Speed Awareness Courses and Insurance Disclosure

[mrmr96]

Right, so say you get flashed at 36 in a 30 and get offered a speed awareness course, which you take at a cost of £90 and a day off work.

Then when your insurance comes for renewal, what do you have to disclose?

Some people seem to think that these 'awareness courses' will be a better option than taking the points as they are worried about an increase in their insurance premiums, but I'm not sure if they're barking up the wrong tree.

I want to separate:
i) The points which count for totting up ban at 12 points (6 for a new driver), and
ii) The fact you've been convicted for speeding, which is potentially disclosable to insurures (but in the drop down you just click 'zero points' instead of '3 points')

I can see that you'd still want to take the course rather than the points, since then you still have a 'clean license' so far as totting up goes, but are these people wrong to assume that insurers need not know about it?

What do you lot reckon then?

[davidjpowell]

I reckon that you have not been convicted for speeding as you have not been prosecuted.

Different answer if the insurance company asked whether you had been on a Speed Awareness Course (in fact, why do they not ask?)

[pidsy]

i went on a speed awareness course (35 in 30) and the instructors specifically told us (someone else asked the same question) that its done with as soon as you walk out of the door.

bloody interesting day too. i'd recommend it to anyone who gets a chance. the 3hrs of driving around in the afternoon was a bit of a pain but the theory based stuff certainly makes you think.

[ZOLLAR]

mrmr96 said:

Right, so say you get flashed at 36 in a 30 and get offered a speed awareness course, which you take at a cost of £90 and a day off work.

Then when your insurance comes for renewal, what do you have to disclose?

Some people seem to think that these 'awareness courses' will be a better option than taking the points as they are worried about an increase in their insurance premiums, but I'm not sure if they're barking up the wrong tree.

I want to separate:
i) The points which count for totting up ban at 12 points (6 for a new driver), and
ii) The fact you've been convicted for speeding, which is potentially disclosable to insurures (but in the drop down you just click 'zero points' instead of '3 points')

I can see that you'd still want to take the course rather than the points, since then you still have a 'clean license' so far as totting up goes, but are these people wrong to assume that insurers need not know about it?

What do you lot reckon then?

Yes, it is down to the insurer as to whether they rate upon the speed awareness course.
The question asked by insurers is "Has any driver had any motring offences in the last 5 years, including fixed penalty points, endorsements, convictions or disqualifications including pending convictions2

You have broken the law you've just had a different punishment that's all.

[davidjpowell]

ZOLLAR said:

Yes, it is down to the insurer as to whether they rate upon the speed awareness course.
The question asked by insurers is "Has any driver had any motring offences in the last 5 years, including fixed penalty points, endorsements, convictions or disqualifications including pending convictions2

You have broken the law you've just had a different punishment that's all.

http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/roadsafety/drivertraining/staffordshirespeedawareness/home.aspx these people seem to think that you don't need to tell the insurance company as the prosecution is cancelled.

[Soovy]

Tell them.

Don't give them an excuse.

[EU_Foreigner]

Would be so much better if they just would not share any traffic offenses and results with insurance companies, especially as there is no relation between the two.

[ZOLLAR]

davidjpowell said:

ZOLLAR said:

Yes, it is down to the insurer as to whether they rate upon the speed awareness course.
The question asked by insurers is "Has any driver had any motring offences in the last 5 years, including fixed penalty points, endorsements, convictions or disqualifications including pending convictions2

You have broken the law you've just had a different punishment that's all.

http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/roadsafety/drivertraining/staffordshirespeedawareness/home.aspx these people seem to think that you don't need to tell the insurance company as the prosecution is cancelled.

You still commited a motoring offence the punishment was different, it's down to the insurer to rate on it and shows up if a history search is done on the license via the DVLA.

[Toffer]

You wouldn't mention it to your insurer if plod had given you a roadside lecture for speeding and let you go once you had eaten sufficient humble pie and passed the twt test?

[EU_Foreigner]

Do you think that anyone from Joe Public would notify their insurance company?

So if the police stop you and tell you that they will let you off this time, you would still in theory have to report it to the insurance company as you were caught performing an offence but the punishment was nill? If you get a speeding fine abroad, you would still have to report it to a UK insurer?

