Speeding offences are common in the UK, but it's important for future insurance policies to be specific about which type of offence you may have committed. If you've received an SP50 speeding notice recently, this guide will help you to unpack what that means for your insurance going forward.
What is an SP50 conviction?
Speeding conviction codes depend on the type of vehicle you are driving, and where you committed the offence. An SP50 offence is one which occurs on a motorway. These speeding convictions will therefore almost always be for exceeding the motorway speed limit of 70mph.
Are all speeding convictions SP50?
SP50 speeding convictions only apply to offences committed on the motorway. Other speeding offences are categorised under other designations. For example, an SP30 notice is applicable for speeding offences which occur on public roads, and an SP10 notice is applicable for speeding offences committed by goods vehicles.
Your future insurance premiums will be impacted by the type of speeding conviction you receive, so it's important that you're aware which type of notice you've been given. If you're looking for cheap car insurance after being issued an SP50 notice, check out our page on convicted driver insurance.
How does an SP50 conviction affect my car insurance?
You will need to declare your conviction to your insurer for the following 5 years, and it may affect your premiums. The number of points will determine the exact increase in your premiums. Expect a slight increase, of around 5% on average, for an offence worthy of 3 points. An offence worthy of 6 points could set you back more, and you could see anything up to a 30% increase in your insurance premiums compared to a clean licence.
How can I find cheap car insurance after an SP50 conviction?
Our guide to finding car insurance with a speeding conviction can help you to identify insurers who offer lower premiums for drivers with specific convictions.
In addition to making sure you find the right insurer for your circumstances, there are some steps you can take in order to lower your insurance premiums. For example, you may be interested in taking an advanced driver test or looking into black box insurance.