Need legal advice now from a driving offence solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:
- Unlimited time to discuss your matter with an experienced driving offence solicitor
- An outline of your legal position in your driving offence
- A clear fee-quote and time frame for your case
Drink and drug driving offences and defences
Police station and emergency representation
Magistrates’ and Crown Court matters
Applications to reduce or remove bans
Commonly asked questions on driving offences.
Driving offences are amongst the most common of criminal acts, but many people don’t understand the punishments. Therefore, our driving offence solicitors have answered some of the most commonly asked questions on the topic.
1. What is a driving offence?
A driving offence is a criminal offence that results in a driver being given a fixed penalty notice or summoned to the Magistrates Courts. In some extreme cases, such as a dangerous driving offence that results in death, the case would be sent to the Crown Court.
There are a variety of punishments for driving offences, which depend on the severity of the crime. Punishments for a driving offence can range from a driving awareness course to a prison sentence.
2. What are some examples of driving offences?
Some of the most common examples of driving offences include:
- Drink driving
- Driving otherwise than in accordance with a license
- Drug driving
- Speeding
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without an MOT
If you have been charged with any of the above, or another form of driving offence, our solicitors can help. Please contact our driving offence solicitors on 020 3007 5500.
3. How long does it take to resolve a driving offence matter?
The time scale for your case is dependent on the type and severity of offence you have been charged with by the Crown Prosecution Service. The table below provides an estimate of the time it will take to resolve a driving offence issue.
Court | Guilty Plea | Not Guilty Plea |
Magistrates | 4 Months | 9 Months |
Crown Court | 5 Months | 5-12 Months |
4. Why do I need a driving offence solicitor?
If you get a court summons or are charged with a driving offence by the police, you need to seek a specialist driving offence solicitor as soon as possible.
Instructing a solicitor will ensure:
- You understand your position from a legal perspective
- Any defences for your case have been identified
- Clear legal advice on your options
- The correct statutory procedure is followed
- Court representation from an experienced solicitor
- The best possible outcome for your case
To contact one of our driving offence solicitors, please call us on 020 3007 5500.
5. Do you offer legal aid for driving offence matters?
We are currently unable to offer legal aid in any capacity as we lack the necessary legal aid certificate. We also don’t offer pro bono work at present.
Driving offences: fees and work.
The cost of driving offence defences is highly variable. At Britton and Time, our driving offence solicitors are committed to giving you precise estimates of costs, telling you how long your case will last, and advising on what we are doing for you.
1. Average Costs
The cost of defending your driving offence matter will vary depending on what the charge is. We have listed the average cost of both putting in a guilty plea, and going to trial for the driving offences we work on. Costs can increase with complexity, and we don’t offer fixed fees on driving offence matters.
Nature of activity (Driving Offence) | Not Guilty Plea | Guilty Plea | Court |
Summary Offence (Low Severity) | £4,000 – £6,000 | £1,800 | Magistrates |
Either Way Offence (Medium Severity) | £4,000 – £6,000 | £1,800 | Magistrates / Crown Court |
Indictable Offence (High Severity) | £15,000 – £30,000 | £4,000 – £6,000 | Crown Court |
2. Hourly rates
Depending on who is working on your case, our hourly rates are as follows:
Senior solicitors £400 plus VAT per hour
Solicitors £275 plus VAT per hour
Trainees and paralegals £175 plus VAT per hour
Administration £150 plus VAT per hour
Charges are made in increments of 1/10 of an hour, or for every 6 minutes spent on your matter, rounded up.
3. Work involved
The following list of work is typical for our driving offence solicitors when it comes to building a guilty plea driving offences:
Before and During Court
- Initial consultation(s) to understand the strength of evidence and for disclosure
- Taking instructions
- Guidance on plea entry and implications
- Sentencing advice and mitigation advice
- Court process outline and guidance
- Court representation if required, and travel to and from court
4. Factors affecting costs
Cost Variables Include
- Which offence(s) you are charged with and the number of the charges
- Whether your case takes place in the Magistrates Court or Crown Court
- The length of your case
- Whether or not third parties are forthcoming with information
- The strength of the evidence against you or in your favour
- Whether any witnesses, expert or otherwise, are required
- The extent of the correspondence required
- Changing your plea during the proceedings
- Instructing an experienced barrister
- Appealing your conviction and/or sentence
5. Disbursements and third party costs
There are no obligatory disbursements and third party payments for driving offences. If a barrister is required, our driving offence solicitors can help source one. We will always consult with you before incurring any additional cost.
Need legal advice now from a driving offence solicitor in London or Brighton?
Tell us about your case and we’ll get back to you the same day.
Meet our criminal solicitors in London and Brighton.
Paul Britton
Managing Director
Joseph Navas
Director & Solicitor
Patrick Murray
Criminal Solicitor
Alex Grist
Trainee Criminal Solicitor
Why Britton and Time Solicitors?
Driving offences are our speciality. Our solicitors have worked on many driving offence cases, which have given our solicitors an abundance of knowledge and experience in this area of law. When it comes to your driving offence case, we’ll always guarantee:
Award-Winning Service.
You are our priority, and the law is our speciality. Our award-winning driving offence solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.
Full Billing Transparency.
No fee surprises. Ever. Our driving offence solicitors will inform you from the outset on how much your case will cost, and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.
Regular Communication.
With fortnightly updates on your case, you’ll never be left in the dark. Our driving offence solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.
Our reviews.
It’s not about how good we think our services are; it’s about what you think.
There are three things that make Britton & Time, and in particular Paul, stand apart from other law firms: knowledge, communication and a will to win.
Rated excellent by over 95% of our clients.
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Other Driving Offences.
Careless Driving
Dangerous Driving
Drink Driving
Driving Without MOT
Drug Driving
Failing To Provide Driver Details
Failing To Stop For Police
Careless Driving
Dangerous Driving
Drink Driving
Driving Without MOT
Drug Driving
Failing To Provide Driver Details
Failing To Stop For Police
Our criminal law insights.
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What is Affray?
Affray refers to a disturbance involving violence or the threat of violence to the extent any bystanders may fear for their safety.
What Are Cream Chargers and Are They Illegal?
Cream chargers contain nitrous oxide which is a common recreation drug in the UK. Find out more about the law surrounding them here.
The Legality of Football Banning Orders
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Need legal advice now from a driving offence solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll be able to help you the same day.