Here's How Much a Clean Driving Record Saves You on Auto Insurance

A clean driving record is one sign that you're a safe driver. Since car insurance companies value that, drivers with clean records enjoy much lower premiums. Want to find out just how much it can save you? Here's the latest data, as well as how to clean up your driving record to get better rates.

How much a clean driving record saves you

Drivers with a clean record pay an average premium of $2,706 per year. That's according to research on how driving records impact car insurance rates by The Motley Fool Ascent.

The overall average is $3,017. A clean record saves you $311 per year (10.3%) compared to the average cost of car insurance.

Savings get even bigger if you compare shopping for insurance with a clean driving record compared to doing so with an accident or driving under the influence (DUI). Here's how much auto insurance costs with negative items on your driving record, and how much a clean record would save you:

• The average premium with an accident is $3,284. A clean record saves you $578 (17.6%).
• The average premium with a DUI is $4,282. A clean record saves you $1,576 (36.8%).
• The average premium with a speeding ticket is $2,958. A clean record saves you $252 (8.5%).

Keep in mind that these are averages for the entire country. They all vary by state. Some states punish drivers with accidents, DUIs, and speeding tickets much more than others.

Michigan, which has the highest auto insurance rates in the nation, is a good example. Drivers with clean records pay an average annual premium of $4,664. That goes all the way up to $6,156 with an accident and $11,163 with a DUI.

What's a clean driving record?

A clean driving record doesn't have any negative items on it, such as traffic violations or accidents. In most states, driving records only cover a specific period. It generally ranges from the last three to 10 years, depending on the state.

Violations don't stick around forever. After a certain amount of time has passed, they fall off your record. The amount of time it takes depends on the laws in your state and the type of violation. More severe violations, such as DUIs and reckless driving, stay on your record longer.

How to improve your driving record

If you don't have a clean driving record, it may be possible to improve it. This is more likely with minor violations and errors that shouldn't be on your record. With serious violations, you'll need to wait for them to fall off.

Here's what to do if you're hoping to clean up your driving record:

• Request your driving record from your state's department of motor vehicles (DMV). You need to know what's on your record to see if you can improve it. Fortunately, many state DMVs now let you get yours online. There's normally a small fee.
• Enroll in a defensive driving course. You may be able to get minor infractions removed by completing one of these courses. Check with your state's DMV to see if it allows you to remove infractions this way. Some carriers also offer car insurance discounts for finishing a defensive driving course.
• Ask if you can get a deferment. If you recently received a traffic violation, deferring it could be an option. You pay a small fee to keep the violation off your record for the deferment period. If you avoid violations during the deferment period, then the original violation stays off your driving record.
• Check for and dispute errors. Mistakes happen. See if there are violations that should've come off your driving record by now or that you don't recognize. If so, you can dispute them with the DMV.

Considering how much a clean record saves you on insurance, it's in your best interest to be a defensive driver. It's sometimes possible to clean up your driving record. But it's easier to avoid trouble in the first place.

If you're able to clean up your driving record, make sure to go rate shopping and get new car insurance quotes. This is a good habit to get into at least once a year anyway. It's especially important after cleaning up your record, because you could score much lower rates.