Do Tickets Affect Insurance?

When it comes being on the receiving end of a speeding ticket, you’re not alone. Many drivers experience the flashing red and blue lights in their rearview mirror, and that familiar sense of dread that accompanies them at some point in their driving career. Which is why we’re here to help you through the process, so you can learn from the incident and leave it behind you. Here’s some answers to some very important questions.

I Got a Speeding Ticket. What Do I Do?

After you receive your ticket, you have a couple options. Let’s walk you through them.

Pay the speeding ticket in full. First, the easiest way to handle your ticket is to just pay it in full. When you pay it in full, you admit that you’re guilty and accept the conviction, which often shows up as points on your Motor Vehicle Report. Depending on the state where you are ticketed, these points can stay on your license for up to three years.

Attend driving school. If you don’t want to pay your ticket, you might have the option of attending driving school. Depending on your location, you may be allowed to attend driving school in exchange for removing points from your license, or even removing the charge completely. However, attending driving school in exchange for a clean slate is usually reserved for those who have clean driving records or have only been ticketed for a minor offense.

Fight the ticket. Lastly, you have the option of fighting the ticket in court. While it may cause the biggest headache of the bunch, you may get the chance to reduce your fine or clear the charge from your record completely, if you can prove your innocence.

Will a Speeding Ticket Affect My Insurance?

When it comes to figuring out how speeding tickets affect your insurance, it’s tough to say. Speeding tickets are taken into account when determining your insurance premium, but so are many other factors.

Typically, when it comes time to renew your policy, your insurer will look at your Motor Vehicle Report. If your report contains more points than your previous Motor Vehicle Report, your premium will likely increase. The amount your premium will increase depends on a number of factors like the amount of demerit points associated with your speeding ticket, along with your prior driving history.

Remember, if you have questions about your ticket and how it will affect your premium, your agent (Opens in a new tab) would be happy to walk you through the process.