UK Speeding Fine Calculator 2026
Find the likely band, fine range, points and ban risk for a speeding offence, using the Sentencing Council guideline.
By Prakash, Editor
Published 20 January 2026
Updated 14 October 2026
Sources: Sentencing Council · GOV.UK
How does the speeding fine calculator work?
The calculator looks up your recorded speed against the speed limit in the Sentencing Council's table to find the offence band (A, B or C). It then estimates a court fine range as a percentage of your relevant weekly income, using that band's range, and checks whether the points could take you to the totting-up threshold.
Court fines are linked to income so that the same offence costs a proportionate amount for different people. Magistrates work in percentages of weekly income within each band, up to a legal maximum.
3 worked examples
These examples were run through this calculator's own formula, so the numbers match what the tool gives.
Example 1 — Band A, 38 mph in a 30 mph limit
Recorded at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone, relevant weekly income £500, clean licence, not on a motorway.
In a 30 mph limit, Band A covers 31–40 mph, so this is Band A
Fine range:25–75% of £500 = £125–£375 (starting point 50% = £250)
Points and course:3 points, or a fixed penalty of £100 with 3 points. A speed awareness course may be offered instead, at the police force's discretion.
Example 2 — Band B, 95 mph on a motorway
Recorded at 95 mph on a 70 mph motorway, relevant weekly income £700.
In a 70 mph limit, Band A is 71–90 mph and Band B is 91–100 mph, so this is Band B
Fine range:75–125% of £700 = £525–£875 (starting point 100% = £700), within the £2,500 motorway maximum
Points and risk:4–6 points, or a disqualification of 7–28 days. A short ban is a real possibility at this level.
Example 3 — Band C, driver near the totting-up threshold
Recorded at 55 mph in a 30 mph zone, relevant weekly income £450, already has 9 points from offences in the last 3 years.
In a 30 mph limit, Band C starts at 51 mph, so this is Band C
Fine range:125–175% of £450 = about £563–£788 (starting point 150% = £675), within the standard £1,000 maximum
Totting-up:9 existing points + 6 new points = 15 points, over the 12-point threshold. A minimum 6-month ban would normally follow unless the court accepts exceptional hardship.
Example 3 shows why the totting-up check matters as much as the fine. With 9 points already on the licence, the possible ban is a bigger concern than the fine.
UK speeding fine bands explained (A, B and C)
Magistrates' courts use three sentencing bands for speeding. The band is set by your recorded speed against the speed limit, and the thresholds differ for each limit, as the first table shows.
| Speed limit | Band A | Band B | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 21–30 | 31–40 | 41 and above |
| 30 mph | 31–40 | 41–50 | 51 and above |
| 40 mph | 41–55 | 56–65 | 66 and above |
| 50 mph | 51–65 | 66–75 | 76 and above |
| 60 mph | 61–80 | 81–90 | 91 and above |
| 70 mph | 71–90 | 91–100 | 101 and above |
| Band | Starting point | Fine range (% of weekly income) | Points or disqualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 50% | 25–75% | 3 points |
| B | 100% | 75–125% | 4–6 points, or 7–28 days |
| C | 150% | 125–175% | 6 points, or 7–56 days |
What is the minimum speeding fine in the UK?
The fixed penalty for speeding is £100 with 3 penalty points. A court fine has no flat minimum, because it is a percentage of your relevant weekly income. The maximum court fine is £1,000, or £2,500 if the offence was on a motorway.
Relevant weekly income is your income after tax and National Insurance. If you are on benefits only, or earn £120 a week or less after tax and National Insurance, it is £120. If the court has no information about your income, it assumes £440 a week.
Can I go on a speed awareness course instead?
You may be offered a speed awareness course instead of a fixed penalty and points. According to GOV.UK, this depends on whether the police think it is appropriate for your offence and whether you have attended a course in the last 3 years. You can't ask for one: it has to be offered to you.
Availability, cost and the speeds at which a course is offered vary by police force, so your Notice of Intended Prosecution is the only reliable guide. See our full comparison: Speed Awareness Course vs Penalty Points.
Will speeding points affect my insurance?
Usually, yes. Speeding convictions normally have to be declared when you buy or renew car insurance, and they can raise your premium. How much depends on your insurer, your age, your vehicle and the offence, so ask your insurer or compare quotes after the conviction.
What this calculator can't tell you
The exact fine a magistrate will set
Magistrates have discretion within each band's range. They consider aggravating factors (poor weather, location, previous convictions) and mitigating factors (a genuine emergency, a clean record), and they can give credit for a guilty plea. The range shown is a starting point, not a prediction.
