Hi,

I am a full-time student without a UK drivers licence ( I do have international), I was caught driving a car without insurance or MOT and I have been summoned to court.

Please what's the worst that could happen? Could u also advice on how I need to fill the form that has been sent to me, asking if I want to appear in court or not. I have never been to court, don't know the procedure, don't even know whether to attend.

If I get fined how much do you in your opinion think it will be?

Please advice

Demi

Hi,

If you were a UK driver you would have been offered a fixed penalty notice (ticket to you!)
This would have been for £200 and 6 penalty points. If you ever receive 12 points you would be disqualified from driving.

Presuming that you are not a UK licence holder is the only reason that you were not offered a fixed penalty you would be advised to bring this to the court's attention and they ought to treat you in the same way as someone who is. There may be an additional fine for no MOT. You do not need to attend if you can write a really good letter explaining why you were driving, all the circumstances and fill in the means form and enclose your licence. If you do attend it might be a really good way to discover more about this country as well as not having to part with your licence for very long, although it might gum up most of a day. They will need to see the licence and not a photocopy. The guideline fine otherwise is one week's wages. If you are on low income this should be disclosed by the means form, but a fine of less than the fixed penalty is unlikely.

Dan (Magistrate)