How much does it cost to defend a road traffic case?

Our specialist road traffic defence solicitors are here to defend you against every driving charge, from speeding offences to dangerous driving charges.

We also have a firm belief in making our fees as reasonable and transparent as possible. While every case is different, the figures below represent typical or average fees for defending you against some of the most common traffic prosecutions in the UK.

You may also wish to discuss the specifics of your case and the possible outcomes, with a specialist solicitor before you commit to defending a prosecution. In this case, please feel free to call and speak to one of our experienced road traffic law solicitors.

Call us on 0161 830 9632 or contact us and we’ll call you.

What’s the average cost of defending a motoring case?

The cost of representing you will usually depend on factors including the type of offence, whether you intend to enter a guilty plea, whether your case goes to trial and the specific circumstances of the case. However, these are our average fees for defending motorists:

• Speeding: £3,000-£5,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Exceptional hardship application: N/A trial / £2,000-£3,000 guilty plea
• Drink driving, including drunk in charge and failure to provide a specimen: £5,000-£8,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Drug driving, including in charge and failure to provide a specimen: £5,000-£8,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Careless driving: £3,000-£5,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Using a mobile phone whilst driving: £2,000-£5,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Failure to furnish (provide driver ID): £2,000-£5,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Failure to stop (report accident): £2,000-£5,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Driving without insurance: £2,000-£5,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea
• Disqualification: £2,000-£5,000 trial / £1,500 guilty plea

VAT is charged at 20%.

What are hourly rates for defending driving offences?

Our hourly rates range from £130 to £350 plus VAT, depending on the complexity of your case, the experience of the lawyer and your location. We’ll discuss all your options at the outset and also give you our best recommendation about the level of experience you may need from your defence solicitor.

What’s included in the cost of my driving defence?

We’ll quote a fixed fee for your case once we know the circumstances and that fixed fee will cover all the costs included in your case, from your initial call to instruct us all the way through to the trial or a guilty plea being entered.

How long will my driving offence case take?

This largely depends on the offence and whether you intend to enter a guilty plea or defend the charge at trial. The usual timescale for a motoring offence case from when we’re first instructed is from three to six months.  We may be able to give you a more accurate idea of timescale when we’ve more details about your case.

Are there any hidden costs in driving offence cases?

No, we make all our costs completely transparent. To ensure the smooth running of your driving offence case, we handle any necessary payments to third parties such as expert witnesses on your behalf. These payments are called ‘disbursements’ and can vary from case to case. We’ll always consult you about these costs in advance for your prior authorisation.