Am I entitled to redundancy pay?

You are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have worked for your employer for at least 2 continuous years. The amount depends on your age, length of service and weekly pay, capped at £751 per week.

What is unfair dismissal?

Unfair dismissal occurs when your employer dismisses you without a fair reason or without following a fair procedure. You need 2 years of service to claim, reducing to 6 months from January 2027.

When is statutory sick pay paid?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now paid from Day 1 of illness following the Employment Rights Act 2025. The current rate is £123.25 per week for up to 28 weeks.

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🚗 Vehicles & Driving Guide

Driving Rights in 2026: Accidents, Points, Insurance & Your Legal Position

Got a speeding ticket, been in an accident, or worried about losing your licence? This guide explains your rights and obligations on the road — from fixed penalty notices to insurance claims and road traffic offences.

✅ Last verified: July 2026📚 Sources: GOV.UK, DVLA, RAC Foundation🇬🇧 Applies across the UK

⚖ Know Your Rights at a Glance

Fixed penalty notice (FPN): For most minor offences, you can pay the fixed penalty or request a court hearing.
Totting up: 12 or more penalty points in 3 years normally leads to a minimum 6-month disqualification.
New driver rule: If you get 6+ points within 2 years of passing your test, your licence is revoked and you must retake both theory and practical tests.
Mandatory motor insurance: You must have at least third-party insurance to drive on public roads. Driving without insurance is a criminal offence.
After an accident: You must stop, give your details to anyone who has reasonable grounds to request them, and report to police within 24 hours if you didn't exchange details at the scene.
Mileage allowance for work travel: 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles (from 6 April 2026) — claimable via Self Assessment if your employer pays less.

Fixed penalty notices and speeding

If you're caught speeding or committing a minor road traffic offence, you may receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). You have two options:

Accept the fixed penalty: Pay the fine (usually £100) and accept the points (usually 3 for speeding) or take a speed awareness course if offered
Request a court hearing: The fixed penalty is withdrawn and your case goes to a magistrates court, where fines can be higher but you can put forward a defence

You must respond within 28 days of the NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) being served. Ignoring it is not an option — failure to respond is itself an offence.

Penalty points and disqualification

Penalty points stay on your licence for 4–11 years depending on the offence. The rules:

Totting up: If you accumulate 12 or more points in 3 years, you will normally be disqualified for at least 6 months — unless you can persuade the court that exceptional hardship would result
New driver rule: If you accumulate 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your first full driving test, your licence is automatically revoked (not by a court — by the DVLA). You must retake both your theory and practical tests from scratch

After a road traffic accident

If you're involved in an accident, the law requires you to:

Stop at the scene
Give your name, address and vehicle registration to anyone who has reasonable grounds to request it
If anyone is injured, also produce your insurance certificate — or report to a police station within 24 hours
If you don't exchange details at the scene (e.g. no one else was present), report the accident to police within 24 hours

You should also notify your insurer promptly — most policies require notification even if you don't intend to make a claim. Failing to notify can invalidate your cover.

Insurance rights and obligations

You must have at least third-party motor insurance to drive on a public road. Driving without insurance is a criminal offence — penalties include a £300 fixed penalty, 6 penalty points, and the vehicle can be seized. Courts can impose unlimited fines and disqualification.

If you're hit by an uninsured driver, the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) can compensate you for personal injury and vehicle damage. If the driver left the scene (hit and run), the Untraced Drivers Agreement also covers you.

When making an insurance claim, you have a duty to disclose all material facts. Failing to do so (non-disclosure or misrepresentation) can result in your claim being rejected or your policy voided.

Respond to any NIP within 28 days

Ignoring a Notice of Intended Prosecution is itself an offence carrying 6 points. Always respond — even if you're going to contest it.

Consider a speed awareness course if offered

Speed awareness courses prevent points being added to your licence. They're offered at the discretion of the police where you're just above the threshold.

If you're approaching 12 points, get legal advice before the hearing

The exceptional hardship argument at court can sometimes prevent disqualification — but it must be argued properly by a solicitor.

Report accidents to police within 24 hours if required

If you didn't exchange details at the scene, report to any police station within 24 hours. Get a receipt.

Notify your insurer after any accident even if not claiming

Check your policy — most require prompt notification. Delay can affect your cover.

Claim mileage relief via Self Assessment if your employer underpays

If your employer pays less than 55p/mile, claim Mileage Allowance Relief for the shortfall on your Self Assessment return.

🚗 Check Your Driving Rights

Describe your driving situation and get guidance on your rights and obligations.

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Frequently asked questions

I received a speeding ticket — should I accept the points or go to court?

If you have a strong defence (e.g. you weren't driving, the sign was obscured, speed camera error) going to court may be worth it. Otherwise, if you're near 12 points, get legal advice. If you're well below and have no defence, accepting the fixed penalty and course (if offered) is usually simpler.

I've got 9 points already — will I lose my licence if I get caught again?

Not automatically — you reach 12 points, not 9, before the totting up threshold. But if you get caught again and reach 12 points, you'll normally face disqualification unless you can argue exceptional hardship at court. Get advice from a motoring solicitor before your next hearing.

Someone hit my car in a car park and drove off — what can I do?

Report to police (it's a hit and run) and your insurer. If you can identify the vehicle, the police may be able to trace the driver. If they can't be traced, the Motor Insurers' Bureau Untraced Drivers Agreement may cover your losses.

Do I need to tell my insurer about an accident even if I'm not claiming?

Yes — most policies require you to notify your insurer about accidents even if you're not making a claim. Failing to notify can amount to a breach of the policy terms and could affect future claims.

Can my employer make me use my car for work without paying mileage?

Your employer can ask you to use your personal vehicle for work, but they must reimburse you at a reasonable rate. If they pay below the HMRC approved rate (55p/mile from April 2026), you can claim Mileage Allowance Relief for the shortfall. They cannot require you to drive at a loss.

What is an exceptional hardship argument?

When you face disqualification through totting up (12+ points), you can argue to the court that disqualification would cause exceptional hardship to you or others — for example, you'd lose your job and be unable to support dependants. The court has discretion. It must be more than ordinary inconvenience.

I failed to produce my insurance certificate at the scene — what happens?

You must produce it at a police station within 7 days (for production of documents) or within 24 hours if someone was injured. Produce it promptly. Failing to do so is an offence, even if you were insured at the time.

📞 Free help and support

DVLA: 0300 790 6801

Motor Insurers' Bureau: mib.org.uk

Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848

RAC Foundation: racfoundation.org

⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers road traffic law across the UK as at July 2026. General legal information only — not legal advice. Verify with ACAS, GOV.UK or Citizens Advice before acting. ukworkrights.co.uk — Not a law firm.