[ZOLLAR]

EU_Foreigner said:

Do you think that anyone from Joe Public would notify their insurance company?

So if the police stop you and tell you that they will let you off this time, you would still in theory have to report it to the insurance company as you were caught performing an offence but the punishment was nill? If you get a speeding fine abroad, you would still have to report it to a UK insurer?

But there was a punishment in the case of the speed awareness course.

[davidjpowell]

ZOLLAR said:

davidjpowell said:

ZOLLAR said:

Yes, it is down to the insurer as to whether they rate upon the speed awareness course.
The question asked by insurers is "Has any driver had any motring offences in the last 5 years, including fixed penalty points, endorsements, convictions or disqualifications including pending convictions2

You have broken the law you've just had a different punishment that's all.

http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/transport/roadsafety/drivertraining/staffordshirespeedawareness/home.aspx these people seem to think that you don't need to tell the insurance company as the prosecution is cancelled.

You still commited a motoring offence the punishment was different, it's down to the insurer to rate on it and shows up if a history search is done on the license via the DVLA.

I probably commit some sort of motoring offence most days. Should I disclose every-time that I might go over the speed limit? If the prosecution is cancelled then how can it be said that you are guilty of committing an offence?

ETA If you have not admitted to an offence or been found guilty how can DVLA keep these records? If I remember correctly you get the Who was Driving form and then the offer or NIP?

[mrmr96]

Glad it's not just me who thinks this isn't wholley straightforward. Keep the comments coming!

[thinfourth2]

ZOLLAR said:

But there was a punishment in the case of the speed awareness course.

no you are offered punishment or the speed awareness course

[ZOLLAR]

thinfourth2 said:

ZOLLAR said:

But there was a punishment in the case of the speed awareness course.

no you are offered punishment or the speed awareness course

The speed awareness course is a punishment it costs you money which is a deterrent, if you don't take the course you get points, You were caught and you're punished.

Edited by ZOLLAR on Monday 26th September 16:34

[davidjpowell]

ZOLLAR said:

thinfourth2 said:

ZOLLAR said:

But there was a punishment in the case of the speed awareness course.

no you are offered punishment or the speed awareness course

The speed awareness course is a punishment it costs you money which is a deterrent, if you don't take the course you get points, You were caught and you're punished.

Edited by ZOLLAR on Monday 26th September 16:34

You many have been caught and punished, but you have not been prosecuted.

[RichB]

mrmr96 said:

Glad it's not just me who thinks this isn't wholley straightforward. Keep the comments coming!

It is totally straightforward, you have not been convicted and have not been punished. It just happens that there is one person on the thread who disagrees.

[ZOLLAR]

davidjpowell said:

ZOLLAR said:

thinfourth2 said:

ZOLLAR said:

But there was a punishment in the case of the speed awareness course.

no you are offered punishment or the speed awareness course

The speed awareness course is a punishment it costs you money which is a deterrent, if you don't take the course you get points, You were caught and you're punished.

Edited by ZOLLAR on Monday 26th September 16:34

You many have been caught and punished, but you have not been prosecuted.

As I said an insurer doesn't just ask if you've been prosecuted, they ask

"Has any driver had any motoring offences in the last 5 years, including fixed penalty points, endorsements, convictions or disqualifications including pending convictions"

If you speed you've committed a motoring offence.

[saaby93]

ZOLLAR said:

As I said an insurer doesn't just ask if you've been prosecuted, they ask

"Has any driver had any motoring offences in the last 5 years, including fixed penalty points, endorsements, convictions or disqualifications including pending convictions"

If you speed you've committed a motoring offence.

I think we need a poll.
I cant see Joe public calling an awareness course an offence.
It's to avoid being convicted of an offence, receiving FPN and getting the points

[davidjpowell]

ZOLLAR said:

As I said an insurer doesn't just ask if you've been prosecuted, they ask

"Has any driver had any motoring offences in the last 5 years, including fixed penalty points, endorsements, convictions or disqualifications including pending convictions"

If you speed you've committed a motoring offence.

So they are really asking if I break the speed limit?