual mileage low could reduce your insurance costs.
Top tips to avoid speeding
Of course, the best option – both in safety and penalty terms – is to avoid speeding altogether. Here are our top tips:
Give yourself plenty of time to complete your journey by setting off early and factoring in possible traffic hotspots and diversions.
Check maps before you set off or use the sat nav for the clearest route, traffic updates and speed limit warnings.
Always keep an eye on the road signs, even if you think you know the limit for the road you’re on.
Pay particular attention to your speed near schools, parks and shopping centres – even if you’re within the speed limit, slow right down.
Use cruise control on the motorway if you can – it’ll curb the temptation to put your foot down on long stretches.
Compare and save
Why not shop around and compare different insurance providers to see if you could be getting a better deal on your car insurance?
Comparing car insurance quotes with us could save you up to £479[1] on your premium.
Just give us a few details, and within a matter of minutes you’ll have a range of quotes to choose from.
[1] Based on Online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during March 2025, 51% of customers could achieve this saving on their car insurance through Compare the Market.
FAQs
How long does a speed awareness course last?
Courses typically last between two hours 45 minutes and four hours.
Do I have to pay for a speed awareness course?
Yes. Prices vary, but a course typically costs between £80 and £100.
How many people will be on the course?
You can expect up to 24 other motorists on an in-person course. Online classes may have a smaller number of participants.
When can I take a speed awareness course?
Courses run at different times throughout the week, and on evenings and weekends too. So, you can choose a time that suits you, but make sure you book within the required time limit.
Can you fail a speed awareness course?
There’s no exam to take so you can’t pass or fail. But you’ll have to be there on time, stay for the full duration of the course, and show a positive attitude throughout.
If you fail to complete the course, the provider will notify the police. They may allow you to pay to retake the course, or they may insist that you pay the fine and take the penalty points instead.
How many times can you take a speed awareness course?
You can only take one speed awareness course in a three-year period.
How do I book a speed awareness course?
To accept the offer of a course, return the form that comes with your police letter within the time limit stated.
The letter will tell you which organisation is providing courses in your area and how to book.
What else do I need to know about attending a speed awareness course?
When you attend your course, either online or in person, you’ll need to bring some form of photo ID – like your driving licence or passport.
If you’re attending an online course, you’ll need:
A desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone with a working microphone and camera
A reliable internet connection that’s capable of streaming video
A quiet place to take the course with no distractions.
Make sure you arrive early. If you’re late, you may be refused entry and have to repay to take the course at another time.
If you need to reschedule, make sure you do so within the period stated in your police letter.
Julie is passionate about delivering a great customer experience and rewarding people for saving on their insurance through our loyalty and rewards programme. She’s spoken to the media, including outlets like Sky News, about car and home insurance, as well as our Meerkat rewards scheme.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by AI. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
