So, maybe you’re jamming out to your car playlist a little too hard. Or you’re late for a very important date. Or you just like to put your pedal to the metal. In any case, now there’s flashing blue lights behind you.
You pull over, and your sweaty palms grab the steering wheel tighter than when you first took your driving test.
“Do you know how fast you were going?”
We may not know the answer to that question, but we can tell you if your car insurance premium will go up from a simple speeding ticket.
What Determines My Car Insurance Rate?
Let’s start with the basics. The details that determine your car insurance rates in the first place are:
- What kind of car you drive
- How old your car is
- Your car’s safety features
- Your age
- Your gender
- Where you live
- How you use your vehicle
- How often you drive
- Your credit score
- Your marital status
And the big one:
- Your driving record
Now, your driving record has a fair amount of weight when the insurance company is deciding what you should pay in premiums. This is because, whenever a carrier issues a policy – whether it’s car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, business insurance, etc. – they have to weigh the risks of what it will take to insure that person. So, if your driving record is marked with a bunch of accidents, especially if you’re found to be at-fault, you might be considered a high-risk driver and find it really hard to get insurance.
Will My Car Insurance Go Up If I Got A Speeding Ticket?
The easy answer is: Yes. How much? That all depends.
If you’ve slipped up once, that’s understandable. Speeding is a very common traffic violation. So, your rates usually won’t go up that much. Also, certain insurance carriers are more lenient if a driver has a not-stellar driving record.
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Otherwise, the increase in your premium rate can depend on a couple factors: how fast you were going over the speed limit and how many times you’ve gotten a speeding ticket.
How Fast Were You Going?
Slow down, Speedy Gonzales, because the difference in miles per hour on your speeding ticket could be the difference of what you’ll pay in auto insurance from now on. Every carrier considers speeding violations differently, but the rise in rates will be a little more than a bump in the road.
For the most part, a speeding ticket that’s 15 to 29 mph over the speed limit could raise your premiums about 12 percent. That number could be more or less depending on if you’re in a lower or higher age bracket.
The good news is that certain age brackets can also be eligible for certain discounts. As insurance professionals, we know exactly the kinds of discounts you qualify for in a few simple questions. Call 770.497.1200 to get free quotes and see how much we can save you on car insurance through our carrier relationships. Or you can fill out our online quote form. Whichever you prefer.
Multiple Violations
Your insurance company checks your driving history when they issue you the policy, and they periodically check it for as long as you have insurance (which should be always). So, if you have too many violations, whether they’re speeding tickets or something more serious, your carrier could even drop your coverage.
It’s like playing a game of HORSE with your insurance company, and each traffic violation is another letter that proves to them that you’re a risky driver to insure. Every letter gets you closer to losing the game (or your insurance) and once you’ve got all five letters, that’s it.
That’s not to say you can only have five traffic violations until your insurance drops you – that depends on your plan and your carrier.
How Can I Stop My Car Insurance Rates from Rising If I Get a Speeding Ticket?
So, the police officer has pulled away and you may feel like your day is ruined, or at the very least, slightly inconvenienced. You don’t want your car insurance rates to go up just because your foot was a little heavy on the gas pedal. So what do you do?
Well, you have three options:
- Contest the speeding ticket – There’s usually a court date printed on your traffic ticket for you to go to your city hall and contest the ticket. It may be a long shot trying to testify against a radar gun but paying the ticket will admit fault. If you do happen to get the ticket tossed out, your insurance carrier more than likely won’t raise your rate.
- Slow down – If your insurance carrier is one that will let your first traffic ticket slide, you’ve basically been given a second chance. So, don’t waste it! Take the opportunity to be more cautious while you drive because your insurance company isn’t going to be as lenient for a second or third offense.
- Bundle up! – Make sure you’re getting all of the discounts you possibly can on your car insurance. The most common discount is bundling your auto insurance with your home insurance which can save you tons. The money you save by grabbing a new discount or two may offset the rate increase your traffic ticket caused.
A speeding ticket doesn’t have to be the end all be all of your driving record or your life on the road. There are tons of other discounts and carriers that are willing to give a little more wiggle room on your driving record. It just so happens that we’ve formed strong relationships with quite a few of them. So, call our insurance professionals at 770.497.1200 or fill out our online quote form to get the most bang for your buck on your auto coverage, even if you’ve slipped up a time or two.
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