While it’s wise and legally required to drive within the speeding limits, you may be tempted to drive fast at times. By doing so, you’re putting yourself at risk of getting a speeding ticket which could come with both a fine and an increase in your car insurance rates.
A speeding ticket can affect your car insurance for a long time, generally somewhere between three and five years. We analyzed the best car insurance companies to learn which offer cheap rates and quality coverage regardless of whether drivers have gotten a speeding ticket or not.
Do Speeding Tickets Affect Car Insurance Rates?
Drivers will usually see an increase in auto insurance premiums even after a single ticket. That’s because car insurers will view you as a high-risk driver compared to one with a clean driving record. Price increases typically last for between three and five years after a speeding violation.
Do Speeding Tickets Affect Your Car Insurance Immediately?
Your car insurance premiums will not increase right after you receive a speeding ticket. Instead, your premiums could go up during your next renewal period, which occurs every six months for most motorists.
Auto insurance companies look at your motor vehicle report (MVR) every time you need to renew. This report works off of a point system and includes the following details:
- Your name, driver’s license number and date of birth
- Speeding tickets
- Traffic citations
- Accident reports
- DUI convictions
- License suspensions
- Total number of points
The exact pieces of your insurance record that add points to your license are determined by your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV). Because of this, a speeding ticket might affect your car insurance for a different length of time in California or New York than in Michigan.
Information that the insurer finds on your MVR will affect the rate you’re quoted at renewal. Whatever you’re charged at this point will be your monthly premium for the next policy period.
How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Car Insurance?
If you have multiple speeding tickets within a few years, your car insurance company is almost certain to increase your rates. Even a single violation could boost your prices for anywhere between three and five years, making it harder to find cheap auto insurance.
A Speeding Ticket Stays on Your MVR for Three Years
No matter where you live or which company provides your coverage, expect the speeding ticket to affect your rates for at least three years. Your insurer will look at your MVR, which shows your speeding ticket for three years, every time your policy is up for renewal.
Your Car Insurance Provider May Look Back Five Years
While you can expect premiums to account for your speeding ticket for three years, it may affect your rates for as long as five years. Some auto insurance providers may check the previous five years of your driving record, though not all companies will do so.
How Much Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Car Insurance Rates?
The exact amount that a speeding ticket affects your car insurance rates depends on a long list of factors. On average, expect insurance rate increases of somewhere between 15% and 30% after getting a speeding violation. Most providers also have different levels of rate increases depending on how much over the limit you were caught driving.
Expect a speeding ticket to have a more significant impact on your auto insurance costs if:
- You have other speeding tickets or traffic violations
- Your speed was far higher than the speed limit and qualifies as reckless driving
- You’re in a high-risk insurance group, such as teen drivers
Exactly how far back car insurance companies look for various traffic violations depends on your provider and state of residence. DUI or DWI violations may remain on your MVR for up to 10 years, while infractions such as speeding tickets usually disappear in about three years.
You May Lose Auto Insurance Discounts
Depending on your insurance policy and its discount opportunities, getting a speeding ticket may disqualify you from certain perks. Common examples of savings you may no longer get are the safe driver discount or the good driver discount, along with price reductions for having a clean driving history.
How Can I Lower Insurance Premiums After a Speeding Ticket?
There are two main ways to save money on insurance premiums after an increase from a speeding ticket: by finding additional discounts or by switching providers. Motorists may also be able to increase their deductible or drop full coverage auto insurance, though they’ll still need to meet minimum standards.
Remember that it may not always make sense to switch providers, as each one will look at your MVR and see your traffic ticket. Each company will get the same information from your MVR, and you won’t get discounts for loyalty or renewal from a new auto insurer.
That being said, it’s pretty much always smart to get multiple auto insurance quotes to make sure you’re getting competitive rates. You may find additional discounts from other providers for taking defensive driving courses or for heading to traffic school.
Our Recommendations for Auto Insurance
No matter your driving record or reason for looking at a new provider, we suggest receiving quotes from GEICO, USAA and Progressive. Each company has a sterling reputation for insurance coverage and they all generally come with competitive rates.
GEICO: Best Overall
Our team awarded GEICO 9.1 stars out of 10.0 for its selection of coverage options at some of the industry’s lowest average rates. GEICO offers various discounts such as for seat belt use, for having anti-theft systems in your car, for taking driver’s education courses and for being either a federal employee or a military member.
USAA: Best Military Provider
USAA earned 9.6 stars out of 10.0 because of its relatively affordable premiums and exceptional customer service standards. It’s our top option for military members, their families and veterans, but remember that eligibility is restricted for those beyond these groups.
Progressive: Best for High-Risk Drivers
Progressive earned an overall rating of 9.1 stars and is known to offer competitive rates for high-risk drivers. While a speeding ticket will affect your car insurance rates with Progressive as with other providers, the company specializes in serving those without clean driving records.
According to our Progressive insurance review, higher-risk drivers get accepted by the insurer and often face lower surcharges than with other providers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do speeding tickets affect insurance?
Insurance premiums typically increase after your first speeding ticket, often by somewhere between 15% and 30%. That’s because car insurers will start viewing you as less likely to follow safe driving techniques.
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket?
Most drivers can expect an increase of 15% to 30% in their car insurance rates after a speeding ticket. The exact number will depend on your provider, age, vehicle and prior driving record.
What kinds of tickets affect insurance rates?
Speeding tickets and other moving violations are likely to increase your auto insurance rates. Parking tickets and other non-moving violations will almost never affect your monthly premiums. You’ll receive higher percent increases in your rates if you file an insurance claim for an at-fault accident than for a smaller infraction.
How can I lower insurance after a speeding ticket?
If your car insurance increases because of a speeding ticket, you can look for discounts or shop around to see if it’s worth switching providers. You may also want to see if your insurer offers a discount for taking a defensive driving course.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car insurance provider to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Our in-depth rating system takes into account market share, coverage, auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each insurer is given a weighted score in four categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto insurance companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
