Speeding Tickets Increase Auto Insurance Cost

What you need to know about speeding tickets and your car insurance

Speeding tickets and other traffic violations, such as red-light cameras, can be be costly in more ways than one.

If you get a citation for speeding or running a red light, the amount of the fine may be the least of your worries., especially if it is not your first violation.

The most costly part of receiving speeding tickets is not the fine itself, although that can be substantial, depending on where you were speeding and how far over the speed limit you were driving. For example if you are caught speeding in a highway construction work zone, you may be charged double the normal fine. And in most states, driving 15 MPH over the limit is an automatic fine increase.

More costly than a single speeding fine are the increased monthly auto insurance costs that add up to serious money in the long term. Insurance companies have studies which show that drivers with a single speeding ticket represent a 50% higher risk of having accidents. Additional tickets more than double the risk. Therefore, insurance companies compensate for that additional risk by raising rates for those drivers. The exact conditions and amount of the rate increase will vary by individual, insurance company, and state.

How to avoid speeding tickets and high insurance costs
Since speeding tickets and other traffic citations are so difficult to fight and so expensive, it's best to avoid getting them altogether.

Here are some tips for avoid speeding tickets:

Be aware of speed limits in the areas where you drive. This is so obvious but many drivers simply don't pay attention to speed limit signs. Furthermore, speed limits often change quickly around small towns, when crossing county or state lines, and in construction zones.
Don't be a "speed ticket magnet." If you drive on multi-lane highways, stay in the right lane as much as possible and don't pass other cars already exceeding the speed limit. Police with radar or laser devices already know how fast the other cars are going and if they see another car passing at an obviously higher speed, that car will get their attention.
Don't give police excuses to stop you. Traffic police nearly always overlook a certain degree of excessive speed over the limit but if your car has other problems, such as a burned out tail light, you might find that the tail light provides the reason to give you two violations. Therefore, keep your car legal by checking and repairing broken lights, turn signals, license plate fixtures, and other equipment.
As you drive, watch for police sitting on the side of the highway, especially during holidays. It's a common-sense thing to do, but most people don't do it. Most police cars are easy to spot with their distinctive markings, lights on top, cheap hub caps, and pusher bars on the front. Many police cars are big ugly Ford Crown Victorias — often white in color — that are not commonly seen elsewhere.
Get a radar detector. They are legal in all but a couple of states and do a good job of detecting the many types of radar and laser speed detection devices. Generally, the more money you pay for a detector, the better job it does. Escort and Valentine are good brands. Some portable GPS devices, such as those from Garmin and TomTom, can now show you the location of speed traps and red-light cameras.

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What to do if you get a speeding ticket
All of us are likely to get speeding tickets from time to time, regardless of what we do to avoid it.

If you get a ticket, don't argue with the police officer, but also don't admit your guilt.

You can pay the fine or choose to contest it in front of a judge if you feel there's a chance you can prove you were wronged. You can also take the chance that the police officer will fail to appear in court. In small rural towns, if you know the judge's daughter, you might be able to get your ticket thrown out, but that's not something you should count on. Unless you have a clear-cut case to take to court, you should get a lawyer to help you. However, you might want to weigh the cost of the lawyer, and a possible loss, against the cost of simply paying the fine.

In some states, you can agree to take a traffic course and have your ticket nullified. In that case, you pay no fine and your record stays clean.

Auto insurance companies vary in how they handle traffic violations and rate increases. With some companies you'll not only lose your good-driver discount but get a new premium increase as well. If your company raises your rates excessively, look for another company who might be more lenient. When you ask for rate quotes, be completely honest about your speeding ticket so that you'll get a correct rate quote. Insurance companies will find out about your ticket, even if you don't tell them.

If you have several speeding tickets, you may have difficulty finding any insurance company to insure you. You may be forced to go with a company that specializes in high-risk drivers — for extremely high premium rates.

Summary
Drivers who get speeding tickets can expect fines and court costs, state driving record issues that can lead to license suspension, and higher car insurance costs. It's best to avoid speeding tickets and other traffic violations altogether.

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