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What Happens if a Learner Driver is Caught Speeding?

18 October 2022 | Author AvatarAndy Moody

Following the rules of the road is standard, and it’s no surprise that you will get punished for not abiding by the law. Learner drivers get a fair amount of leeway, but they still need insurance to be on the road, and at GoShorty we offer temporary learner driver insurance for short-term coverage.

So, what happens if a learner driver is caught speeding? They, too, will face some harsh fines and punishments. This is why it is best to adopt a consistent positive attitude to driving – drive to impress and always think safety first!

If you’re just starting your driving journey and want some useful information, check out our guide – do learner drivers need insurance to find out more. Here is the low down on all you need to know about fines, speeding tickets, insurance, and committing a driving offence:

If A Learner Gets Caught

Although a learner driver is new on the roads and only just learning how everything works, mistakes and faults are still not taken very lightly, especially when it comes to speeding. Learners are in no way exempt from receiving fines, getting penalty points on their licence, or even having their license revoked.

Learner drivers need to follow the rules of the road just like any other road user would and should. No matter who you are or how old you are, you will be liable for any and all consequences if you commit driving offences or break the law.

Speeding is an easy mistake, but it is one that can cost you. Speeding because you glanced away from the road or if you are overtaking a slower vehicle can result in some hefty fines and problems.

So, if a learner gets caught speeding, they will get fined and penalised just like anybody else would. All drivers have a duty to be responsible and to keep the general public and other road users safe while behind the wheel. Compromising anyone’s safety will undoubtedly lead to some sort of punishment.

Getting points on their licence

A learner driver can get points on their learner’s licence and their full licence when they get it. So if a learner driver is caught speeding even before they have passed their driving test, they can be assured that they will receive some penalty points on their licence.

Not abiding by the road traffic laws is a serious offence, and you may be wondering how many points a learner driver could get for speeding when driving with their provisional license. A learner driver can receive up to about 11 points on their provisional license and still be eligible to take their driver’s test.

However, just because one can receive up to 11 points and still take their test, it doesn’t mean that anyone should be raking up a high number of points. The fewer points that are visible on a driver’s licence, the better. All drivers should do their best to avoid getting any points on their provisional driver’s licence.

Another vital thing to note is that any points you rack up on a provisional driving license will be directly transferred onto a full driving licence. So this means there is very little room for any other mistakes and faults. The more points you have, the higher your risk of getting fined or, worse, having your licence revoked.

Just because you can get 11 points doesn’t mean that you should. Having a high number of points will not only look bad but also cause you many problems. Unfortunately, people do make mistakes, but it is essential that you do your best to stick to the rules of the road.

Will Points Reset?

Many road users wonder if their points will reset after some time. It does not matter how experienced you are or how fresh you are to the roads. Your points will not reset. All penalty points you receive as a provisional driver will be carried over to your full driver’s licence once you have passed your driving test. Points will only reset if they have expired.

So let’s take a look at the points breakdown. The rules around points differ a bit and depend on how long you have been driving as well. So if you have only been driving on the roads for two years since passing your driving test and you have six or more penalty points against your name, your license will be revoked, and you will have to start afresh.

These rules may sound very harsh and strict to some, but getting so many offences in the first few years of driving does not look good and makes you seem irresponsible and a danger to others on the roads.

All drivers are allowed to receive up to 6 points on their licence during their first two years of solo driving. These first two years are also known as a probationary period. But 6 points is not a lot, and it doesn’t leave you with much leeway, especially if you have committed an offence before.

The main moral of this story is to drive safely, follow the rules of the road, and be a good and responsible driver. It is always best to keep all the teachings you learned from your driving instructor and carry them with you throughout your driving journey.

A few speeding mistakes could cost you your driving career, is hitting that accelerator really worth it!?

The worst of the worst:

So, now that we know what happens when you get six or more points let’s look at one of the worst-case scenarios. If you happen to receive up to 12 points during your first three years as a learner driver, you will be called into court, and the chances of having your license revoked are highly likely.

This case is rather unfortunate, it will stop you from being able to drive for a certain period of time, and it will make your life much more expensive when you do finally get your licence back again.

