Speeding fine in rental car

[nickymanley]

My colleague has recently been sent a letter saying that back in MAY(!) the hire car we were driving was caught speeding. However, we share driving and the place where we were caught is just where we swap drivers - also the photo was inconclusive - is there anything we can do to get out of this? I know the registered keeper usually gets the fine but in this case that is the rental company?

[andy hughes]

Probably not. The registered owner - the rental company - will receive the fine details, and pass them on, they will not be interested in paying the fine under any circumstances! If there are two of you, why not agree to split the fine and stump up - save you grief in the long run.

[Miss Zippy]

If you�re caught speeding whilst driving a hire car, then you are treated the same as if you were driving your own registered vehicle.  If you genuinely cannot remember who was driving when you were caught because you were sharing the driving, then enter both drivers� details on the form.  Quite often the police will not pursue it (so I�ve heard � I�m not recommending this course of action unless you legitimately cannot recall who was driving!).  Then again, they might and you will both be interviewed to see if your memories can be jogged.  Don�t try and simply blame each other though, as the magistrates will see this as a ruse of getting out of the charge. If you know who was driving at the time though, I�d save yourself a lot of hassle and anxiety by paying up.

[Drewhound]

Simply tell the truth. I don't see you getting off it completely because you clearly accept it was one of you.

How much over was the speed? If it were such that it's liable for three points and they wouldn't put you on twelve or over (and a disqualification) theyll have no reason for doubting you. It's three points anyway for whoever signed the hire papers so there isn't a gain by saying you don't know 

The alternative is to pick one and accept it

[Dom Tuk]

It may be a scam. Recently drivers in Italy were being scammed in the usual way and the result as that they were told by the AA to bin the letters. If i recall correctly they cannot collect the fines here and cannot penalise you with points as the points system is not international.  so ride it out

[nickymanley]

Thanks for the responses guys. Is a difficult one - genuinely don't know who was driving. I've already got three points and my colleague has none - I don't mind splitting the fine - it's the points I don't want and you can't split them! (Was going 80mph in a 70 by the way) - will just have to ride it out and see what happens I guess!