How does a speeding ticket affect insurance premiums?
Expect to pay more -- the average rate increases by 36% after a speeding ticket.
Written by
Writer, Fox Money
Kat Tretina has more than eight years in finance, covering mortgages and student loans. Her byline has been featured by U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, and MSN.
Updated September 25, 2024, 11:10 AM EDT
Written by
Writer, Fox Money
Scott Nyerges is a former senior editor and content strategist at U.S. News & World Report, where he led coverage of car insurance and other personal insurance lines. He's also served as a managing editor for Consumer Reports and news programmer for MSN.
Fox Money is a personal finance hub featuring content generated by Credible Operations, Inc. (Credible), which is majority-owned indirectly by Fox Corporation. The Fox Money content is created and reviewed independent of Fox News Media. Credible is solely responsible for this content and the services it provides.
Because speeding increases the likelihood of being involved in accidents, a speeding ticket can significantly increase your car insurance premiums – perhaps as much as 35%. But there are steps you can take to reduce the financial impact.
Speeding can be incredibly dangerous, increasing the risk of property damage, injuries and even death. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding was involved in 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available.
Key highlights
- After a speeding ticket, car insurance premiums increase by about 36% per year, on average.
- Geico, Nationwide and Travelers had the highest premium increases after a speeding ticket, whereas State Farm and Allstate had the lowest increases.
- Residents of Hawaii, Ohio and California experience the biggest increases on average after a single ticket.
- Your driving record plays a major role in determining your car insurance premiums.
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket?
When you apply for a new car insurance policy or renew an existing policy, one of the factors insurance companies use to determine your premium is your driving record. Drivers they view as more likely to be involved in accidents, such as those with histories of speeding or other moving violations, will have higher premiums.
Nationally, the average rate for full coverage insurance for a driver with a clean record is $1,895 per year. After a speeding ticket, the average annual premium is $2,569, a 36% increase.
Multiple tickets can also affect your insurability as a driver. Michael Barrett, principal and agent with Barrett Insurance Agency in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, said receiving speeding tickets can cause you to lose your policy.
"Frequency of things like violations and/or claims, even a combination of the two, can lead a carrier to non-renew [a policy]," he said.
How much do car insurance rates increase by state after a speeding ticket?
How much your rate increases after a speeding ticket largely depends on where you live. For example, rates typically increase by 85% in Hawaii after a ticket, and rates increase by about 48% in California and Ohio. States with the lowest average increases include Pennsylvania and Kansas, where rates rise by an average of 19% and 21%, respectively.
The rates below were collected from auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com for single, 40-year-old male and female drivers of a 2023 Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violations on their record for full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible.
How much do car insurance rates increase by company after a speeding ticket?
Car insurance rates can fluctuate significantly between companies, and that's particularly true after a speeding ticket. On average, we found that Geico had the highest rate increase after a speeding ticket; its annual premiums increased by 60%.
State Farm, on the other hand, had the lowest average increase, with premiums going up just 17% after a speeding ticket.
* USAA is only available to active and retired members of the military and their families.
How do insurance companies find out about tickets?
Speeding tickets are moving violations. When a ticket is issued, the police department reports the information to the county clerk’s office. Once the ticket has been resolved — meaning you're convicted or plead no-contest and pay the fine — the county clerk reports the ticket to the state department of motor vehicles.
Tickets are linked to your driver's license number, and any speeding tickets, accidents or other traffic violations will appear on your state motor vehicle record (MVR) or driving history. In most states, moving violations will stay on your driving record for three to five years. Insurers monitor your driving record and can adjust your rates accordingly after they learn of any moving violations.
The Driver License Compact (DLC) allows states to share information about drivers' records and traffic violations. If you get a ticket in another state, it will be reported to your home state's motor vehicle records department.
However, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin are not part of the DLC.
Do car insurance companies forgive speeding tickets?
Whether a single speeding ticket will affect your rates varies by company policy. With some auto insurance companies, your rates won't increase after a first offense, but that's not the case for all insurers. Our research shows that average rates after a single speeding ticket can result in an increase of up to 60%.
