What happens when you get your first speeding ticket?

Driver points last for 1-10 years in most states, though some states keep points on your license forever. Keep in mind that points typically stay on your license for longer than they actually affect you, and you’ll only face a legal penalty if you accumulate too many points within a certain period of time. ... read full answer

How Long Points Stay on Your License in the Biggest States

For example, points stemming from minor violations in Illinois will stay on your license for up to five years, but your license will only be suspended if you commit three violations in one year. Similarly, points in Indiana take two years to expire, but you’ll only face a license suspension if you commit two violations in a single year.

How to Check and Reduce Your License Points

If you want to see how many points are on your license, you can check your driving record online through your state’s DMV or equivalent agency. Depending on your state, you may be able to remove points early if you take an approved defensive driving class. Specific requirements and point deductions vary, but you can usually take one class every 3-5 years.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to driver’s license points.

A no-point ticket might affect insurance, depending on the reason for the ticket, the state’s laws, and the insurance company. A no-point ticket for a moving violation like speeding is likely to affect insurance rates, for example, whereas non-moving violations like parking tickets do not affect premiums.

It’s important to note that the number of points associated with a ticket does not correlate with a certain insurance rate increase in most states. Instead, insurance companies pay more attention to the offense that led to the points than the actual points. As a result, no-point tickets for offenses unrelated to your driving abilities will probably not affect your insurance.... read full answer

For more information, check out WalletHub’s complete guide to the factors that affect car insurance rates.

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.