Speeding Tickets and Insurance

Wondering if a speeding ticket will increase your car insurance rates? Whether you just got a speeding ticket or you’re simply curious, it’s a common question. But this is one of those times when the answer is a little more complicated than the question. The answer is — it depends. Let’s look at how a speeding ticket could affect your auto insurance rate.

Your insurance company. Every insurance company is different and has different ways of looking at speeding tickets. This article is only a rough idea of how your insurance may look at a speeding ticket. If you need specific answers for your situation, it’s best to go right to the source and ask.

How many tickets do you have? Auto insurance companies have found that the more moving violations and speeding tickets you have, the more likely you are to get in an accident. Makes sense! So someone who races around at excessive speeds may feel more of an insurance rate pinch.

Out of state tickets. Did you know that most states share information on traffic tickets? So if you think you’re out of the woods because you got caught speeding out of state, you might be mistaken.

You’re innocent. If you actually weren’t speeding and you plead your case (successfully) in traffic court, then this speeding ticket won’t count against you. If you’re not guilty, then there will be no effect to your insurance.

How long will the ticket have an impact? This is one of those “it depends” answers again. If your state has a points system that assigns points to your record based on the infraction and you are at the limit, there’s a good chance the ticket will have a longer impact. The other big factor here is your insurance company and your specific policy details.

Can you erase the ticket? Some states will allow you to enroll in traffic school or take a defensive driving course to get a speeding ticket taken off your record. If you’re concerned, then you may want to see what your state allows.

Of course the best way to keep your car insurance rates low is to be a responsible driver at all times. A clean driving record should be treasured! If you’d like to keep track of your driving habits, enroll in KnowYourDrive and you can even earn a discount on your car insurance.

If you’d like to learn more about your insurance policy and how a speeding ticket could affect your car insurance rates, connect with your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) — they’re happy to answer your questions.