Motoring Offence Pricing
To discuss our charges to represent you in Motoring Offences please contact our Mr Havery on 01472 358686.
To assist you in choosing your solicitor our regulator the SRA requires us to provide price information for assistance in relation to summary only motoring offences under Part I of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and s89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
We charge for our services on either an hourly rate and fixed fee. If we can clearly understand your pleading at an early stage we will often be able to provide a fixed fee service. Mr Havery is a qualified solicitor with over 25 years experience in criminal defence and motoring litigation and he will have personal conduct of your matter.
His maximum charge out rate is £185 per hour plus VAT, the court approved rate being at £250.00. When we take your instructions we will provide an estimation of your likely charges based on the circumstances.
Our charges include:
- Considering evidence
- Providing advice in relation to plea and likely sentence
- Where you cannot anticipate the likely sentence, advice on the options available to the court in relation to sentencing
- Where appropriate, advice on whether an exceptional hardship or special reasons argument should be made
- Representation at a single hearing
- Provide price information on any common additional services, for example advising on an appeal or sourcing expert witnesses.
Exceptional hardship / special reasons hearings: fixed fee £700 + VAT
*additional fees for travelling and travelling time chargeable based on separate negotiation.
Fee includes:
- 2 hours attendance/preparation:
- considering evidence
- taking your instructions
- providing advice on likely sentence
- Attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court
The fee does not include:
- instruction of any expert witnesses
- taking statements from any witnesses
- advice and assistance in relation to a special reasons hearing
- advice or assistance in relation to any appeal
The key stages of your matter are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing.
- Meet with your solicitor to provide instructions on what happened.
- We will consider initial disclosure, and any other evidence and provide advice.
- Arranging to take any witness statements if necessary (this will have an additional cost, charged at the above mentioned hourly rate).
- We will explain the court procedure to you so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing, and the sentencing options available to the court.
- We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up queries you have.
- We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
- We will attend court on the day and meet with you before going before the court. We anticipate being at court for no more than half a day.
- We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.
Drink driving offence, guilty plea – fixed fee £350 plus VAT to include a telephone conference with you, fully preparing your case and personal attendance at court*.
*additional fees for travelling and travelling time chargeable based on separate negotiation.
Fee includes:
- 2 hours attendance/preparation:
- considering evidence
- taking your instructions
- providing advice on likely sentence
- Attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court
The fee does not include:
- instruction of any expert witnesses
- taking statements from any witnesses
- advice and assistance in relation to a special reasons hearing
- advice or assistance in relation to any appeal
The key stages of your matter are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing.
- Meet with your solicitor to provide instructions on what happened.
- We will consider initial disclosure, and any other evidence and provide advice.
- Arranging to take any witness statements if necessary (this will have an additional cost, charged at the above mentioned hourly rate).
- We will explain the court procedure to you so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing, and the sentencing options available to the court.
- We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up queries you have.
- We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
- We will attend court on the day and meet with you before going before the court. We anticipate being at court for no more than half a day.
- We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.
Disbursments
Disbursements, which are separate from the costs mentioned above, are payments made to third parties for obtaining specialist reports or services necessary to support your defense. This could include expenses for reports from medical professionals such as doctors and psychologists, forensic scientists, road traffic accident investigators, motor mechanics, engineers, and other experts whose evidence or insight may be necessary to build your case. These disbursements are usually listed separately from the costs of legal services and can add significantly to the overall cost of your defense
Obtaining a report from a third party can be an incredibly valuable tool in the legal process. Whilst the cost of doing so varies depending on the type and complexity of the report, it is often worthwhile to acquire one as it can potentially lead to a reduced sentence or acquittal. For example, getting a GP report may cost around £100 plus VAT, whereas a basic psychological examination could range from £600 to £1,700 plus VAT.