How long does a speeding ticket affect your insurance?
How long a ticket stays on your MVR and affects your rates varies by state. In general, a speeding ticket will affect your rates for three to five years.
How to lower insurance rates after a speeding ticket
Although a speeding ticket can cause your premiums to increase, there are several ways to reduce the cost of your policy without sacrificing coverage:
1. Sign up for usage-based insurance (UBI)
UBI policies, also known as pay-per-mile policies, use mobile apps or telematics devices to track your vehicle usage and driving habits. Safe drivers — meaning those that obey speed limits, refrain from hard accelerations or braking and avoid congested areas — can save a significant amount on their car insurance by signing up for UBI coverage.
"Most insurance carriers provide an option to the consumer when purchasing coverage to get a device installed in their vehicle," said Nancy Doherty, assistant vice president with Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. "This device personalizes the consumer's car insurance rate based on how you drive. Sometimes, the safer you drive, the more you may save."
Depending on your insurer and your driving habits, you could reduce your premium by 10% to 50%.
2. Take a safe-driving course
In some states, you can qualify for a discount if you complete an approved safe-driving course. For example, Delaware residents are eligible for a 10% discount for up to three years by completing an approved defensive driver course.
Visit your state's department of transportation or motor vehicles to find out if similar discount programs are available.
3. Increase your deductible
Your deductible is how much you have to pay before your insurer will defray the cost. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium will be. Deductibles can be anywhere from $250 to $5,000, but the most common deductibles are $500 or $1,000. Make sure you can afford the deductible you choose.
4. Ask about discounts
All insurance companies offer ways to save on your premium. You may be eligible for common discounts like multi-policy, low-mileage or accident-free discounts. Other savings may be available if you are a military service member or veteran, for example, or remain a loyal customer.
5. Get quotes from other companies
As we mentioned earlier, car insurance premiums can vary significantly between companies; you may pay hundreds more for the same coverage with one insurer over another.
Shopping around is key to finding the best rates; requesting quotes from at least three insurers — either online or by calling the company — can help you find the lowest premiums. You can also work with an independent agent or broker who represents multiple companies.
6. Drive safely
Keeping a clean driving record will help reduce the impact of speeding tickets on your premiums in the future.
"Slow down," Barrett says. "The current state of the auto insurance market is exhibiting higher company scrutiny with increased rates. Anything you can do to become a more desirable risk to insure, the better."
Frequently asked questions
Does a first-time speeding ticket affect insurance?
Whether a first-time speeding ticket affects your premiums varies by insurer and the severity of the ticket. For example, if you have a clean driving record and get a ticket for going a few miles per hour over the speed limit, the insurer may not increase your rates. But if you get a ticket for going 30 miles per hour over the speed limit — a more serious infraction — you're more likely to see your premiums increase.
Will my insurance go up if someone gets a ticket in my car
Although policies vary by insurer, generally, your insurance premiums are based on your driver’s license. If a friend or relative borrows your car and gets a ticket, it won't impact your insurance. However, it will affect their own coverage since the ticket will be associated with their driver's license and reported on their driving record.
Does one speeding ticket affect insurance?
It depends. Not all insurers will increase your rates after one speeding ticket, but many will. A single speeding ticket can cause you to pay hundreds more for car insurance per year.
Methodology
Editors collected rate information from auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com for single, 40-year-old male and female drivers of a 2023 Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violations on their record for full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible.
In addition, we also calculated rates for these hypothetical drivers, but with one or more of the following on their record: speeding ticket, at-fault accident, DUI/DWI, poor credit history, or a lapse in coverage.
We analyzed more than 53 million quotes, over 34,000 ZIP codes, and 170 insurance companies nationwide.
Note: 100/300/100 means up to $100,000 for the medical bills of those you injure, up to $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability for all persons injured in one accident, and $100,000 to repair other drivers’ cars and property you damage.