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You're zooming 15 miles over the speed limit when you hear the tell-tale wee-woo of sirens. Oops. It's the police, and they've got a little yellow ticket to hand you. Now you're on the hook to pay it. But you're smart, so you suspect this will impact your car insurance somehow.
Bingo. You're right on the money. Sometimes, a single speeding ticket affects your insurance rate in a bad way. It goes on your driving record, and insurers check your record regularly to determine your monthly rate.
How much does your premium go up? How long does your speeding ticket stay on your driving record? Let's go over how speeding tickets impact your insurance rates.
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket? There are two main factors car insurance companies consider when they review someone's driving record.
The harder you break the speed limit, the more likely insurance is to bump your rates. It's one thing to drive 50 mph down a 40-mph road. It's another to drive 65 down that same road, tearing up concrete like a four-wheeled rocket. If you fly into the stratosphere, your rates will follow.
Why do rates rise? Speeding tickets are considered a good predictor of future accidents. When you're going faster, it's more difficult to stop suddenly or react to vehicles or objects that suddenly appear in front of you. If you're more likely to get into an accident, you're a greater risk to insurers. Insurance companies charge you accordingly.
First time caught speeding? Your insurance may not bump your rates. It depends on the insurer. Each company weighs a driver's record a little differently. Some dish out harsher penalties to drivers than others.
The more speeding tickets you earn, the more likely your insurer will raise your rates. Multiple tickets show insurers you're a repeat offender, therefore risky, and should be priced accordingly to cover accidents waiting to happen.
States assign points to drivers who commit traffic violations. This can also influence how much a single speeding ticket bumps rates. If speeding tickets cause you to rack up so many points that you're on the verge of losing your license, insurers may raise rates significantly, even if you weren't speeding much.
The more you speed, the more insurance bumps your rates. Check out the most recent data from insurance.com that compares average rate bumps caused by speeding tickets.
Speed (over the speed limit) | Rate hike |
---|---|
<30 mph | 20-22% |
30+ mph | 30% |
Other things that insurers consider:
Insurers check if you have multiple tickets on your record. If you've been charged recently (within the last three years or so), your rates could go up extra. Plus, insurers may charge you more for living in one state versus another. So where you live matters.
READ MORE: The Average Cost of Car Insurance
Speeding tickets typically stay on your driving record for three to five years.
A ticket affects rates as long as it remains on your driving record, and each state determines that time frame. Check with your state department of motor vehicles (DMV) for exact terms.
Speeding tickets become less impactful as they age. But you probably won't see your car insurance rate fall to pre-ticket levels until the ticket disappears from your record.
If you get a speeding ticket and you're concerned about your rates, do the following:
The number-one way to avoid speeding tickets is to drive safely. You can't be charged for crimes you don't commit -- especially if your safe driving is caught on camera. Drive safe, fight unfair charges, and shop around for car insurance that forgives minor speeding violations.
READ MORE: Compare Car insurance Rates
Check out our hand-picked list of the best car insurance companies. Our top picks are packed with valuable perks, such as low rates, bundled discounts, and best-in-class service.
The best way for a motorist to keep a speeding ticket from raising their car insurance rates is to avoid getting speeding tickets. Once a driver has one, every insurance company will be able to see it on their driving record. You may be able to keep rates low by taking a defensive driving course that drops charges on your record upon completion.
Insurance companies have access to your driving record. This contains information on all traffic and moving violations you've incurred in the last three to five years (typically), depending on your state. Insurers review this information periodically to determine rates.
Moving violations may increase insurance rates. Think speeding tickets, reckless driving, and DUIs. Non-moving violations, such as parking tickets, typically have zero impact on rates.
Camera speeding tickets are typically treated like parking violations and don't appear on driving records. But this also varies by state. If your state reports these speeding tickets on driving records, they'll probably affect premiums.
Car insurance rates can go up after your first speeding ticket. But how much they increase depends on your insurer, where you live, and how far over the speed limit you were going when you got the ticket. Some insurers forgive first-time violations.
Our Insurance Experts
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