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Have you recently been caught speeding? If so. you’re not alone, according to research conducted by Uswitch car insurance.
Out of the total 1,141,283 offences recorded between June 2023 – June 2024, a total of 961,530 endorsements were issued for exceeding speed limits on public roads or motorways (SP30 and SP50).
The third most common offence was driving without third-party insurance, with just over 43,300 convictions issued, highlighting the importance of ensuring your policy is valid and up-to-date.
| Penalty code | Number of endorsements |
| SP30 [Speed limits]: Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road | 768,061 |
| SP50 [Speed limits]: Exceeding speed limit on a motorway | 193,469 |
| IN10 [Insurance offences]: Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks | 43,340 |
| CU80 [Construction and use offences]: Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone | 27,764 |
| MS90 [Miscellaneous offences]: Failure to give information as to identity of driver, etc | 25,888 |
So, exceeding speed limits on a public road or motorway accounted for 84% of all endorsements with penalty points added.
When someone is convicted of a driving offence, their driving licence is ‘endorsed’ with penalty points that remain on their record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the severity of the offence.
The points can increase insurance premiums and result in driving disqualifications or even criminal prosecution in major cases.
“Penalty points can increase insurance premiums, and how much they increase depends on the severity of the offence, the number of points you receive and whether the driver has existing penalty points on their licence,” explained Uswitch car insurance expert, Leoni Moninska.
“For example, the average price of car insurance is £882 per year, but the lowest available annual premium for a driver convicted of failing to give information as to the driver’s identity (MS90) is £2,079, almost £1,200 more than the average annual policy.
“If you receive penalty points it’s important you tell your insurer. Whether you inform them straight away or at renewal depends on the policy terms and conditions.
“Failing to inform your insurer can invalidate your policy which subsequently results in further penalty points, a fine and the risk of being banned from driving.”
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