How much does AAA insurance go up after a speeding ticket?

Yes, speeding tickets affect insurance rates in most cases. One speeding ticket raises car insurance premiums by about 25%, on average, although the exact amount depends on several factors, including the driver’s record and how fast they were going. Speeding tickets resulting from a traffic camera, on the other hand, generally do not affect insurance, as most states classify them as non-moving violations similar to a parking ticket.... read full answer

It is possible to avoid a spike in insurance premiums after a minor speeding ticket, but the leeway is usually reserved for a first offense. If your driving record is otherwise spotless and you were going less than 15 mph over the speed limit, for example, your insurance company might not raise your rates. But if you previously qualified for a good driver discount, you’ll almost certainly lose it. And if you’ve received two or three speeding tickets within the last three years, your insurance company will be much less forgiving.

How Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance Costs

If you receive a speeding ticket, you likely won’t see it impact your rates until it’s time to renew your policy and your insurance company checks your driving record. Even if you decide to switch insurance companies, the ticket will still appear on your driving record and lead to a higher premium. But if you practice safe driving habits after receiving a speeding ticket, your premiums will eventually lower after 3-5 years.

A speeding ticket will stay on your record for five years or less in most states. Some states require a speeding ticket to stay on your driving record for longer, but most insurance companies will still only take the last 3-5 years into consideration when calculating your premium.

For example, a speeding ticket in Hawaii will stick with you for 10 years, and in Montana it will be on your record forever. But having an old speeding ticket on your record won’t hurt you long-term. Once it’s beyond your insurer’s lookback period, it won’t affect your premium anymore.... read full answer

It’s important to remember that every insurance company has its own polices on how far back it looks on customers’ driving records, so be sure to check with your insurer to know exactly how long your speeding ticket will affect your premium. If you previously qualified for a good driver discount, you can also ask how long it will be before you can requalify. For example, American Family Insurance requires you to have a clean record for five years before you can receive the discount.

Insurance companies find out about tickets by checking a driver’s record. Prior to renewing an existing policy or selling a new one, insurers will check a driver’s Motor Vehicle Report (MVR), which is a report of their driving history from their state’s DMV. Any traffic violation will show up on an MVR, so an insurance company is certain to find out about it once it’s on the record.... read full answer

If you can prevent a ticket from going on your record, however, then the insurance company has no way of knowing about it. Many states will allow a ticket to be dismissed if you attend and pass a defensive driving course, especially if it’s a first offense. You could also contest the ticket in court.

If your ticket does end up on your driving record, you should contact your insurance company in order to find out how your rates will be affected. For example, there’s a chance that a low-level speeding ticket on an otherwise spotless record might not raise your rates at all. And even if your rates do increase, they’ll usually go back down after 3-5 years of safe driving.