Whether you'll be offered a speed awareness course
Course offers are at the discretion of the police force. The calculator can't tell you whether you will be offered one. Only your Notice of Intended Prosecution will.
Your specific circumstances in court
If your case goes to court rather than a fixed penalty, the outcome depends on your history and how the case is presented. For anything beyond a straightforward fixed penalty, consider getting professional legal advice.
Common calculation mistakes
Using gross income instead of income after tax and NI
The Sentencing Council works from relevant weekly income, which is after tax and National Insurance. Using your pre-tax figure will overestimate your likely fine.
Working out the band from "mph over the limit"
The bands depend on the recorded speed for each limit, and the ranges are wider on faster roads. For example, 40 mph in a 30 limit is Band A, while 91 mph in a 70 limit is Band B.
Forgetting existing points when assessing ban risk
A driver with 8 existing points facing a Band A offence (3 more points, 11 in total) is in a very different position from a driver with 0 points. Always check your totting-up position, not just the offence band. Only points from offences within the 3-year window count towards the 12-point limit.
Treating the maximum fine as the typical outcome
£1,000 and £2,500 are maximums, not typical fines. Most court fines fall within the percentage range for the band.
If you've been caught speeding
- Respond to the NIP within 28 days. Failing to respond is a separate offence with its own penalty points.
- Consider a speed awareness course if you are offered one. It avoids points, but check the conditions on your letter.
- Check your current points before responding. Use our Penalty Points Calculator to see your position and whether totting-up is a real risk.
- Gather evidence of your actual weekly income if the case proceeds to a fine, so the court works from an accurate figure.
- Get legal advice early if you're near 12 points. Exceptional hardship arguments need preparation and evidence.
How we calculate
Band — looked up from the Sentencing Council table above, using the speed limit and your recorded speed (rounded to the nearest mph).
Fine range — relevant weekly income × the band's percentage range (25–75%, 75–125% or 125–175%), capped at £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway. If income is left blank, £440 is used. If it is below £120, £120 is used.
Points — 3 for Band A, 4–6 for Band B, 6 for Band C. For totting-up, the calculator shows both the lowest and highest points that could be added.
Ban risk — the warning appears when existing points plus the new points could reach 12, or 6 for a driver within 2 years of passing their test.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum speeding fine in the UK?
The fixed penalty is £100 with 3 penalty points. A court fine has no flat minimum, because it is a percentage of your relevant weekly income. The maximum court fine is £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway.
Which band is 40 mph in a 30 mph zone?
Band A. In a 30 mph limit, Band A covers 31–40 mph and Band B starts at 41 mph. A Band A offence usually carries 3 points.
Can I go on a speed awareness course instead of getting points?
Possibly. It depends on whether the police think it is appropriate for your offence and whether you have attended a course in the last 3 years. You can't request one yourself.
How is the fine amount actually decided?
Magistrates start from a percentage of your relevant weekly income, using the starting point for the band (50%, 100% or 150%), then adjust within the band's range for aggravating and mitigating factors. They also consider a guilty plea. The calculator shows a range, and the final figure is the court's decision.
What happens if new points would take me to 12 or more?
You risk a minimum 6-month driving ban under the totting-up rule, unless the court accepts exceptional hardship. New drivers have their licence revoked at 6 points within 2 years of passing their test. Get legal advice before a court date if this applies to you.
References & data sources
- Sentencing Council — Speeding (revised 2017) guideline. Band thresholds by speed limit, fine percentage ranges and points or disqualification.
- Sentencing Council — Definition of relevant weekly income. The £120 and £440 figures.
- GOV.UK — Speeding penalties. Fixed penalty, maximum fines, totting up, new drivers and speed awareness courses.
- GOV.UK — Penalty points (endorsements). How long points stay on a licence.
Fine amounts are ultimately at a magistrate's discretion within the guideline ranges shown. This calculator provides an estimate, not a legal prediction. Seek professional advice for an actual court case.
Prakash
Prakash is the founder and editor of UK Driving Tools. He maintains the site's calculators and guides and checks the rates and rules they use against official UK sources, such as GOV.UK, the DVLA, HMRC and Transport for London, before publishing.
Pages are drafted with the help of AI tools and then checked by the editor. He isn't a lawyer, accountant or UK-qualified adviser, so every page lists its sources and states what its calculator can't tell you. Nothing on this site is legal or financial advice.
Pages on UK Driving Tools are drafted with the help of AI tools. Before publishing, the figures and rules on each page are checked against the official source named on the page, and calculator examples are tested against the working formula. Pages are updated when rates or rules change. Our Editorial Policy explains the full process, including how to report a mistake.
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