Car insurance rates often go up after a speeding ticket. The insurance rates can go up 22% to 30%, on average. But this depends on a number of factors, including your state and insurance company.
So, if you’ve received a speeding ticket, expect an increase in your car insurance rates.
How Does A Speeding Ticket Affect Car Insurance?
First things first: Yes, a speeding ticket affects your insurance and driving record.
A speeding ticket affects you in three ways::
- Your car insurance rates/premiums
- Your driving record
- Your driving privileges
Each of these factors works differently, and they are all impacted by your state’s laws, the infraction’s severity, and your driving record.
First, speeding is a traffic violation, which is sometimes a criminal offense. This means a speeding ticket will reflect on your driving record. Why?
Car speeding results in accidents, injury, property damage, and sometimes death.
Second, insurers look at your driving record when setting premium rates. A speeding ticket on your record signifies a traffic violation. This increases your risk of insurance. As a result, you get to pay higher car insurance rates.
Finally, authorities will check whether your speeding ticket was the first speeding offense. If it’s a subsequent speeding offense, you may lose some of your driving privileges like license suspension or driving under supervision.
How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After Getting A Speeding Ticket?
On average, car insurance goes up about 22% to 30% after a speeding ticket. This is a rate for one speeding ticket. According to the national average car insurance rate increase for speeding. The rate can be more or less depending on your state, your insurance company, and the severity of the speeding (points).
However, some insurance companies do not increase insurance rates after one ticket. They will increase your rates if you have multiple speeding tickets on your record.
In Arizona, the average insurance rate increase after a speeding ticket is 25%, according to Forbes. This amounts to about $350 more, on average, in annual car insurance rates.
Worse still, an insurance rate increase due to a speeding ticket will stay on your insurance and driving record for some time, depending on your insurer and the state you live in.
In addition to the increase in rates, the ticket will include or add 3 points to your DMV record.
If you get many speeding tickets (within three years), you will be classified as a “high-risk driver.” With this badge comes higher premiums rates compared to if you were cited just once for speeding.
You may pay as high as an average of 43% more after two speeding tickets, according to CarInsurance.com’s data, compared to the average of 22% to 30% for a single speeding ticket.
What Are Driver’s License Points?
Points on a driver’s license are strikes against their driving record. In most states, the DMV counts speeding tickets, and other driving violations, in terms of points. The number of points the DMV assigns per speeding ticket varies by the severity of the infraction and state.
Points impact both the driver’s insurance premiums and driving privileges. For example, if a driver accumulates points, it will increase car insurance and license suspension or removal.
The number of points on a driver’s license is not what determines insurance rate increase. But accumulating points reflect on your history. Most insurers generally look into your driving history, including your points and infractions, then use the information to calculate your insurance rates.
How Long Do Points Stay On Your Insurance Record?
The points on your driving license due to speeding will stay visible on your record and to your insurer for as long as the ticket stays on the DMV records.
So, how long does a ticket stay on your DMV record?
In most states, traffic violations, like speeding tickets, will stay on your record for 3 years, but some states keep the records for up to 10 years. The particular period varies by state.
For example, while in California, speeding tickets disappear after 39 months, in Arizona, they last for five years. This is assuming that within the period, you don’t get any other additional points or tickets.
This is the same period that the points will be visible to your insurers.
Most insurers and states will decrease the insurance rate for each year that you drive without another incident.
Does An Out Of State Speeding Ticket Impact My Car Insurance Rates?
Yes, an out-of-state speeding ticket will impact your insurance rates in your new state. Why?
Your driving record will follow you wherever you go, and the out-of-state ticket will show up in your records. All states’ coordinated effort because most states share violation and citation information through the Driver’s License Compact (the DLC).
This is why any insurer can see anything on your DMV record and use it to calculate your premium rates.
But some states don’t share information or participate in the DLC. If you visit these states, you might find a difference in how an out-of-state ticket impacts your insurance rates.
How Can I Lower My Car Insurance After A Speeding Ticket?
A speeding ticket will make your insurance go up. But you can lower your insurance bill using the following ways:
- Ask for insurance discounts. Getting a speeding ticket doesn’t mean you’re now ineligible for a car insurance discount. Ask your insurer or insurance agent what kind of discounts you can get like bundling car and home insurance, paying the premium in full, car safety discounts, or going paperless. Then take advantage of the discounts.
- Take a safe driving course. Taking a state-approved driving course can help shave points off your driving record. This can help reduce your car insurance rates and improve your driving ability.
- Shop around. If your insurer won’t forgive your speeding ticket or give you discounts, shop around for quotes from other providers. You’d be surprised how other insurers will give you lower quotes. Although your speeding ticket will follow you to a new car insurer, you may be lucky to get lower rates.
Can I Contest A DMV Speeding Ticket?
Yes, you can contest a speeding ticket.
Generally, if you get a speeding ticket, you have 2 options:
- Pay the fine. A ticket will result in a fine along with points and an insurance rate increase. Paying the fine is like admitting guilt. It will increase points on your license, which insurers will use to increase your car insurance rate increase.
- Contest the speeding ticket. Different states have different rules guiding how you can contest a ticket. If you choose to contest the ticket, you will appeal it in your county’s court where you were cited. If you’re successful in contesting the ticket, you won’t see a point increase in your license, and your car insurance rate won’t increase.
Final Thoughts
That’s it: If you get a speeding ticket, expect your car insurance rates to increase.
How much your insurance goes up after a speeding ticket depends on your driving record, insurance company, and state.
Don’t be caught unaware. Stay vigilant on the road and avoid infractions that can affect your driving record and increase your insurance rate.