A special reasons argument is a legal plea asking a court not to impose penalty points or a disqualification, even though the offence is admitted. It relies on facts about the offence itself, not personal hardship to the driver.
In one line: A special reasons argument asks a court to avoid points or a ban for an admitted offence, based on the circumstances of the offence.
How a special reasons argument works
A special reasons argument succeeds only where the circumstances directly relate to the commission of the offence, such as an emergency or a very short distance driven. It does not dispute guilt; it asks the court to use its discretion on the penalty.
For example, a driver who admits drink driving but argues their drink was spiked without their knowledge might run a special reasons argument to avoid the usual mandatory disqualification. The court weighs the evidence before deciding whether to exercise discretion.
The bar is high, and the burden falls on the driver to prove the special reasons on the balance of probabilities.
Special reasons vs exceptional hardship
A special reasons argument is about the offence itself and can avoid points or a ban for that single offence. Exceptional hardship is about the consequences of a totting-up ban on the driver and others, raised only once 12 points are reached.
Because special reasons focus on what happened rather than who is affected, they apply much more narrowly than a hardship plea.
Primary source: GOV.UK: Penalty points and disqualification