The starting point
As reviewed on 29 August 2026, GOV.UK states that the minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points on the licence. That is the floor, not the norm: it is what a straightforward case attracts when it is dealt with by a fixed penalty rather than in court.
Where the police consider it appropriate and the eligibility conditions are met, a speed awareness course may be offered instead. Eligibility is not a right and is not available to everyone — it typically depends on the recorded speed falling inside a defined range and on not having taken a comparable course recently.
What happens after a camera records a vehicle
The process is driven by notices with deadlines attached, and the deadlines matter more than the fine.
- Notice of Intended Prosecution. GOV.UK says this is normally sent to the registered keeper within 14 days of the alleged offence.
- Section 172 notice. Sent with or after the NIP, this asks who was driving. It must normally be returned within 28 days.
- The outcome. Depending on the case and the force, this may be a course offer, a conditional offer of a fixed penalty, or a summons.
Failing to identify the driver is itself an offence and generally carries a heavier penalty than the speeding allegation it relates to. If the keeper genuinely does not know, the answer is to respond within the deadline explaining what enquiries were made — not to leave the notice unanswered.
Follow the dates printed on the notice you actually received. A deadline missed while researching cannot usually be recovered, and a page like this one is not a substitute for the document in your hand.
If the case goes to court
Official guidance says the fine is usually linked to weekly income and can reach £1,000, or £2,500 for an offence committed on a motorway. Sentencing for speeding in the magistrates' court follows a published guideline that sorts cases into bands according to how far the recorded speed exceeded the limit, with the higher bands attracting a larger proportion of weekly income and, at the top, disqualification rather than points.
The practical consequence is that the same recorded speed produces very different outcomes on a 30 mph road and on a motorway, and that income is part of the calculation. Courts may impose three to six points or a disqualification depending on the case.
Points, totting up and new drivers
Penalty points are recorded against the driving record and stay relevant for a defined period. Accumulating twelve or more points within three years normally leads to disqualification under the totting-up provisions, and the threshold is materially lower for recently qualified drivers: a driver who reaches six points within two years of first passing a test normally has the licence revoked and must reapply and retest.
This is why a single three-point endorsement is not always a minor event. Its significance depends entirely on what is already on the record and how recently the licence was obtained.
Common questions
What is the minimum penalty for speeding in the UK?
GOV.UK states a minimum of a £100 fine and three penalty points. A speed awareness course may be offered instead where the police consider it appropriate and the eligibility conditions are met.
How long do the authorities have to send a notice?
GOV.UK says a Notice of Intended Prosecution is normally sent to the registered keeper within 14 days. The accompanying Section 172 notice, which asks who was driving, must normally be returned within 28 days.
Can a speeding fine be more than £100?
Yes. If the case goes to court the fine is usually linked to weekly income and can reach £1,000, or £2,500 for an offence on a motorway. Maximums are not a prediction of any individual outcome.
What this page does not tell you
It does not tell you whether a specific notice is valid, whether a device was correctly approved and calibrated, or whether a particular defence applies. Those turn on evidence and on the law in force on the date of the alleged offence. This is general information, not legal advice, and rules and official guidance can change after the review date shown above.