Will A Speeding Ticket Make My Insurance Too Expensive?
Imagine the scene. You are driving along happily one day when suddenly there is an unpleasant blue and red flash in your mirror and you hear the siren of a police car. You’ve been caught speeding, and now you are about to receive your first ticket. It’s a scenario many of us are only too familiar with, and one which, after the initial shock has subsided, leads on to a further question: ‘how will this effect my car insurance?’ The answer depends on a number of interrelated factors.
The good news is that insurance companies don’t lump all speeders together. A driver with a long and clean history up until the ticket may well not be punished too much by higher premiums. But don’t expect that to be true if you’ve only held your insurance for a couple of months.
Another factor that insurance companies will consider is the policy holderas age. Younger drivers tend to have higher rates anyway. Younger drivers who receive a ticket should expect a significant rate increase because the insurance companies view such a record as a large risk.
Likewise, someone who was clocked at 60 in a 30mph zone will be viewed in a different way to someone clocked at 35. Speeding tickets are common, and many good drivers will make a mistake during their lives behind the wheel. But some transgressions are obviously more serious than others.
If your ticket was written as a result of a wreck you caused, expect your insurance to increase significantly. This is true no matter what your age or previous driving record. Anytime a driver causes damages to their own car, someone elseas car, or property, the insurance company must pay money and you become an insurance risk.
Minor infractions can sometimes be cleared from your driving record by the courts. It’s possible that a court will be willing to dismiss the infraction, with the driver only having to pay court costs rather than a fine and having his transgression appear on a record. But check out your local state law for details.
Many Americans don’t have any car insurance – make sure you’re not one of them! It is important that you are properly protected by an insurance policy for when disaster hits, regardless of how good a driver you think you are. Well known companies like Allstate and Progressive Direct can provide you with insurance online or by phone. Always provide accurate and truthful information, and take the time to shop around for quotes and the best deal.
Nobody enjoys getting a ticket, but it need not be a disaster in terms of continued insurance coverage of your driving. As with most things in life, it pays to be prepared. Check out your insurer’s policy towards traffic tickets BEFORE you get caught. That way you won’t have to face anything more unpleasant than the police officer’s telling-off.