Free Traffic Legal Advice

Having read the judgement I linked to the cases looks similar and probably caused by the same issue.

Dont expect the ombudsman to grant what the modeller said but you can probably get the compo upped a bit.

It means you complete the S172 but don’t sign your name. Can you search this site for references to going unsigned to read about the implications.

Do you have any evidence that it was received today? (Postman who witnessed you open it)

Is there any explanation for the delay (crumpled envelope, writing on envelope saying delivered to wrong address etc?)

Were you the driver.  If not provided you name the driver or who you believe was the driver by 28 days after the second s172 I wouldn’t imagine the police would prosecute you for FTF.  That might change if you don’t name the actual driver and the case times out.

However I can’t see how the driver gets a time out assuming you name them as late as possible.

Is your dad able to fill the form in himself?

If he is then you can tell him you were driving and he has a choice.  Fill the form in or not fill the form in.

The penalty for not filling the form in will be 6 points and a large fine.

If he fills the form in you get 3 points and a (smaller - £100) fine.  You will then have a tiny bit higher insurance premiums and will be closer to a totting ban. Or you might be offered a course so will have a £100 outlay but no points.

Your dad can then make the decision on his own on whether to name you or accept his punishment for not naming you.

But, if you want advice get the form returned asap naming yourself and then reply to your own S172 asap to get the course.

The hire cars insurance will cover the bill as it was the fault of their car whoever the driver.

I would imagine the police are looking at the hirer carefully to see if the theft claim can be substantiated or whether it was a cunning ruse.

OP said "offence was December 2024 and house move was in October 2024.", so "only just moved" would be stretching the truth a little.

Perhaps drop the only so it’s “just moved” so the op isn’t stretching quite so far

How long after moving was

A) the speeding offence
B) you updating the V5C

If either a was close to the speeding offence or b was close to a you can argue that you are not guilty of FTF as it wasn’t practical for you to do so as due the unfortunate timing of

A - you had just moved and the DVLA had yet to update the logbook when you committed the offence
B- you were in the process of updating your logbook after a recently moving and unfortunately the DVLA hadn’t processed it when the offence occurred

Hopefully this defence along with the prompt guilty plea for the speeding will put it in the “too much hassle” category for the prosecution