Insurance.com’s new ticket calculator, below, allows you to compute the increase to your auto insurance rate for common violations and compares that to the average percentage hike in your state, as well as nationwide.

How much does insurance go up after a ticket?

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Let's talk about what to expect after a speeding ticket.

Just how much tickets affect your insurance will depend on the severity of the violation and how many violations are on your driving record. More severe violations, like a DUI/DWI, will affect your insurance more negatively than something like texting and driving. Here is the breakdown, based on an Insurance.com rate analysis:

ViolationPercent increaseDollar increase
DUI/DWI first offense79%$1,131
Reckless driving73%$1,046
Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing)71%$1,012
Speeding 30+ over limit30%$427
Careless driving26%$372
Texting while driving23%$344
Distracted driving22%$320
Speeding ticket 16-29 MPH over limit22%$317
Improper/illegal pass20%$293
Speeding ticket 1-15 MPH over limit20%$288
Following too closely20%$284
Improper turn20%$281
Failure to yield20%$281
Failure to stop19%$272
Talking on cellphone while driving16%$224
Driving without a license or permit12%$178
Driving without insurance10%$143
Seatbelt infraction3%$47

How average rates vary for drivers with speeding tickets

Major speeding tickets, 30 miles or more over the limit, will increase your rate on average by 30%, while minor speeding tickets trigger a hike of 20 to 22%, on average.

The table below shows how much average rates vary among insurance companies for a driver with a speeding ticket for exceeding the limit by 16 to 29 miles per hour. You'll see there is a $790 difference between the highest and lowest. That's a great example of how much you can potentially save on car insurance by comparing quotes from multiple insurers.

Company

Average rate after speeding ticket (16 - 29 mph over limit)

Geico$1,449
State Farm$1,807
Nationwide$1,900
Progressive$1,916
Farmers$2,146
Allstate$2,239

How does a speeding ticket affect your insurance?

Typically, you won't see the car insurance rate increase for speeding tickets or other traffic violations until your policy is up for renewal. That's generally when insurance companies review your driving record and adjust the pricing of your policy, says Penny Gusner, consumer analyst for Insurance.com.

How long does a speeding ticket affect your insurance?

The look-back period differs by state and by company.

You should expect, at minimum, to be rated on violations such as speeding for the last three years. Some companies go back to the incident date, and others go back to the day of conviction.

Many companies will look back five or even 10 years for major violations, such as a DUI. For instance, in California insurers aren’t allowed to offer a good driver discount until 10 years have passed after a DUI violation.

And, just as a violation doesn’t raise your rates until your insurer sees the offense on your motor vehicle record, the surcharge won’t stop immediately when a violation falls off your record. You will have to wait until the next policy period when your insurer reviews your record.

Do out-of-state tickets affect insurance?

Expect it to show up on your record.

Most states have reciprocal agreements that automatically share information on citations. The Driver’s License Compact has been signed by 45 states and Washington, D.C. Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin are not members, but they share and receive information just the same.

If your driving privileges are suspended in a state you are visiting, your home state typically will suspend your license as well.

Some states may not assign driver’s license points to out-of-state convictions, especially minor ones. But insurance companies will rate you on a violation no matter where it occurred if it appears on your motor vehicle record and is considered a surchargeable offense.

Do parking tickets affect insurance?

Parking tickets are considered non-moving violations and pose little risk for insurance companies. As a result, many insurers do not increase car insurance rates due to parking tickets and other non-moving violations. However, this varies by insurer and state.

How to lower your car insurance rates after a speeding ticket

If you’ve been cited for one of the infractions on our list, do not assume that you are doomed to paying much higher rates.

Each insurance company assesses risk differently. So, an offense that causes your rates to soar at one insurance company might have a much smaller impact than another. Some won’t raise your rates after a single minor violation. Others will. That's why we recommend shopping with multiple carriers before buying a policy, and even after a ticket or accident.

