Got a speeding letter? What happens next

1. 1

   Notice of Intended Prosecution (within 14 days)

   If you're caught by a camera, the registered keeper must normally be sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days of the offence, together with a Section 172 notice. If you were stopped at the roadside, the warning given then usually counts instead.

2. 2

   Name the driver (within 28 days)

   You must return the Section 172 notice within 28 days, saying who was driving. Ignoring it is a separate offence that carries 6 penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000 — worse than most speeding outcomes.

3. 3

   The outcome letter

   Once the driver is named, the police decide the route. For lower speeds that's usually an offer of a speed awareness course or a conditional offer of a fixed penalty (£100 + 3 points). Higher speeds go to court.

4. 4

   Pay, book, or go to court

   Fixed penalties must be accepted and paid within the deadline on the letter (normally 28 days), or the case can go to court. Many court cases are now handled on paper — you can plead online or by post without attending. A court fine is based on your income and its sentencing band, plus a victim surcharge and costs.

• Not replying because you weren't driving — you still have to return the form and name the driver.
• Assuming no letter means no case — the 14 days applies to sending the notice to the registered keeper, so an out-of-date address can cause delays that don't help you.
• Ignoring the points already on your licence — a new 3 points can trigger a totting-up ban or, for new drivers, licence revocation.

Speeding points stay on your licence record for 4 years from the date of the offence, and count toward the 12-point limit for 3 years.