Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket
A single speeding ticket will raise your car insurance rate by 23%, on average.
Speeding tickets stay on your driving record for around three years. How a ticket will affect your insurance rates depends on a few factors. Rates vary based on your driving record, how fast you were going and which company insures your car.
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Do speeding tickets affect insurance?
One speeding ticket raises full coverage car insurance rates by $38 per month, on average.
A speeding ticket will raise your car insurance rates in almost every situation. How much your rate goes up depends on your insurance company, where you live and your driving history.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes after a Speeding Ticket
State Farm raises rates the least among major auto insurance companies for a first speeding ticket. It increases full coverage rates by around 11%, or about $11 per month.
Some insurance companies don't increase car insurance rates after a single ticket. Others charge drivers with a ticket more than double those with a clean record.
Cheap car insurance with speeding tickets
It's important to shop around for car insurance after a ticket to make sure you get the best possible rate.
However, the ticket won't affect your rates until your policy renews. So you should compare quotes when your policy is close to its expiration.
How does a speeding ticket affect insurance rates, by state
New Jersey drivers see the largest increase in insurance rates after a speeding ticket. Alaska has the smallest increase in the country.
Where you live has a big effect on your car insurance rates after a speeding ticket. Car insurance rates in New Jersey go up by 49% after one speeding ticket. Drivers in Alaska only see a 10% increase, on average.
Monthly full coverage rates before and after a speeding ticket
State | Clean record | Speeding ticket | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $165 | $198 | 20% |
| Alaska | $136 | $150 | 10% |
| Arizona | $224 | $295 | 32% |
| Arkansas | $157 | $191 | 22% |
| California | $156 | $228 | 46% |
How do insurance companies find out about tickets?
After you get a speeding ticket, the court will notify the DMV so it can update your driving record. Insurance companies typically check your record with the DMV before your policy renews. They do this to determine your rate for the next policy period.
Your rates will only go up when your policy renews. So, you shouldn't rush to switch insurance companies after a speeding ticket. Instead, wait to shop for quotes until your current policy is about to expire.
How multiple tickets can raise your auto insurance rates
No. of tickets | Rate increase |
|---|---|
| 1 | 20% |
| 2 | 67% |
| 3 | 111% |
Drivers with more than one speeding ticket usually pay more for insurance than those with one ticket.
For example, one ticket increases rates with Geico by more than 20%. A second ticket raises rates by 38% more.
Drivers with two or three speeding tickets pay between 67% and 111% more than a driver with no tickets.
How to lower insurance after a speeding ticket
The best way to find cheap car insurance after a speeding ticket is to compare quotes from multiple companies.
There are some other options that can help. But you should always check with your insurance company to see what steps you can take to reduce your rate.
You may be able to get your ticket dismissed by taking a defensive driving course.
This isn't the case in all states. You can also fight the ticket in court or ask the judge for ways to keep a ticket off your record.
Some states tie citations to points on a driver's license. Those points can impact how much insurance rates go up.
Insurance companies can also set rates based on your driving record instead of license points. That means efforts to reduce points, like taking a defensive driving course, might not keep your insurance rates down.
How long does a speeding ticket affect insurance?
One speeding ticket will typically increase your insurance rates for between three and four years.
Car insurance rates go up by an average of 25% for the first two years after your ticket. Then, your insurance company will either reduce your rates to normal or reduce your penalty for the third year.
Allstate is the only major company that charges higher rates for a driver with a four-year-old speeding ticket.
Cost of full coverage car insurance after one ticket
Time since ticket | Monthly cost | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | $66 | 25% |
| 1 year | $66 | 25% |
| 2 years | $66 | 25% |
| 3 years | $55 | 5% |
| No recent ticket | $53 | — |
Different states have different laws regarding how long a ticket can stay on your driving record. In California, it only stays on your record for 39 months. In contrast, a citation in Virginia stays on your record for five years.
Frequently asked questions
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket?
One speeding ticket will increase your insurance rates by $38 per month, on average. However, the exact amount will vary based on your driving history, where you live and your insurance company's rules.
How can I bring my rates down after a ticket?
The best ways to lower your insurance rates after a ticket are to shop around for a cheaper insurance company or take a driver education class. Otherwise, your rates will go back down over time.
What is the cheapest car insurance company after a speeding ticket?
State Farm has the cheapest full coverage rates after a ticket, at $136 per month. That's an increase of just 9%, on average. Drivers with a recent ticket can also find cheap rates from Erie and Auto-Owners.
Does a first-time speeding ticket affect insurance?
Yes, your first speeding ticket will increase your insurance rates by around 23%. However, multiple tickets cause rates to increase much more. Drivers with two tickets pay 67% more for full coverage. And those with three tickets pay twice as much as people with a clean record.
How long do speeding tickets affect insurance?
Most drivers can expect their rates to go up for three to four years after a speeding ticket. Your penalty usually decreases in the third year. Most insurance companies will offer you normal rates by the fourth year.
Methodology
To compare the effects of a single speeding ticket on car insurance rates, ValuePenguin gathered quotes from every ZIP code across the United States. Rates are for a 30-year-old man with good credit who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Quotes are based on a full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person; $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
To study rates for a speeding ticket at 5 mph over the limit, rates for drivers with multiple tickets and the length of time a speeding ticket affects car insurance rates, we collected car insurance quotes from every ZIP code in Alabama, Ohio and Illinois.
This analysis used Quadrant Information Services to compile the insurance rate data, which was publicly sourced from insurance company filings. Rates should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes may be different.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.