It’s common knowledge that if you’re caught speeding, you’ll have to pay a fine. But that’s far from the only cost of a speeding ticket. Depending on where you live, a speeding ticket can stay on your driving record for one to 10 years — and increase your insurance costs for three to five years.
Speeding tickets are a fairly common driving infraction, and they can increase your car insurance premiums. All licensed drivers should understand the effect of speeding tickets, how long they’ll stay on your record, and how comparing quotes from multiple insurers can help mitigate a ticket’s effect on your car insurance rates.
The amount of time a speeding ticket stays on your driving record can vary depending on where you live and the severity of the offense. The number of miles per hour you were driving above the posted speed limit can determine the severity of the ticket.
If you’re convicted of speeding, your state’s motor vehicle agency will assign a certain number of driver’s license points to your record. If you accrue too many points, insurance companies will see you as a high-risk driver.
Depending on your state, a speeding ticket can stay on your record anywhere from one to 10 years. If you want to see where you stand, you can request a copy of your driving record from the state for a small fee.
The following table outlines how long a speeding ticket will stay on your record in different states.
Receiving even one traffic ticket will cause your car insurance costs to increase. Speeding is a form of reckless driving and endangers other people on the road. Speeding causes accidents and contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2021.1
The following table shows full-coverage car insurance quotes for drivers with a clean driving record as opposed to one speeding ticket. As you can see, drivers with a clean record pay lower rates for car insurance than someone with a bad driving record. Plus, maintaining a clean driving record for several years can help you qualify for a good driver discount if your insurer offers one.
The length of time a speeding ticket affects your insurance depends on your auto insurance company. On average, a speeding ticket can increase your auto insurance costs for three to five years. But the exact effect will vary depending on your driving history and the severity of the offense.
It’s a good idea to contact your insurer with any questions about how a speeding ticket will affect your premiums. Some car insurance companies offer ways to mitigate the cost of speeding tickets, like taking a defensive driving course.
An increase in car insurance premiums isn’t the only potential consequence of a speeding ticket — here are other ways a single ticket can affect you:
Fines: Anytime you receive a speeding ticket, you’re responsible for paying the fine. Most fines cost between $75 and $400, depending on how much faster you were driving over the posted speed limit.2
Driver’s license points: When you’re caught engaging in a moving violation, your state’s motor vehicle agency adds a certain number of points to your driving record. The number of points depends on the violation. Each state has its own points system and rules regarding the number of years these points will stay on your record.
License suspension: Receiving too many demerit points can result in a suspension of your driver’s license and registration. Most states will send a warning letter if you’re in danger of this happening.
Here are some steps you can take to find affordable car insurance after a ticket:
In most states, you can remove a speeding ticket from your driving record by taking a traffic school course. But there may be a limit on how many times you can have a ticket removed from your record.
You can also contact an attorney to see if they can have the charges dropped from your motor vehicle record. This process will likely be easier if it’s your first speeding ticket.
Here’s some additional information about speeding tickets and how they affect car insurance rates.
After a speeding ticket, most drivers will see their insurance rates go up once they renew their policy. A ticket can affect your insurance rates for three to five years, depending on your insurance company and driving history.
In New York state, a speeding conviction will stay on your driving record for 18 months.3 Speeding results in three to 11 license violation points, depending on how many miles per hour you drove over the speed limit, according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The Driver Violation Point System calculates your points based on the date of the violation, and if you receive 11 points in 18 months, your license could be suspended.
In Nevada, a speeding ticket will stay on your record for one year after conviction. Once the 12-month period is up, the demerit points will fall off, but the conviction remains part of your permanent record.4
Some states will wipe a speeding ticket off your record if you attend traffic school. But most states limit the number of times you can remove a ticket from your driving record. For example, Nevada will only allow you to attend traffic school once within a 12-month period.
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