Getting your license revoked is relatively different to a driving disqualification or driving ban. You do not need to wait for a set period before you can start driving again. Essentially you can pay and apply for a new provisional licence very soon after getting the previous one revoked.

However, in the case that your licence has been revoked, it will be mandatory for you to retake and repay for your theory test again, even though you had already passed it before.

As a learner driver and a driver at any stage of your life, your number one priority should be keeping other people safe on the roads and avoiding any and all scenarios that will get you into trouble and result in penalty points.

You take on a lot of responsibility as a driver, and it is up to you to take it seriously and to drive cautiously and properly at all times.

How Points Can Affect Insurance:

Having multiple points on your driver’s licence doesn’t look good to the police, other road users, and of course, insurance companies. Points, driving bans, or any other offences raise major red flags in the eyes of an insurer.

Essentially, points make you look like a bad and unsafe driver, regardless of the reasoning for your points. This is no surprise, as insurance companies see you as more of a risk and will be more apprehensive when it comes to wanting to insure you.

Because of this, insurance prices increase, and you will be quoted a higher amount for your premium compared to another driver who does not have any offences against their name. This rule of thumb applies to all policies from when you are a learner driver until you become an official driver.

This likely doesn’t sound like good news to you if you happen to have points on your licence, and it isn’t the insurance company’s trying to be difficult and nasty. It’s just the law, plain and simple.

Your actions will have consequences, so do your best to avoid getting any points or punishments. Having a clean record is the easiest way to ensure you get the best insurance premium.

It is also essential that you are transparent with your chosen insurance company. Do not try to hide any points you have. It will only come back and bite you.

Rather be honest and own up to your mistakes so that you can get a proper policy. If you get caught being dishonest, the chances of your policy being cancelled are relatively high.

Speeding Penalties:

Speeding penalties may differ depending on the situation and on who caught you. Being aware of the rules of the road and of the consequences is essential. Let’s take a look at the following:

Caught by police

In the case that you get stopped by the police for speeding or committing an offence, they may merely give you a verbal warning. But they also may give you or send you a fixed penalty notice which you will need to settle at some stage to avoid prosecution.

You may even be ordered to come into court. It all comes down to how serious the offence is and how fast you are driving. If you get sent to court, you will receive a letter that will tell you exactly what to do. The law certainly does not take speeding lightly, so keep a close eye on the speedometer!

Speed camera

No one is a fan of speeding cameras, but they serve a purpose. They’re often hidden in order to catch you off guard which is frustrating, but their purpose is to protect you and other drivers on the roads. In the case that you did get caught out by a speed camera, you will be sent a number of notices within 14 days of being caught.

You will receive a NIP, which is a notice of intended prosecution, a section 172 notice. You will need to return this section 172 notice within 28 days of receiving it and notify the police about who was driving the vehicle.

You will likely have to go to court if you ignore this notice. Once you have officially sent your Section 172 notice back, you will receive a fixed penalty notice or be asked to stand up in court.

Laws For New Drivers:

New drivers are always seen as high-risk. This is because newer drivers do not have as much experience yet and haven’t yet got that natural instinct that keeps them safe on the roads, and due to this, newer drivers tend to get into more accidents.

High-risk drivers will always be charged more in insurance premiums, especially learners – it is inevitable, and there is no way out of it. It may seem quite harsh, but it is only fair. Once you have more experience behind you, your insurance costs will lower.

GoShorty understands how stressful (and expensive) being a learner driver can be. This is why they have some of the best and more affordable premiums that are perfectly suited to learner drivers. Car insurance does not have to cost you an arm and a leg!

You can get insurance while you are learning under a supervising driver, all the way until you pass your driver’s test!

Types Of Insurance For Learner Drivers

GoShorty has some excellent insurance premiums on offer for learner drivers. Being a learner can be stressful, but knowing that you have a fantastic insurance premium covering you should anything go wrong will really take some weight off of your shoulders.

GoShorty has anything from daily to monthly cover, so you will be good to go no matter what your circumstances are. Learner drivers can benefit from the following:

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