If you’re asking can you get banned from driving for speeding, the answer is yes, though it depends heavily on how far over the limit you were and whether you already have points on your licence. Most speeding offences result in a fine and points rather than a ban.
In this guide, our driving offence solicitors explain exactly when and how you can get banned from driving for speeding, how the points and fines system works, and what to do if you’ve been charged.
The Three Ways A Speeding Offence Can Lead To A Ban
There are three main ways a speeding offence can result in a driving ban. The first is a single very serious offence, where the speed recorded is so far above the limit that magistrates use their discretion to disqualify you rather than add points. The second is totting up, where speeding points combine with points from other offences to reach 12 or more within three years, triggering an automatic ban. The third applies specifically to new drivers, who can lose their licence after just 6 points rather than 12.
| Speeding Band | How Far Over The Limit | Typical Points Or Ban |
| Band A | Up to 10mph over | 3 points or awareness course |
| Band B | 11 to 20mph over | 4 to 6 points |
| Band C | 21mph or more over | 6 points or 7 to 56 day ban |
How Fast Do You Have To Be Going To Get A Driving Ban?
There is no single speed at which every driver will automatically receive a driving ban. The court considers the speed alleged, the applicable speed limit and all the circumstances of the offence before deciding whether to impose penalty points or a driving disqualification.
For example, someone caught travelling at excessive speeds well above the limit may face a discretionary ban rather than the usual speeding points. The risk of disqualification is particularly significant where the speed is substantially higher than the relevant limit.
The Sentencing Council’s guidelines provide starting points for courts, but magistrates can consider aggravating and mitigating circumstances when deciding the appropriate penalty.
A speeding offence committed at 100mph on a motorway, for example, will generally be treated more seriously than a relatively minor excess over the speed limit.
Can You Get An Instant Driving Ban For Speeding?
A driver can receive what is sometimes described as an instant driving ban for a serious speeding offence, but this does not usually mean that a police officer can simply ban you at the roadside.
If police catch you exceeding the speed limit, they can report the offence and, in certain circumstances, issue a fixed penalty notice. Where the alleged speed is sufficiently serious to warrant consideration of a driving disqualification, the matter will normally be dealt with by the courts.
You may therefore receive a court summons or other notice requiring you to attend court. The magistrates will then consider the evidence and decide whether to impose penalty points, a fine or a driving ban.
Can You Be Banned For Speeding If You Have No Points?
Yes. You do not need to have previous penalty points or convictions to receive a driving disqualification for speeding.
A single speeding offence can result in a discretionary ban where the speed alleged is sufficiently serious. The court will consider the offence itself alongside any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.
Having a clean driving record may be relevant when the court considers your circumstances, but it does not prevent a ban where the offence is considered serious enough.
This is different from a totting up disqualification, which is based on accumulating 12 or more penalty points within the relevant three-year period.
What Is A Totting Up Ban?
A totting up ban occurs when a driver reaches 12 or more penalty points for offences committed within a three-year period.
The court will normally impose a driving disqualification when the threshold is reached. This can happen through speeding offences alone or through a combination of motoring offences, such as speeding, careless driving and other offences that carry penalty points.
The standard disqualification period is generally:
- 6 months if you have 12 or more penalty points within three years
- 12 months if you have been disqualified for totting up before and reach the threshold again
- 2 years if you have been disqualified for totting up twice within the previous three years
The precise circumstances of your driving record matter, particularly where you have a previous disqualification.
Can You Avoid A Totting Up Ban Through Exceptional Hardship?
In certain circumstances, a driver facing a totting up disqualification can ask the court not to impose the usual ban because doing so would cause exceptional hardship.
This is a much higher threshold than ordinary inconvenience or difficulty. Losing your driving licence, making your commute harder or increasing your car insurance will not normally be enough on its own.
The court will consider the specific consequences of the disqualification and the evidence presented. This might include the impact on immediate family members, employment or other people who depend on you.
Importantly, exceptional hardship is not simply an argument that you personally need your licence. The court must be satisfied that the consequences go beyond the ordinary hardship that would be expected from losing a driving licence.
