learning without insurance

[shaunross]

basically i was learning to drive with my dad (in his car) without insurance but with a provisional license, the police caught us but we havent heard anything from them... its been about 5 weeks now. just wanted to know if anyone knew what is likely to happen now.... thanks in advance

[Buenchico]

They'll catch up with you eventually. The fixed penalty for driving with no insurance is �200 + 6 penalty points. If the matter is heard before a court, the maximum fine is �5000 and 6 to 8 penalty points are placed on a licence. (There's also an option for the court to impose an immediate ban).

It's likely that both you and your father will be prosecuted because the offence of 'causing or permitting' someone to drive without insurance carries the same penalties as actually doing the driving.

If 6 points are placed on your licence, it means that you'll have to be extra careful for the first two years after passing your test. For most new drivers, getting 6 points on their licence (in the first two years) means that their licence will be revoked. So, for them, a single 3-point speeding offence wouldn't mean that they'd lose their licence. However, you'll already have 6 points on your licence (which remain 'active' for 3 years). Obviously, you won't lose your licence as soon as you pass your test, but any additional points will result in your licence being revoked automatically. So a single speeding offence would be enough for you to lose your licence.

Lastly, your insurance (when you get some) will be significantly higher. If your father is prosecuted, he can also expect an increase in his premium.

Chris

[shaunross]

thanks for the reply, was just wondering what are the chances of me being banned? and for how long? is it likely to go to court or will they just give me a fixed penalty fine?

thanks again, cant believe i did something so stupid!

[markja]

the police have to contact you within 6months i believe or the offence expires.
go on someone tell me i'm wrong!

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the reply.

The matter might go to court if the police (& Crown Prosecution Service) decide to prosecute your father as well as you. Even if it does, I doubt that the court would impose a ban (and the fine probably wouldn't be much different to the fixed penalty). So, either way, you're likely to get 6 points and a fine of around �200.

Chris

[tigga]

Everything already said is correct apart from the 'new drivers act part' - if you get six penalty points in the first two years, your licence will be revoked. This only applies to penalty points you get whilst on a full licence (i.e. after you have passed your test), any points given before this are not included. Strange but true !.
You will have to be careful now though as if you do get six in your first two years, your licence will be revoked (retake of theory and practical test) you will also then have a total of twelve in three years which is a minimum six month ban.

[Buenchico]

Sorry Tigga, you've got it wrong.

We've agreed that points acquired prior to passing the test don't count towards the 6 point total immediately after passing the test. However, you seem not to have understood that, if any further offence occurs during the two year probationary period, any (unexpired) points then 'kick in' and contribute to the total. So, if Shaun gets a single 3-point speeding ticket during that period, his points total will immediately jump to 9, and his licence will be revoked.

Quote:
"All valid penalty points will be taken into account when deciding whether six or more points have been accumulated in the two-year probationary period. Penalty points gained prior to the first driving test, which are within the three-year validity period, will also be taken into account. However, these will only come into scope of the Act if you incur further penalty points during the probationary period."

Source:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAn dNewDrivers/NewlyQualifiedDrivers/DG_4022566

Chris

[julesgemini]

did the police give you 7 days to produce an insurance document or did you tell them at the time you were stopped that you didnt have any insurance ?

[shaunross]

i told them i had no insurance when they pulled me over.... why? does it make a difference?

[tigga]

I stand corrected !. I was going by what happened to my girlfriend - in hindsight it looks like she got away with having her licence revoked due to the fact that she hadnt actually sent off her test certificate by the time she earned herself some more points therefore the dvla assumed she was still on a provisional, either that or they completely missed it !