Motorists risk expensive car insurance costs for 'sub-standard driving behaviour' with millions at risk

Almost 1.5 million of those completed a national speed awareness course, with a further 168,000 taking a national motorway awareness course in 2022.

The course looks to improve conditions on the road by highlighting the dangers of speeding, with motorists being shown how to drive at a safe speed.

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The course takes two hours and 45 minutes and can be taken online or at a local venue, with drivers being taught how to avoid distractions and "resist pressure to speed" when on the road.

While more than one million people take these speed courses every year, experts are warning that they face more expensive car insurance prices as a further consequence.

Mark Tongue, joint CEO and founder of Select Car Leasing, said there was no legal obligation to inform their insurance provider that they have completed a speed awareness course.

However, if the insurer asks a driver whether they have taken, or are due to take a test, they need to be "100 per cent truthful" or their prices could spiral even further.

While the price of a policy will increase if they admit to taking a speed awareness course, it will not rise as much as if they were to get penalty points on their licence.

If someone is found to be speeding, drivers could be offered the chance to take a speed awareness course rather than receiving points or a fine, although the course generally costs around £85.

Tongue explained: "The reality is that some insurers might view the need to attend such a course as indicative of sub-standard driving behaviour, which could mean they charge slightly higher premiums despite the motorist having no formal penalty on their record.

“It is crucial to understand the legal and contractual consequences of nondisclosure. If your insurer specifically asks if you have attended a speed awareness course, and you fail to provide the correct information, it could invalidate your insurance policy.”

While the speed awareness course is a good option for motorists who are found to be speeding, they are not able to take the same course again within three years.

If they are in this situation, they could face the prospect of being hit with a fine or licence points for reoffending.

The RAC Foundation has previously highlighted how the number of speeding offences has continued to rise over the last decade, jumping from 1.9 million in 2013 to nearly 2.9 million in 2021.

Road safety experts have supported the use of speed awareness courses as research shows that reoffending rates tend to be lower once they have taken part in the scheme.

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Tongue concluded: "If you’re unsure whether you need to disclose your attendance at a speed awareness course, it’s best to always answer any questions with honesty to ensure any insurance you have in place remains valid and that you don’t fall foul of the law.”

"Each insurer will operate in different ways so it is perhaps important that you do your research if you have been on a speed awareness course before choosing a particular provider."