“Because insurers take different approaches, it provides consumers with choices,” says Jeffrey Brewer, vice president of public affairs for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

In addition to comparing car insurance quotes, Gusner offers several tips for lowering your car insurance rate. These pointers can help you save money if you recently got a ticket – or even if you have not.

They include:

  • Keep your driving record accident- and ticket-free. Perhaps the best way to keep rates low is to maintain a solid history of good driving.
  • Raise your deductible. Paying a higher deductible often results in lower premium costs. For example, III says raising your deductible from $200 to $500 could trim your collision and comprehensive insurance costs by up to 30%.
  • Build a strong credit history. Insurance companies used credit-based insurance scores to determine how much to charge you for auto insurance. So, developing good spending habits – such as avoiding debt and paying bills on time – can lower your insurance costs.
  • Reduce coverage on older cars. Consider dropping comprehensive and collision coverage once your car’s value has dropped to less than 10 times the cost of the premium.
  • Look for additional discounts. Insurance companies often offer many other ways to cut costs. For example, your premium might fall if you take a defensive driving course or if you drive relatively few miles each year. Ask your insurer about the discounts it offers.
  • Take a defensive driving class. A defensive driving class, even taken after the fact, can remove points from your motor vehicle record, in some cases. While it cannot erase a conviction from your insurance company’s calculations, the class might bring a discount that softens the blow from the surcharge.

How to keep a ticket off your driving record

If the speeding ticket you got is legitimate, it's not likely you'll be able to keep it off your driving record. However, if the ticket was given in error or you believe it is inaccurate, it may be worth going to court to see if you can get the ticket revoked. It is also possible that even if your ticket is not thrown out, you can get the points the ticket will add to your license lowered. If you think you may fight the ticket in court, don't pay the fine any earlier than you must.

Check into your other options, like traffic school. Some states and jurisdictions allow ticketed drivers to complete a traffic school course in lieu of adding points to their license.

Here are other ways to keep a speeding ticket off your driving record.

Methodology

Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to gather rates comparing a driver with a clean record to a driver with certain violations from six major carriers in 10 ZIP codes in each state. Rates were returned on a 2017 Honda Accord LX, for a driver with 100/300/100 liability coverage, collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible, uninsured motorist and additional mandatory coverages as required in each state. Slight differences in averages are due to rounding.

Auto insurance FAQs

How does texting and driving affect insurance?

Your insurance premium could increase if you live in a state that allows insurance companies to consider texting and driving violations when setting rates. Most insurers consider this type of violation a minor violation. However, our rate analysis showed premium hikes of 23%, on average.

Does failing to stop or yield impact insurance, too?

This depends on your state and insurance company. Many states do not consider this violation when setting rates unless it results in an accident.

How do insurance companies find about speeding tickets?

Insurance companies will check your driving record upon issuing you a new policy or renewing an existing one. This is why you will often not get a premium increase after a ticket until your next renewal. If the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) has listed a violation on your record, insurers will see it.

Do other non-moving violations affect insurance?

Non-moving violations generally do not affect insurance rates. However, state and local laws, as well as insurance company policies, may vary.

Does a red-light ticket affect insurance rates?

Though most red-light tickets come with a fine, they don't often add points to your license or cause an insurance cost increase. In most states, red-light tickets are in the same category as non-moving violations.

Will my first speeding ticket affect my insurance?

Typically, yes. You should expect insurance rates to go up, on average, 30% (or $427 per year) after your first speeding ticket for traveling 30 mph or more over the speed limit.

How much do 2 points affect insurance?

Though a relationship exists between license points and insurance rates, rates are not determined based on the number of insurance points. Instead, insurers look at driving history, the type and number of violations and more. So, it depends on what violation you received the two points for.

Do camera speeding tickets affect insurance?

Though camera tickets sometimes come with a fine, they don't often add points to your license or cause an insurance cost increase.