Costs for Motoring Offences Advice

What types of motoring offences does this pricing guide cover?

Common summary only offences that can be concluded with a single hearing include:

• Speed offences
• Drink or drug driving, or failing to provide a specimen
• Failing to stop after an accident; failing to exchange details after an accident
• Using a hand-held device such as a mobile phone while driving
• Driving without due care and attention
• Failing to provide details of the driver on request, or details of insurance on request

A full list of which offences these costs apply to can be found in the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Part I) and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (s.84).

If you’re not sure if your case applies, get in touch. Our team will be able to advise on whether we can help – this initial enquiry over the phone is free. Call us at 01432 278 179 or email info@kidwellssolicitors.co.uk with as much detail as possible.

How long will it take? What are the stages?

Our legal team works on an hourly rate basis of £110 to £350 excluding VAT per hour, depending on the person instructed. Legal fees attract a VAT rate of 20%. It’s difficult to give an exact rate without knowing the details, but we’re able to advise on typical costs below.

The timescale of motoring offences, with a guilty plea, will depend on the court date for the final hearing. Not guilty pleas will take an estimated 3-6 months, and involve more time.

To support you, we would first advise you of what we can do during your initial enquiry. Then, we will have an initial meeting to go over the details of your case. Your legal team will then prepare for the Court hearing, which may be for a written representation or a Court appearance on your behalf. If we also attend the hearing, then before the Court hearing you will meet with your instructed person to prepare. After the hearing, we will then advise on the next steps.

What are the costs of legal advice and representation for motoring offences?

Typical summary only cases, with a guilty plea and at most a one day trial, typically incur 1-4 hours at the agreed hourly rate. This would break down to £220 to £1,200 excluding VAT. ‘Typical’ cases are guilty pleas with a single half-day trial.

There will be preparation works required which will depend on the complexity of the matter with no less than 1 hour and up to several days conferences and statement preparation

Other cases, such as those involving either a ‘special reasons’ or ‘exceptional hardship’ defence will incur extra time. See below for further guidance on factors that would increase costs.

For an accurate estimate and information relevant to your specific case, contact us at 01432 278 179. 

Factors that Affect Cost

We will advise you as much as possible throughout our support what the costs will be, both of our fees and of third party disbursements. Complications that would increase the time spent on your claim, and therefore your overall costs, could include:

• If the Court where you are due to appear is away from Hereford
• If you intend to plead not guilty and there will be a trial
• If you intend to plead guilty but would like to argue ‘special reasons’
• If there is work involved in gathering witness statements
• If your case would involve instructing an Expert
• If, in the event of accumulating 12 or more penalty points or otherwise being disqualified from driving, you wish to claim ‘exceptional hardship’
• If the case takes longer than a half-day trial
• If the case is part heard and re-listed for another day to finish

What does the hourly rate include?

Our hourly rate encompasses the time spent on your behalf, excluding additional expenses which are detailed below. Prices are excluding VAT. Legal fees attract a VAT rate of 20%. This hourly rate includes meetings with you and perhaps other authorised persons on your behalf; reading, preparing and working on papers; making and receiving telephone calls, emails, faxes and text messages; preparation of any detailed costs estimates, schedules and bills; and time necessarily spent travelling away from the office on your behalf.

Expenses on top of our hourly rate can include, but are not limited to:

• rail and air travel charged out at cost and travel by car is charged at a flat rate of 45p per mile;
• car parking; and
• the full cost of overnight accommodation if required.

Any applicable expenses would be discussed with you before they are incurred.

What are the possible third party costs involved?

Please note that payments due to other third parties, known as disbursements, are not included in our fees. These disbursements include, but are not limited to: Barristers, Experts, and Court Fees. If an Expert, Barrister, or other third party needs to be instructed you will be provided with a list of quotes for your approval prior to engaging their services. We will request monies on account to pay for their services if required. We will advise on which Barrister we would recommend based on our experience, to assist you throughout the entire process.

You will be notified of any other disbursements before they are incurred and asked to make payment on account.

Speak to one of our solicitors and get bespoke advice. Please call 01432 278 179 and ask for Michael Horne, and we can discuss your case.