Speed camera and speeding fine calculator
Enter a speed limit and a speed to see whether a UK speed camera is likely to catch it, and what usually happens next: nothing, a speed awareness course, a £100 fine and 3 points, or court. It's based on the police's 2025 enforcement guidance and the courts' sentencing guidelines.
Any speed over the limit is an offence. The thresholds below are guidance that police forces can choose not to follow, so treat this as an estimate, not a safe margin.
Your speed
General information, not legal advice. Each police force decides its own approach.
When do speed cameras flash? The 10% + 2 rule
The law doesn't allow any margin: driving at 31 mph in a 30 limit is an offence. But the National Police Chiefs' Council publishes guidance so that forces act consistently. It says enforcement should normally start at the limit plus 10%, plus 2 mph, and that a speed awareness course can be offered up to the limit plus 10% plus 9 mph.
| Limit | Camera tolerance | Enforcement from | Speed awareness course | Fixed penalty | Court summons from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 22 mph | 24 mph* | 24 to 31 mph | 24 to 34 mph | 35 mph |
| 30 mph | 32 mph | 35 mph | 35 to 42 mph | 35 to 49 mph | 50 mph |
| 40 mph | 42 mph | 46 mph | 46 to 53 mph | 46 to 65 mph | 66 mph |
| 50 mph | 52 mph | 57 mph | 57 to 64 mph | 57 to 75 mph | 76 mph |
| 60 mph | 62 mph | 68 mph | 68 to 75 mph | 68 to 85 mph | 86 mph |
| 70 mph | 73 mph | 79 mph | 79 to 86 mph | 79 to 95 mph | 96 mph |
Source: NPCC Speed Enforcement Disposal Guidance 2025. *In Wales, forces start enforcing 20 mph limits at 26 mph. Thresholds are guidance, not law, and forces can be stricter.
Fixed cameras, mobile camera vans and average speed cameras all work to these thresholds. Average speed cameras measure your speed between two points, so slowing down only for the camera doesn't help. Lower limits can apply to your vehicle, for example vans, or cars towing a trailer or caravan.
Speed awareness course, fixed penalty or court?
- Speed awareness course: offered if you're in the course band and haven't done one in the last 3 years. It costs about £85 to £110, takes about 4 hours, and means no fine and no points.
- Fixed penalty: £100 and 3 points in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland it's £60 plus a £5 offender levy, and 3 points.
- Court: from the summons threshold, or if you dispute the fixed penalty. In England and Wales the fine depends on how fast you were going and your income.
| Limit | Band A | Band B | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 21 to 30 mph | 31 to 40 mph | 41 mph and over |
| 30 mph | 31 to 40 mph | 41 to 50 mph | 51 mph and over |
| 40 mph | 41 to 55 mph | 56 to 65 mph | 66 mph and over |
| 50 mph | 51 to 65 mph | 66 to 75 mph | 76 mph and over |
| 60 mph | 61 to 80 mph | 81 to 90 mph | 91 mph and over |
| 70 mph | 71 to 90 mph | 91 to 100 mph | 101 mph and over |
| Fine | 25–75% of weekly income | 75–125% | 125–175% |
| Points or ban | 3 points | 4–6 points or 7–28 day ban | 6 points or 7–56 day ban |
Source: Sentencing Council speeding guideline (England and Wales). Fines are capped at £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway, plus prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland doesn't offer speed awareness courses for speeding, so offences in the course band get a fixed penalty instead. Scottish and Northern Irish courts don't use the England and Wales sentencing bands, but serious speeding can still lead to more points or a ban. Northern Ireland offers speed awareness courses and has a lower fixed penalty.
Points, bans and new drivers
- Points count towards a ban for 3 years from the offence, and stay on your driving record for 4 years.
- 12 or more points within 3 years normally means a ban of at least 6 months.
- If you passed your test less than 2 years ago, 6 points means your licence is revoked. You'd need to apply for a provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again.
- Insurers usually ask about convictions from the last 5 years, and points typically make cover more expensive.
Why a few mph matters: stopping distances
Stopping distance rises much faster than speed, because braking distance increases with the square of your speed. These are the Highway Code's typical figures for a car in good conditions.
| Speed | Thinking | Braking | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 6 m | 6 m | 12 m |
| 30 mph | 9 m | 13 m | 23 m |
| 40 mph | 12 m | 24 m | 36 m |
| 50 mph | 15 m | 38 m | 53 m |
| 60 mph | 18 m | 54 m | 72 m |
| 70 mph | 21 m | 74 m | 95 m |
Frequently asked questions
How fast can you go before a speed camera flashes?
Legally, any speed over the limit is an offence. In practice, police guidance (NPCC) says enforcement should start at the limit plus 10% plus 2 mph: 24 mph in a 20, 35 mph in a 30, 46 mph in a 40, 57 mph in a 50, 68 mph in a 60 and 79 mph in a 70. Forces can be stricter, and in Wales enforcement in 20 mph limits starts at 26 mph.
Will I get a speed awareness course or points?
If you were caught between 10% + 2 mph and 10% + 9 mph over the limit (for example 35 to 42 mph in a 30) and haven't done a course in the last 3 years, you'll usually be offered a course instead of points. Courses cost about £85 to £110. They aren't offered for speeding in Scotland.
How much is a speeding fine in the UK?
A fixed penalty is £100 and 3 points in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland it's £60 plus a £5 offender levy, and 3 points. If you go to court in England or Wales, the fine is a percentage of your weekly income: 25% to 75% for band A, 75% to 125% for band B and 125% to 175% for band C, capped at £1,000, or £2,500 on a motorway.
What speed means going to court?
Police guidance says a summons rather than a fixed penalty from 35 mph in a 20, 50 in a 30, 66 in a 40, 76 in a 50, 86 in a 60 and 96 in a 70.
How many points before a ban?
12 or more points within 3 years usually means a ban of at least 6 months. New drivers lose their licence if they get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing their test.
Do all speed cameras flash?
No. Many modern digital cameras and average speed cameras don't flash at all, so not seeing a flash doesn't mean you weren't caught. A Notice of Intended Prosecution must normally reach the registered keeper within 14 days.
Sources
- NPCC Speed Enforcement Disposal Guidance 2025
- Sentencing Council: Speeding guideline
- GOV.UK: Speeding penalties and Penalty points
- PSNI: Fixed penalty notices
Last reviewed October 2026.
Planning a journey? Work out the fuel cost with the UK fuel cost calculator.