Do Speeding Tickets Affect Your Car Insurance?

Try as you might, it's almost impossible to avoid getting a speeding ticket at some point in your life. Speeding tickets, or any moving violation, can significantly affect your insurance rates, though the exact change will vary based on the situation. Depending on your state and car insurance company, it's possible that your premiums won't increase after a single ticket. However, repeat violations will almost always cause your insurance rates to go up, so it pays to be conscientious on the road.

Does Your Insurance Go Up After a Speeding Ticket?

While insurance rates generally go up after a speeding ticket, you may not see an increase from a single incident. Some insurance companies will give leeway regarding your first ticket or only raise your premiums by a small margin. How much your speeding ticket insurance increase will depend on whether your company has a forgiveness program, as well as what driver demographic you fit into.

So how much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket? Well, that will vary. Factors that affect whether your insurance goes up after a speeding ticket include:

Age: Younger drivers may see a more significant increase after a speeding ticket, as this indicates that to an insurance company, they may be riskier drivers. Because their driving history is limited, insurers may extrapolate from an incident and determine that this driver will speed up in the future. New drivers must carefully observe traffic laws to avoid an early increase, as these can only increase as they continue to drive.
Experience: Drivers who have more experience or a history with an insurance company may see a minor increase after a speeding ticket, especially if they have proven themselves as safe drivers. If it's your first ticket after years of being on the road, or it's been a long time since your last offense, insurers are more likely to be lenient.
State: Your location can also play a part in whether your insurance will increase following a speeding ticket. In areas with a larger number of drivers, like metropolitan areas, insurance companies may see any traffic violation as a red flag. Because accidents are more likely to occur in these heavily-populated motorways, it's possible for speeders to see a significant percentage increase in their monthly premiums after a ticket.
Number of Offenses: One of the biggest factors in whether your insurance will go up is whether you show a pattern of traffic violations. A clean record is very important to an insurer, so if you frequently break the law, they will be less likely to understand after a ticket.
Your Insurance Company: Some insurance companies are more likely to forgive a speeding ticket than others. USAA usually has the cheapest rates and often increases insurance rates by a small amount after a ticket. However, this company only insures active military members, their families, or veterans. Other companies, like American Family, will dramatically increase your premiums after a speeding ticket. Talk with your insurer following a ticket to see their exact rate changes, as these will vary year-to-year.

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record?

Speeding tickets will, on average, stay on your record for between 3-7 years. However, the exact length of time they remain will depend on what state you drive in. Some examples of how long a speeding ticket stays on your record include the following:

Alabama: a speeding ticket can stay on your record in Alabama for up to two years.
Arkansas: speeding tickets in Arkansas can stay on your record for three years.
Arizona: a speeding ticket in Arizona will only stay on your record for one year.
Alaska: speeding tickets in Alaska will only stay on your record for one year.
Colorado: drivers who receive speeding tickets in Colorado will have it on their record permanently.
California: a speeding ticket in California will stay on your record for three years.
Connecticut: speeding tickets received in Connecticut will stay on your record for three years.
District of Columbia: speeding tickets received in the District of Columbia will remain on your record for two years.
Delaware: a speeding ticket in Delaware can remain on your record for two years.
Florida: speeding tickets received in Florida can stay on your record for five years.
Georgia: a speeding ticket in Georgia can stay on your record for two years.
Hawaii: speeding tickets in Hawaii remain on your record for ten years.
Illinois: a speeding ticket in Illinois can stay on your record for three years.
Idaho: speeding tickets in Idaho remain on your record for three years.
Iowa: speeding tickets in Iowa remain on your record for five years.
Indiana: a speeding ticket in Indiana can stay on your record for two years.
Kentucky: speeding tickets in Kentucky remain on your record for five years.
Kansas: speeding tickets in Kansas stay for three years.
Louisiana: a speeding ticket in Louisiana can remain on your record for three years.
Maryland: speeding tickets in Maryland can stay for three years.
Maine: speeding tickets in Maine only remain for one year.
Michigan: a speeding ticket in Michigan can stay on your record for seven years.
Massachusetts: speeding tickets in Massachusetts can remain for six years.
Mississippi: speeding tickets in Mississippi remain for one year.
Minnesota: a speeding ticket in Minnesota can stay for five to ten years.
New York: speeding tickets in New York stay on your record for one and a half years.
North Dakota: a speeding ticket in North Dakota stays on your record for three years.

You can find the exact amount of time your state keeps speeding tickets on your driving record by visiting your local DMV, either online or in person. You can also find additional information about your vehicle using free online tools like a vehicle history report or a VIN decoder. These tools can help you research a vehicle before buying to ensure you get the best deal possible. You can also confirm any information a seller gives, helping you avoid falling prey to common car-buying scams.