Clocks going forward could land you hefty £5k fine (2025)

Every spring we're a nation who wake up wondering if we're looking at the correct time and whilst many devices change automatically it's the ones which don't that can cause problems

As the nation wakes to check the time and ponder whether they're looking at the correct numbers, there are a few ways the annual clock changing can cause havoc with your routine and your bank balance. In fact, one expert has gone as far as to warn people in the UK that a certain act of changing your times to match up with the new Daylight Saving Time could land you with a huge fine.

Daylight Saving Time begins today on 30 March as UK clocks spring forward by an hour, heralding the start of lighter nights.

Whilst the time shift is accounted for automatically on most household devices these days such as smartphones, TVs and other electrical items, some cars will be left out of sync, with their car’s internal clock sticking to the incorrect time.

One expert has warned drivers that it's not only dangerous to change, but also potentially expensive, urging motorists to not try and change the time while on the move as it’s a major distraction that could see you taking your eyes off the road for prolonged periods.

Doing so could see you prosecuted for ‘Failure to have proper control of vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead’, which carries a potential £1,000 fine and attracts at least three points on a driving licence.

Whilst an obvious thing to avoid, most drivers view this as a quick change while on the go but you could even be hit with a ‘driving without due care and attention’ charge in worst case scenarios, which carries a fine of up to £5,000 and a potential ban.

Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, said: “Having your car’s clock display the wrong time can be really irritating but we’d urge all UK motorists not to attempt to alter it while on the move.

“With a lot of cars, the clock settings can be buried within the infotainment system or the digital driver display behind the steering wheel, forcing you to take your eyes off the wheel as you find the right menu.

“Some cars also disable the clock settings completely unless the car is completely stationary, which might cause you even more frustration.

“If you need to change the clock, park up, and don’t risk being dangerously distracted.”

Graham also pointed out that with a lot of modern cars, the clock will automatically update to Daylight Saving Time but if motorists don't know this, it can still cause a lot of confusion.

For many offences of not being in full control of a motor vehicle, or driving without due care and attention, police can issue a £100 fixed penalty notice and the driver will receive three points on their licence.