If you’ve ever been pulled over for a traffic violation such as running a stop sign or driving over the speed limit, you know the dread of seeing those flashing police car lights in your rearview mirror. As you reach for your glove compartment to grab your license and registration, you hope that they’ll just let you off with a warning. After all, you don’t want your car insurance premiums to rise if your insurance company sees the violation on your record.
While insurance may not be your first thought when getting pulled over, it’s something you’ll absolutely have to consider. Unless you go to traffic court and are able to get the points removed from your record, your insurance provider is eventually going to see that you had a violation. As a result, your car insurance premium may rise depending on where you live, the severity of the infraction, the number of points involved.
Your insurance company will likely not know that you got a ticket right away.
If you have your car insurance with a large company such as Progressive or Nationwide, they are certainly not checking your driving record weekly or even monthly. Normally, the only time they’ll really check is when your renewal is coming up to determine your annual premium.
If they notice that you’ve received a ticket for a traffic violation, you’ll be seen as more of a risk to them. As a result, your premium will likely increase depending on how many violations you’ve had as well as the nature of the violation.
Different traffic violations yield different increase amounts.
| Violation | Percent Increase | Dollar Increase |
|---|---|---|
| DUI/DWI first offense | 79% | $1,131 |
| Reckless driving | 73% | $1,046 |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | 71% | $1,012 |
| Speeding 30+ over limit | 30% | $427 |
| Careless driving | 26% | $372 |
| Texting while driving | 23% | $344 |
| Distracted driving | 22% | $320 |
| Speeding ticket 16-29 MPH over limit | 22% | $317 |
| Improper/illegal pass | 20% | $293 |
| Speeding ticket 1-15 MPH over limit | 20% | $288 |
| Following too closely | 20% | $284 |
| Improper turn | 20% | $281 |
| Failure to yield | 20% | $281 |
| Failure to stop | 19% | $272 |
| Talking on cell phone while driving | 16% | $224 |
| Driving without a license or permit | 12% | $178 |
| Driving without insurance | 10% | $143 |
| Seatbelt infraction | 3% | $47 |
There are ways you can avoid high increases.
In the event that you have points assigned to your record, call your insurance company to discuss your options.
One option to avoid potentially high increases in your car insurance premium is to ask your insurance provider if you can raise your deductible. Doing so may lower your annual premium amount enough to significantly soften any blow to your wallet as a result of your traffic violation. Additionally, you may be able to take a safe driving course to get a discount on your premium; just make sure that the course is approved before taking the time to sign up and participate in it.
Many insurance companies also offer discounts for bundling your policies. If you have your car insurance with a different company than your homeowner’s insurance, consider getting a quote to see if moving your homeowner’s policy will save you some money. Additionally, you may be eligible for a discount if your annual mileage is relatively low.
Talk to your agent and make sure you’re taking advantage of all possible discounts they offer.
Call Risk Averse Insurancein Media, PA to discuss your business or personal insurance.
Risk Averse Insurance is an insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.
