Traffic offences: what it costs.
Fixed fees for motoring offences, set out in full. Fees are shown before VAT, with the VAT and the total you pay.
Traffic offences: our fees and pricing.
Your driving licence matters. Worrying about legal costs shouldn’t add to the stress.
Our approach to pricing
At Sewell Law, we know your driving licence matters. It may get you to work, help you care for your family, or be your living. Being charged with a motoring offence is stressful, and worrying about legal costs shouldn’t add to it.
Wherever we can, we work on a fixed fee basis, so you know the full cost before we begin. When a fixed fee isn’t suitable, for example in complex or contested cases, we’ll explain our hourly rates and give you a realistic estimate in writing. We will never start chargeable work without your agreement.
We start with an initial conversation. We’ll give you an honest view of your case, tell you what we think the likely outcome is, and confirm what it will cost.
Who does the workJennifer Sewell, Director and Solicitor, oversees all our motoring work. She is a solicitor with nearly 20 years’ post-qualification experience and has handled a variety of motoring cases, including speeding and a failure to provide driver details. Jennifer is an experienced advocate in the Magistrates’ Court.
Meet JenniferAll our fees are for privately paying clients. We cannot advise on whether you are eligible for Legal Aid. Please check whether you have any insurance that may cover your legal fees.
All our fees are shown excluding VAT. VAT is charged at the prevailing rate, currently 20%. For each fee we show the VAT and the total including VAT.
Our fixed fees cover advice and representation for summary-only motoring offences dealt with at a single magistrates’ court hearing.
Get a fixed fee quoteWhat our fixed fee includes
Unless a matter says otherwise, our fixed fee for a single hearing includes:
- Taking your instructions and reviewing the paperwork you’ve received (for example, the Notice of Intended Prosecution, the Single Justice Procedure Notice or the summons)
- Reviewing the prosecution evidence (disclosure)
- Advice on your plea and the likely sentence or, where that can’t be predicted, the sentencing options open to the court
- Advice on whether an exceptional hardship or special reasons argument is worth making
- Helping you prepare mitigation and character references
- Explaining court procedure so you know what to expect
- Meeting you at court before the hearing and representing you at one hearing
- Discussing the outcome with you afterwards
What our fixed fee does not include
These are charged separately. We’ll always agree the cost with you first.
- Extra or adjourned hearings, unless the delay is caused by us
- Taking statements from witnesses other than you, and questioning witnesses at trial
- Expert evidence and reports
- A contested exceptional hardship or special reasons hearing
- Travel to court
- Appeals against conviction or sentence, and applications to have a ban removed early
- Disbursements
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs paid to third parties for your case. We’ll tell you before we incur any of them. Typically, the key disbursements are:
- Barrister’s fees (if needed for a trial)
- Expert reports (e.g. speed devices, toxicology, collision reconstruction)
- Expert attending court
- Medical records or reports
- Interpreters
Note: If you are convicted, the court may also order you to pay a fine, prosecution costs and a victim surcharge. These are paid to the court, not to us, and are not part of our fees.
What can affect the cost
Our fees may change if:
- 01You plead not guilty and the case goes to trial
- 02The case is adjourned or needs more than one hearing
- 03The prosecution evidence is large or technical
- 04We need expert evidence or witness statements
- 05You face more than one charge
- 06The case is sent to the Crown Court
- 07You need advice on an appeal
If anything happens that will change the cost, we’ll tell you straight away and agree any extra fees with you before doing the work.
Regulatory information
Sewell Law is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 815244). All motoring work is carried out by, or under the supervision of, Jennifer Sewell, Director, who is a solicitor of almost 20 years’ standing.
Complaints
We aim to provide an excellent service. If you aren’t happy, please see our complaints policy. If we can’t resolve your complaint within eight weeks, you can complain to the Legal Ombudsman: PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH · 0300 555 0333 · legalombudsman.org.uk. Normally you must contact the Legal Ombudsman within one year of the problem happening, or within one year of when you should reasonably have known about it. If you are concerned about a solicitor’s behaviour, such as dishonesty, you can also report it to the SRA at sra.org.uk.
Your licence matters.
Tell us what’s happened. We’ll tell you where you stand and what it will cost.
Sometimes it’s easier to explain things over the phone.