Speeding Tickets: Informing Insurance, What You Need To Know

Getting a speeding ticket can be frustrating and costly, and it's natural to wonder about the potential impact on your insurance. While it's not necessary to proactively notify your insurance company about a speeding ticket, it's important to understand how it might affect your rates and coverage. Speeding tickets are considered moving violations, which can increase your insurance premiums and lead to other consequences, such as losing a good driver's discount or being categorized as a high-risk driver. The impact of a speeding ticket on your insurance depends on various factors, including your state's laws, the insurer's policies, your driving record, and the number of tickets you've received.

Do I have to notify my insurance company?

Whether or not you need to notify your insurance company about a speeding ticket depends on the company and the state in which you live. In general, you are not required to inform your insurance company about a speeding ticket unless you are applying for a new policy. However, it is important to note that insurance providers will typically run motor vehicle reports on their customers every six to twelve months and update their records and insurance policies accordingly. Therefore, it is likely that your insurance company will find out about the speeding ticket eventually.

Some people may choose not to disclose a speeding ticket to their insurance company to avoid higher rates. While this may work in the short term, there could be more severe consequences later on. For example, if you don't disclose a speeding ticket and your insurance company doesn't pull your driving record until a later date, they can backdate a rate increase. Additionally, if you are found to have withheld information, your insurance company may view this as a breach of contract and could potentially cancel your policy.

It is worth noting that not all speeding tickets will result in higher insurance rates. If this is your first speeding ticket or violation, your insurance company may waive any increase in your premium. Additionally, the impact of a speeding ticket on your insurance rate may depend on how fast you were travelling when you were cited. It is always a good idea to ask your insurance company about how they view driving violations and to shop around for a provider that will not penalize you too severely for a minor offence.

If you are concerned about the impact of a speeding ticket on your insurance rate, there are a few things you can do to mitigate the effects. You could explore options like insurance for high-risk drivers or speed awareness courses, which may help reduce the overall impact of a speeding ticket on your premiums. Additionally, taking a defensive driving course can help remove a ticket from your driving record and reduce your car insurance premiums.

Will my insurance rates increase?

Whether or not your insurance rates will increase depends on several factors, such as your prior driving record, location, the insurer, and the severity of the offence.

In most cases, you don't have to immediately inform your car insurance provider that you've received a speeding ticket. However, when your policy comes up for renewal, you must disclose any fixed penalty notices, penalty points on your licence, or motoring convictions received during the policy term.

Some insurers will want immediate notification of any penalty points on your licence, so it's important to check the terms and conditions of your insurance policy.

If you receive two or more speeding tickets within three years, you will likely experience an insurance rate increase. However, if it's your first speeding ticket, it may not affect your insurance rates at all, depending on your insurer and state.

The average insurance rate increase for drivers with a speeding ticket is 26%. However, this can vary significantly depending on the state and insurer. For example, a Pennsylvania driver could pay 15% more for insurance after a speeding ticket, while a North Carolina driver could pay 50% more.

In addition to the financial cost of a speeding ticket, you may also be at risk of losing any "safe driver" discounts offered by your insurer.

How to find an insurer with a speeding ticket?

While a speeding ticket may not affect your insurance rate, it is important to note that this depends on several factors, including the state you are in, your insurance company, driving record, and insurance history. Some states may treat speeding tickets as minor moving violations, which can result in a rate increase. Thus, when looking for a car insurance company, it is advisable to ask about their policies concerning driving violations.

When applying for car insurance, most car insurance companies will ask about any speeding tickets you have received. Being honest about your tickets is generally recommended. However, it is worth noting that insurance providers do not always check your driving record at every renewal, and some may not even check it every year. Therefore, there is a possibility that your speeding ticket may go unnoticed for a while. Nevertheless, insurance providers will eventually find out about your speeding ticket, as they regularly check your driving record.

To find an insurer with a speeding ticket, you can use online tools that allow you to compare quotes from multiple insurance companies. These tools can help you identify insurers who may be more lenient regarding driving violations. Additionally, some insurers may offer discounts for safe driving, but these are likely to be revoked if you have a speeding ticket on your record.

It is worth noting that speeding tickets usually remain on your driving record for three to five years, depending on the state. During this time, your insurance rates may be impacted, and you can expect to pay higher premiums. However, if this is your first speeding ticket, some insurance companies may waive any increase in your premium.

What if I have multiple speeding tickets?

If you have multiple speeding tickets, the consequences can be serious. The impact on your insurance will depend on several factors, including your insurance company, driving record, insurance history, and the state in which you live. Some insurers may increase your rates, while others may not. It's important to note that if you get two or more speeding tickets in three years, you will likely see an increase in your insurance rates.

In addition to the financial implications, multiple speeding tickets can also result in penalty points on your license, which you may need to disclose to your insurers for as long as they remain on your record, typically between four and eleven years. The number of points added per violation varies by state. For example, Arizona assigns three points for a speeding violation, and if you accumulate eight or more points in 12 months, the state may require you to attend traffic school or suspend your license for up to a year.

In the State of Illinois, your driving privileges can be suspended for multiple speeding violations. If an adult motorist is convicted of three moving violations, including speeding, within 12 months, their license will be automatically suspended by the Illinois Secretary of State. The length of the suspension will depend on the number of points on your license, with higher points resulting in longer suspensions.

It's important to be aware that if you are currently under court-ordered supervision for a speeding ticket and receive another speeding violation, the supervision will likely be revoked, and you may be convicted of both offenses. This could lead to an automatic suspension of your driving privileges, especially if you are a younger driver or have prior convictions.

How to reduce insurance costs after a speeding ticket?

A speeding ticket will likely increase your insurance costs, but there are several ways to reduce or avoid this. Firstly, it's important to note that the impact of a speeding ticket on your insurance costs will depend on various factors, such as your driving history, location, and insurance company. Some insurance companies may not increase your rates after a single speeding ticket, so it's worth shopping around for a new insurer if your current one raises your premium.

You can also consider reducing your coverage to lower your insurance costs. However, if you switch to a policy that only meets the minimum requirements of your state, you may lose comprehensive and collision coverage. This means you won't have protection for damage to your car, regardless of how the damage occurs.

Another option is to look for discounts and bundles. Many insurance companies offer discounts for bundling your home or renters' insurance with your auto policy, paying your premium in full, enrolling in an automatic payment plan, limiting your mileage, or using a driving activity monitoring app. Additionally, your insurance carrier may offer a defensive driving credit if you complete an approved defensive driving course.

Finally, it's worth noting that speeding tickets may drop off your driving record within 3-5 years, depending on the laws in your state. For example, in California, tickets drop off after three years, while in Colorado, it takes seven years.

Frequently asked questions