Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Your Car Insurance?

You might feel speeding is a harmless traffic infraction, but it can carry serious legal and financial consequences. Points on your license, hefty fines, and even hikes in your insurance are only a few potential penalties.

It’s important to know if, when, and how a speeding ticket will affect your car insurance. For instance, it may not affect your rates if it’s your first violation. But speeding tickets can stay on your driving record for years, so you’ll want to avoid accruing them.

How do speeding tickets affect car insurance?

Speeding isn’t always a harmless traffic violation. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding caused approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities in the last two decades.1 With speeding tickets causing major harm to both people and property, they often cause insurers to increase car insurance rates.

A speeding ticket tells your insurance company you were driving in a way that increased your likelihood of getting into an accident and filing a claim. The more claims your insurer must cover, the more it has to pay, so it’ll charge you higher premiums to make up for the extra cost.

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

It depends. Factors like your insurer, how many other speeding tickets you have, and your location all affect how much your premium increases, among other things.

For instance, Progressive reports that customers who receive their first speeding ticket see an average increase of 15% or more for a six-month policy.2 However, Allstate reports that some insurers may not raise premiums for drivers older than 25 without another moving violation in the last three years.3

Average car insurance rates after a speeding ticket

How much your car insurance rates increase after a speeding ticket depends on the severity of your violation, how many speeding tickets you have, the state you got the ticket in, and your insurance company.

Average car insurance rates after a speeding ticket by insurance company

Car insurance rates generally increase after a driver gets a speeding ticket. The amount of the increase, however, depends on multiple factors, including the type of insurance you have, your insurance company, where you live, and your overall driving history.

Average car insurance rates after a speeding ticket by state

Insurers in some states, like Hawaii and New Hampshire, are more forgiving when it comes to car insurance after a speeding ticket, with monthly overall average rates of $111 and $100, respectively. Insurers in Florida and Louisiana are less forgiving, with monthly overall average rates of $244 and $194, respectively.

How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?

Unfortunately, most traffic violations won’t disappear from your driving record overnight. Even if you’re normally a safe and incident-free driver, a speeding ticket will stay on your driving record for a while. The exact length it’ll stay on your record depends on your state. 

Loretta Worters, vice president of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), mentions that premiums are based on your risk level, which includes your driving record, as well as credit history, location, and age in most states.

“Although each insurance company has its own policies, speeding violations stay on insurance records for three to five years,” says Worters. “Insurance companies base premiums on your risk level, which is calculated by various factors, including your current driving record and driving history, age (in most states) as well as credit history, type of car you drive, and location.”

Each state varies in how long it keeps a speeding ticket on your record. “For example, in New York, it’s three years after receiving the violation, and, in Pennsylvania, it’s five years,” says Worters. “Drivers should check with their state’s DMV to find out how long a ticket stays on their driver’s license.”

It’s also important to note that insurers will consider speeding tickets you’ve gotten in other states when looking at your driving record. For instance, if you’re a Florida resident who got a speeding ticket in Georgia, the citation will appear on your Florida driving record. You may receive points on your license if the citation from the other state qualifies for a point under Florida state law.4

How to lower your car insurance after a speeding ticket

Since even a single speeding ticket can raise your car insurance rates, multiple traffic violations or at-fault accidents on your driving record can substantially increase your premiums. Thankfully, you can still find ways to keep your car insurance rates low, including the following recommendations from Worters:

Take a defensive driving course

“We advise drivers to take a defensive driving course that’s approved by their insurer,” says Worters. Ask your insurer if it offers any discounts for completing a defensive driving course.

Consider switching car insurance companies

“You can also consider switching car insurance companies to find a better rate, but, before you do, make sure you check with your current insurer to see if you qualify for other discounts or benefits that can lower your rates,” says Worters.

There’s always a chance that you’re overpaying for your car insurance, but if you’re considering a switch, remember that it won’t remove the speeding ticket from your driving record.

Decrease your coverage

“You can also consider dropping the collision coverage, which will make [your rate] more affordable,” says Worters. "Know that if you are involved in an accident in the future, however, you will be liable for any repairs to your vehicle. You can always add collision back again, should you decide to do so.”

You should also look at what other optional coverages you may no longer need on your vehicle. For instance, if you drive a car with a low market value, you may not need comprehensive coverage. But be careful. It's a good idea to err on the side of more versus less when it comes to car insurance coverage.

Raise your deductible

“Another way [to lower your car insurance rate] is to raise your deductible,” says Worters. “For instance, if you have a $500 deductible, you can raise it to $1,000 or $2,000, and that will save you some money.”

Raising a deductible puts more financial responsibility on you in the event of an accident rather than your insurer. Typically, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium, and vice versa.

Even if you have a clean driving record, you can still use these tips to lower your car insurance rates. Insurers offer various discounts, bundling incentives, and other money-saving opportunities for their policyholders. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers can help you identify which company can provide the coverage you need at the best possible price.