Keeping Your Insurance Clean After A Traffic Ticket

If you've received a traffic ticket in Minnesota, you're probably wondering how it will affect your insurance—and more importantly, how to keep that ticket off your insurance record. The good news is that you have options. First, it's important to understand that in Minnesota, speeding tickets are considered misdemeanors, and they can impact your insurance premiums for as long as they're on your record, which is a minimum of three to five years. However, you can take steps to keep a ticket off your record, such as contesting the ticket, enrolling in traffic school, or seeking legal assistance. Let's explore these options in more detail to help you navigate this process effectively.

Contest the ticket

If you don't agree with a traffic citation in Minnesota, you can contest the ticket. The rules and procedures for doing so differ from county to county, so you should contact the country court where the officer issued your ticket. Most drivers contest a speeding ticket because they don't want a violation on their record, which can increase insurance rates by an average of 23% to 39%.

When contesting a ticket, you will go to court to argue your case, either alone or with the help of a lawyer. A lawyer is not required in traffic court, but hiring one can make the process easier. You can call witnesses and present evidence to create enough doubt or sympathy to get the ticket dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation. Non-moving violations, such as parking tickets, do not impact insurance rates.

Before going to trial, you may have the chance to plea bargain or negotiate with the prosecutor for a plea to a non-traffic offense. If your offense is minor and your record is otherwise clean, you may be offered a deferral, where the court finds you guilty but defers entering those findings for a certain period, usually a year. If you avoid any citations during this time, the ticket will be dismissed or marked "adjudication withheld."

It's important to note that if you go to trial and lose, the ticket will go on your record, and you will have to pay the fine and possibly court costs. Additionally, once a speeding ticket is on your record in Minnesota, it cannot be removed by completing a traffic safety program. However, you can request to have it removed after a minimum of five years.

Seek traffic school

In Minnesota, a speeding ticket will impact your insurance premiums for as long as it's on your record, which is a minimum of three to five years. This can be longer, depending on the severity of the ticket and whether you're caught speeding again.

One way to keep a ticket off your record is to seek traffic school or deferred adjudication. This would prevent a moving violation conviction from appearing on your driving record. If your offense is minor, such as speeding at 10 mph over the limit outside a school or construction zone, and your record is otherwise clean, you'll likely be offered a means of avoiding both a court appearance and a mark on your record. A deferral means the court finds you guilty but defers entering those findings for a certain period, typically a year. If you get through this period without any citations, the ticket will be dismissed or marked "adjudication withheld". However, if you receive another ticket during the deferral period, both tickets will go on your record, and your insurance will probably increase significantly as a high-risk driver. There is usually a fee for deferral of $100 to $150, and there may be a limit on the number of deferrals granted.

It's important to note that, in Minnesota, a speeding ticket cannot be removed from your record by completing a traffic safety program. However, you can request to have the ticket removed after it has been on your record for a minimum of five years.

If you choose to fight the citation, you can go to court and try to have the ticket dismissed at trial, either with or without a lawyer. If you don't exceed the speed limit by 10 mph in a 55 mph zone or 5 mph in a 60 mph zone, the violation will not stay on your record in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota House Research Department.

Avoid subsequent violations

A speeding ticket in Minnesota will impact your insurance premiums for as long as it's on your record, which is a minimum of three to five years. The best way to keep your insurance costs down is to avoid subsequent violations.

A speeding ticket conviction will cause your auto insurance premium to go up at your next policy renewal, typically by an average of 24 percent in the state of Minnesota. The exact rate increase will depend on a range of variables, including the other rating factors in your driver profile and how fast you were going at the time of the incident. In Minnesota, speeding ticket fines also typically increase based on speed.

If you receive a speeding ticket, it is important to avoid any further violations to ensure that your insurance costs do not increase further. This means driving within the speed limit at all times and being aware of the speed limit in different areas. In Minnesota, speeding violations stay on your record for at least five years, which is longer than most states.

To avoid subsequent violations, you can also consider taking a defensive driving course. This can help you understand the speed limits and improve your driving habits to avoid speeding. Additionally, you can review the speed limit signs and the "Minnesota Manual on Traffic Control Devices" to ensure you are aware of the speed limits and any changes.

By avoiding subsequent violations, you can help keep your insurance costs down and maintain a clean driving record.

Compare insurance rates

A speeding ticket in Minnesota will impact your insurance premiums for as long as it remains on your record, which is a minimum of three to five years. The exact rate increase will depend on a range of variables, including the other rating factors in your driver profile and how fast you were going at the time of the incident. On average, a speeding ticket increases the cost of car insurance by 20% in Minnesota.

To keep a speeding ticket off your insurance in Minnesota, you can either plead guilty and pay the fine, or contest the violation. If you pay the citation, you are essentially pleading guilty and will end up with a conviction on your record. You can pay online, in person, by mail, or through a court payment plan.

If you don’t agree with the citation, you have the option to contest the ticket. The rules and procedures for contesting a ticket differ from county to county, so you should contact the same country court where the officer issued your ticket. Most drivers who choose to contest a speeding ticket do so to avoid a violation on their record. However, it is important to note that a speeding violation will not stay on your record in Minnesota if you do not exceed the speed limit by a certain amount, as previously mentioned.

Once a speeding ticket is on your record, it cannot be removed by completing a traffic safety program in Minnesota. However, you can request to have it removed after it has been on your record for a minimum of five years.

To find the cheapest insurance rates, it is recommended to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. You can use online tools to easily compare personalized rates and see how much switching insurance could save you. Additionally, look for insurers that offer discounts, such as those for bundling, taking safety courses, driving safely, or installing safety equipment.

It is worth noting that Minnesota does not use a points system to track driver violations, so a speeding ticket will not add any points to your driver's license. However, insurance companies will still check your driving record before providing an auto insurance quote and writing your policy.

Some specific suggestions for insurance companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage for drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Minnesota include Minnesota Farm Bureau and Auto-Owners, which offer comparatively small rate increases and low overall rates for drivers with speeding ticket convictions.

Another option is to consider switching to a high-risk car insurance provider, such as State Farm, which offers lower rates for drivers with multiple accidents, claims, or traffic violations. Additionally, you can reduce your coverage to help with the high costs of insurance after a speeding ticket.

Finally, increasing your deductibles will result in a lower monthly premium, but keep in mind that you will have to pay the full deductible before your coverage kicks in if you get into an accident.

Hire a lawyer

If you've received a traffic ticket in Minnesota, hiring a lawyer can be a strategic move to keep the citation off your insurance record. Here's a comprehensive guide on why and how to hire a lawyer for this purpose:

Knowledge of the Legal System: Traffic lawyers are experts in traffic laws and the court system. They understand the intricacies of the law and can navigate the complex legal process, which increases your chances of a favorable outcome.

Frequently asked questions