How Will a Ticket Affect My Auto Insurance Rates
Unfortunately, having one speeding ticket on your record can affect your auto insurance rates. Your insurance company uses factors such as age, gender, credit history and driving record to determine whether or not you fit the profile of a high risk driver. To an insurance company, a speeding ticket means you are more likely to be in an auto accident than a comparable driver that has not gotten a speeding ticket.
Many states have laws that prevent insurance companies from raising rates after only one speeding ticket. The exception to this rule is if the ticket is for “extreme speeding,” which is normally defined as more than 15 miles per hour above the posted speed limit. So, if you live in a state that has restrictions on the insurance company’s ability to raise your rates after one ticket, then you are safe.
If you live in a state with no such restrictions and you want to minimize the chances of having your rates go up, you want to accept the option to attend a driver improvement course. Specifics vary from state to state, but in general if you attend the course and don’t receive another ticket for at least 12 months, the first ticket will not appear on your driving record. Since your official driving record is what the insurance company regularly reviews, keeping the speeding ticket off the record means the insurance company will have no grounds to increase your rates.
So, the bottom line is that one speeding ticket (for less than 15 miles over the limit) will not usually lead to an increase in rates. However, even one ticket for “extreme speeding” or multiple speeding violations in a short time can have a very significant affect on your rates. In fact, if you have a second violation, and the insurance company becomes aware of it, be prepared for your rates to go up; sometimes by as much as 75%!!
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