How a Traffic Ticket Affects Your Car Insurance

One of the most expensive consequences of a traffic ticket is not the fine itself. It is what happens to your car insurance. When a moving violation appears on your driving record, your insurance company may raise your rates at your next renewal. Depending on the violation and your insurer, that increase can last three to five years.

How much your rates go up depends on several factors. The type of violation matters a great deal. A minor speeding ticket might raise your premium by 20 percent or so, while reckless driving or a DUI can double your rates or lead to non-renewal. Your prior driving history also plays a role. A first ticket on an otherwise clean record is treated more leniently than a third ticket in two years.

Insurance companies generally check your motor vehicle record when your policy renews, though some check more frequently. Not every ticket will necessarily trigger an increase, but moving violations are the most likely to do so. Non-moving violations like parking tickets typically do not affect your rates.

This is why many drivers choose to fight tickets even when the fine itself is small. Keeping a violation off your record can save hundreds or thousands of dollars in insurance premiums over time. Options like traffic school, deferred adjudication, or negotiating a reduction to a non-moving violation can all help protect your record.

If you already have a ticket on your record, it may help to shop around for insurance. Different companies weigh violations differently, and some specialize in high-risk drivers. Taking a defensive driving course voluntarily can also sometimes earn you a discount, even if it does not remove the violation.

A traffic attorney can explain which outcomes are likely to affect your insurance in your state and help you pursue the option that protects your record and your wallet.

This article provides general information only and is not legal advice.

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This article is general information, not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship.