NOTICE OF INTENDED PROSECUTION
The NIP 14-day rule: what it means and what it does not mean
A late notice can matter, but the rule is narrower than many online explanations suggest. Start by separating the warning of prosecution from the request to identify the driver.
Checked against primary legal sources for England and Wales · Updated 10 August 2026 · How we review content
For offences to which section 1 applies, a warning must ordinarily be given at the time or the first NIP must be served on the registered keeper within 14 days of the offence. Exceptions and questions about the registered keeper’s details can change the position.
Check the 14 day dates
Review six facts from your paperwork instantly. Nothing is uploaded or stored and no account is required.
Preserve the service evidence and protect Section 172
- Keep the complete notice and envelope and record the actual arrival date.
- Check the registered keeper and V5C address on the offence date.
- Respond accurately to any Section 172 request by its separate deadline.
Does the driver have to receive the NIP within 14 days?
Not necessarily. The statutory focus is ordinarily the first notice served on the person registered as keeper. If you are a later recipient—for example, after a hire company or employer identifies you—the notice reaching you may arrive outside 14 days without that alone ending the case.
Is the section 172 deadline also 14 days?
No. A section 172 requirement is the request to identify the driver. It performs a different function and ordinarily requires a response within 28 days from service, unless a different lawful position applies. A possible problem with the NIP does not safely justify ignoring the driver-information request.
What should I check?
- The date of the alleged offence
- The date printed on the first notice
- When and how the notice arrived
- Whether you were the registered keeper on the offence date
- Whether the DVLA record contained the correct name and address
- Whether the document also contains a section 172 requirement
What should I do if it appears late?
Keep the notice and envelope, record the date of arrival and respond to any driver-information requirement by its stated deadline. Obtain case-specific advice before relying on late service, because statutory exceptions and evidence of posting or service can be decisive.
Turn your paperwork into a clear next-step checklist.
Preserve the notice, dates and response record
Build a notice chronology, deadline record, document checklist and concise solicitor briefing in NoticeReady Case. It does not determine whether the notice is valid.