If you are close to the totting up threshold, obtaining legal advice before attending the court hearing can therefore be extremely important.
How Many Points Do You Get For Speeding?
The bands shown above determine your starting point, but the fine itself is calculated as a percentage of your weekly income, ranging from around 25 percent for the least serious Band A cases up to 175 percent for the most serious Band C cases, subject to an overall cap of £1,000, or £2,500 if the offence happened on a motorway.
Points from a speeding conviction stay on your licence for 4 years from the date of the offence, and it’s these points, combined with anything else on your record within the same 3 year totting up window, that determine whether you’re at risk of a ban rather than just a fine. You can find the official GOV.UK guidance on speeding penalties for the full breakdown of fines and points.
When Does Speeding Lead To An Automatic Ban?
A ban isn’t automatic for most speeding offences, but magistrates do have discretion to disqualify you instead of imposing points if the offence is serious enough. This is one of the clearest examples of can you get banned from driving for speeding on a single occasion, for example if you were caught travelling at a very high speed or in a location with an obvious risk to others, such as outside a school. This is separate from totting up, and it can apply even on a first offence if the facts are serious enough.
Under the Sentencing Council’s guidelines, factors that can push a case towards a higher band or a ban include poor road or weather conditions, driving for hire or reward such as a taxi or delivery driver, towing a caravan or trailer, carrying passengers or a heavy load, and the offence taking place near a school or in an area with heavy pedestrian traffic. Factors that can work in your favour include having no previous convictions, good character, and a genuine emergency that can be evidenced.
Can You Be Banned Through Totting Up For Speeding Alone?
Yes. If you build up 12 or more penalty points within a three year period, the court has a legal duty to disqualify you under the totting up rules, and it doesn’t matter whether all of those points came from speeding or from a mix of different offences. This is one of the clearest answers to can you get banned from driving for speeding alone, since even a single Band B or Band C speeding offence can add several points at once, and it’s easier than many drivers realise to reach the threshold after just two or three tickets.
In genuinely exceptional circumstances, the court has discretion not to impose the ban, but this is a high bar to meet and depends on strong, specific evidence being put before the court. Our guide on what to do after being charged with a driving offence covers how these totting up and exceptional hardship applications are prepared in more detail.
What Happens If You’re A New Driver Caught Speeding?
The rules are stricter if you passed your test within the last two years, and this is another common answer to can you get banned from driving for speeding much sooner than an experienced driver would be. New drivers who reach 6 or more penalty points during this probationary period have their licence automatically revoked, rather than facing the usual 12 point totting up procedure.
This means reapplying for a provisional licence and passing both the theory and practical tests again before you can drive unsupervised. A single serious speeding offence, or two moderate ones, can be enough to trigger this for a newly qualified driver, which is why it’s worth taking any speeding notice seriously even if the fine itself seems manageable.
What To Do If You’ve Been Charged With Speeding
Read the notice of intended prosecution carefully and respond within the deadline, since failing to do so can lead to additional points and a fine on top of the original offence. If you’re offered a speed awareness course, this is often worth taking, since it avoids points altogether, though eligibility is usually limited to Band A offences and you can only attend one every three years. If your case is more serious, such as a Band C offence or you’re close to the 12 point totting up threshold, it’s worth getting in touch with our team before you enter a plea, since the right representation at this stage can affect whether the court imposes points or a ban.
If you don’t accept that the offence took place, or you believe the speed reading was inaccurate, you can challenge the notice rather than accepting the fixed penalty. Contesting a notice moves the matter to court, so it’s worth weighing the strength of your case carefully, since a failed challenge can sometimes result in a higher penalty than accepting the original offer.
How McArthur Solicitors Can Help
Whether you’re facing a single serious speeding charge or you’re at risk of a totting up ban after several smaller offences, the approach the court takes depends on the specific facts of your case and how well those facts are presented.
At McArthur Solicitors, our team has represented clients across London and England in speeding and totting up cases, including exceptional hardship applications where a ban would cause genuine hardship.
Get in touch with us today for a confidential consultation.
