Will I lose my license?

Author
Discussion

Crata

Original Poster:

8 posts

19 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Got pulled for driving uninsured. I currently have six point for SP30 speeding x2. Am I going to lose my license?

I made some poor decisions. I am going to have to be accountable to the incoming consequences. I am interested to know the general opinion as to whether or not I am going to lose my license and if and how long any ban will likely be.

I had a tough month with a few unexpected bills. I ran out of money. My insurance renewal was due. I faffed about and couldn't find the money to renew my policy or buy a new one. The premium had increased wildly after picking up 2x speeding fines and with a couple of claims in the last few years. I stopped all but essential travel, commuting 5mins to work each weekday and not using the vehicle on the weekend. My policy expired on the 16th of the month, I need the money from payday, 27th, to renew it. Best quoted £125/month to insure. I had an argument with the other half and historically my coping strategies, due to various anger management and mental issues, have been to go for a walk in the hills and allow myself time to calm down and process things rather than react in the heat of the moment. Cue a 0245 departure from home to drive to the highlands and avoid detrimentally impacting a relationship I have spent the last few years working very hard to improve. Passed a sitting traffic car just before the slip road to the motorway and immediately knew what was about to unravel. Got up to speed on the motorway and shortly thereafter saw a set of headlights catch up swiftly before dropping in behind me and tracking me until just before the next junction. Blues and twos and pulled off the motorway and stopped.

I was sober and committed no speeding or driving offences beyond the lack of insurance. Car seized and impounded. Me walking home 20+miles. Officer stated that it would normally be 6points and £300 fine. However as I already have 6 points then it would be referred to court and I would receive a summons in due course.

So....I now await the summons and am worried to lose my license and be banned and potentially worse. I need my license for my work. I am already broke and if I lose my employment and my ability to use my current strategies for managing my mental wellbeing I am worried about where that leaves me. Any advice or opinions welcomed.

ConnectionError

1,943 posts

76 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
You need to get in touch with AGT law

He posts on here,

Fingers crossed it works out for you. We all make decisions that we regret in hindsight.

Best wishes

vaud

52,335 posts

162 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
ConnectionError said:
You need to get in touch with AGT law

He posts on here,

Fingers crossed it works out for you. We all make decisions that we regret in hindsight.

Best wishes
Linky https://www.counsel.direct/

TwigtheWonderkid

44,653 posts

157 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Crata said:
I stopped all but essential travel, commuting 5mins to work each weekday and not using the vehicle on the weekend.
Sorry, but tough time or not, there's no excuse for knowingly driving without insurance. Commuting 5 mins to work each day is not essential travel, as that can be walked in maybe 30 mins. If you can't afford the insurance, and many people can't, you take the car off the road, which is what many people in your shoes do.

Driving without insurance is theft, even if you don't claim. Money you should be paying into the pot goes unpaid, and the rest of the insurance buying public have to pay a levy on their insurance of £30-£40 to make up the shortfall.

Will you lose your licence, probably. Will you stop driving for the length of the ban if you do, that's the question?

fooman

227 posts

71 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Do you drive for work? If not you are can't be more than a 20 minute bike ride away plus you may find your mental health benefits from a little regular exercise.

helix402

7,913 posts

189 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Licence. Will be lost.

chunkyjh

116 posts

175 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
if you plead your situation at court re needing your licence for work, if you lose your licence you'll lose your job etc, the Court can and may allow you to keep your license despite totting 12 points or more. So in answer to your question, not necessarily, However, im sure I don't need to point out that your insurance costs will be far less affordable than they were with your speeding offences. Good luck

Forester1965

2,781 posts

10 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
ConnectionError said:
You need to get in touch with AGT law

He posts on here,

Fingers crossed it works out for you. We all make decisions that we regret in hindsight.

Best wishes
If by 'highlands' you mean the Highlands and you were in Scotland at the time, AGT may not be the man (Scottish law versus E&W).

I hope whatever happens you come through OK.

Bullitt 1

42 posts

16 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
helix402 said:
Licence. Will be lost.
With a bit of luck, no excuses

martinbiz

3,369 posts

152 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Bullitt 1 said:
helix402 said:
Licence. Will be lost.
With a bit of luck, no excuses
Helpful posts

fridaypassion

9,368 posts

235 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Sounds like you are having a bit of a crap time OP things aren't always cut and dry in life and its sucks that you were in this situation and it double sucks that you got caught. Trying to make a positive at least you hadn't had an accident and got no insurance as the consequences would have been much more grave. Get some proper legal advice. Good luck.

poo at Paul's

14,325 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
5 minute commute in a car is what 20 mins on a pushbike? An hours walk?

You made the decision, on the basis of a high premium due to other offences!
Will it really matter if you lose your licence, or will that be the next ‘poor choice’?

Not good enough.

poo at Paul's

14,325 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
5 minute commute in a car is what 20 mins on a pushbike? An hours walk?

You made the decision, on the basis of a high premium due to other offences!
Will it really matter if you lose your licence, or will that be the next ‘poor choice’?

Not good enough.

simon_harris

1,773 posts

41 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
I can’t understand why anyone thinks they can get away with no insurance in this day and age, too many ANPR cameras everywhere.

Mandatory 6 points so you will be on 12, down to you if you can make a case to keep your licence but the insurance will be even more expensive than before.

loskie

5,655 posts

127 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
yes pretty sure you will lose your licence unless you employ a decent solicitor for the sentencing.

richhead

1,633 posts

18 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Crata said:
Got pulled for driving uninsured. I currently have six point for SP30 speeding x2. Am I going to lose my license?

I made some poor decisions. I am going to have to be accountable to the incoming consequences. I am interested to know the general opinion as to whether or not I am going to lose my license and if and how long any ban will likely be.

I had a tough month with a few unexpected bills. I ran out of money. My insurance renewal was due. I faffed about and couldn't find the money to renew my policy or buy a new one. The premium had increased wildly after picking up 2x speeding fines and with a couple of claims in the last few years. I stopped all but essential travel, commuting 5mins to work each weekday and not using the vehicle on the weekend. My policy expired on the 16th of the month, I need the money from payday, 27th, to renew it. Best quoted £125/month to insure. I had an argument with the other half and historically my coping strategies, due to various anger management and mental issues, have been to go for a walk in the hills and allow myself time to calm down and process things rather than react in the heat of the moment. Cue a 0245 departure from home to drive to the highlands and avoid detrimentally impacting a relationship I have spent the last few years working very hard to improve. Passed a sitting traffic car just before the slip road to the motorway and immediately knew what was about to unravel. Got up to speed on the motorway and shortly thereafter saw a set of headlights catch up swiftly before dropping in behind me and tracking me until just before the next junction. Blues and twos and pulled off the motorway and stopped.

I was sober and committed no speeding or driving offences beyond the lack of insurance. Car seized and impounded. Me walking home 20+miles. Officer stated that it would normally be 6points and £300 fine. However as I already have 6 points then it would be referred to court and I would receive a summons in due course.

So....I now await the summons and am worried to lose my license and be banned and potentially worse. I need my license for my work. I am already broke and if I lose my employment and my ability to use my current strategies for managing my mental wellbeing I am worried about where that leaves me. Any advice or opinions welcomed.
years ago while i was working abroard i had an email saying my insurance was running out etc, sketchy internet where i was so asked mrs who was at home to sort it, get a message back next day from her, all sorted, so forgot about it.
forward a month or so , got pulled same as you, she had renewed it and we were both named drivers, but dosy idiot hadnt filled the form in right, and it was only insured for her, we were normally both insured on each car, so car impounded 6 points and fine.
Had no other points so paid up, got car and carried on all be it with 6 points.
had to just suck it up as one of those things that can very easy happen.
Not sure about scotland, but sure you will get a ban, you will have to do the same and hope you dont get shafted to much in insurance in future, but suspect you will.
However am finding it a bit hard to find sympathy as you knew you were not insured. And drove anyway, but we do all make mistakes in life, i know i have.
So hope you can sort another way to get to work etc, it will probably only be months not years.


Simpo Two

87,031 posts

272 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Crata said:
0245 departure from home... Car seized and impounded. Me walking home 20+miles.
So they just left you at the roadside in the middle of the night with a 5+ hour walk home?

Bainbridge

195 posts

44 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
@OP I think that if you plead mitigating circumstances you might avoid a ban, but your insurance will take a hike with an IN10 on top of the speeding endorsements on your licence.

Sorry to hear you've been having a tough time. Knowingly driving with no insurance must be very stressful, and to me would create additional anxiety I could do without.

Try to be kind to yourself and do the right thing, rather than what you think might make you feel better.

JackJarvis

2,566 posts

141 months

Tuesday 7th May
quotequote all
Your garage shows you have 3 (very decent) cars, couldn't you just use another one ?

Percy Cushion

1,186 posts

227 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Driving without insurance is theft, even if you don't claim. Money you should be paying into the pot goes unpaid, and the rest of the insurance buying public have to pay a levy on their insurance of £30-£40 to make up the shortfall.
I’m sorry but that is bull. Theft? Who has the OP stolen from? How are insurance companies impacted? There is no claim! Did you even read the original post?