How to keep a speeding ticket off your record

Q: What is the best auto insurance company if I have a speeding ticket?

According to Insurance.com data, State Farm, Allstate, and Nationwide have the lowest rate increases for speeding tickets, on average. Of course, you'll also need to consider the base policy amount, which may be higher than that of other insurers.

How to keep a speeding ticket off your record

There are some ways to keep a speeding ticket from showing up on your record – some of which allow you to keep points off your license and, therefore, prevent your insurance company from even knowing you got pulled over. However, your options vary by state.

Here are five things drivers can do to keep a ticket off of their record:

Don't immediately pay the ticket

When it comes to a traffic ticket, take your time. In most jurisdictions, you have at least 30 days to pay the fine or enter a plea. Use the time to explore your options. The website for the court clerk's office listed at the bottom of your ticket is a good place to start.

"First and foremost, don't pay your ticket, since it essentially admits guilt," says Bradley Groene, an attorney with Luftman, Heck & Associates in Cincinnati.

Your options will vary depending on your jurisdiction, but you can:

Contest the ticket and ask for your date in traffic court. You should get the chance to plea bargain. But note, if you go to trial and lose, you’ll pay the fine and the ticket will go on your record. You may have to pay court costs as well.
Seek traffic school or deferred adjudication, which would prevent a moving violation conviction from appearing on your driving record.

If your offense is minor – say, speeding at 10 mph over the limit outside a school or construction zone – and your record is otherwise pretty clean, you'll probably be offered some means of avoiding both a court appearance and a black mark on your record.

Ask for a deferral

A deferral means the court finds you guilty but defers entering those findings for a certain time; a year is common. If you get through the deferral period without any citations, the ticket will be dismissed or marked "adjudication withheld."

However, if you get another ticket in the deferral period, both tickets hit your record and your insurance will probably skyrocket as a high-risk driver.

There is usually a fee of $100 to $150. There may be a limit on the number of deferrals you are granted. In Washington, for example, it's one every seven years. You're unlikely to be offered a deferral if your record is already checkered or for some violations, such as school-zone violations.

Ask if you can go to traffic school

If you have the option to go to traffic school and pass the course, your ticket may be dismissed. A defensive driving course as an alternative resolution is not available in every state or for every infraction, but it can be a lifesaver.

Expect to pay a fee for the class itself and administrative or court fees on top of that.

Some states limit how often you can use a traffic school option; Florida, for example, limits you to once a year, and in California, it's 18 months.

Negotiate for a lesser fine

In some jurisdictions, contacting the court clerk or the prosecutor handling your case and asking to have your offense downgraded to a non-moving violation is possible. You also may be able to approach the prosecutor on your appearance date before your case is called.

You may have to pay court costs and a fine, but it could be worthwhile if your insurer is none the wiser.

You also may be able to ask for mitigation – pleading guilty but presenting your side of the story. You are asking the judge to lower your fine. Many states allow you to mitigate via written statements.

The outcome is up to the judge. The fine may be lowered or stay the same but won't increase. Regardless of what happens to the fine, you are pleading guilty, the infraction will end up on your DMV record, and eventually, your insurer will find out.

Contest the ticket

To contest the ticket, plead not guilty. You’ll go to court to argue your case, alone or with the help of a lawyer.

A lawyer is not a requirement in traffic court, but hiring one can make things easier. You can call witnesses and present evidence. Your main goal is to create enough doubt or sympathy to get the ticket dismissed or knocked down to a non-moving violation.

"Most people don't have experience with traffic law. It's very easy to make a mistake in explaining your side of what happened," Groene says.

When will a speeding ticket show up on your insurance?

A speeding ticket will show up on your insurance on the next renewal, if your insurance company pulls your record. Insurance providers don't always pull your record on every renewal, but as soon as they find the ticket, you'll be charged on renewal.

"Most insurers will only pull your record once a year, even less if you have a clean record," says Kirchen.

While you may not see a ticket surcharge for one or two renewal periods, your car insurance company will inevitably get wind of your moving violation. When the company finds the ticket doesn't affect how long you will be charged for it; the surchargeAn increase in your auto insurance premium due to an at-fault accident or a moving violation. Learn more about how a surcharge affects your auto insurance premiums. period starts on the first renewal after the ticket is discovered and stays for the predetermined period from that date.

People ask

Do you have to report speeding tickets to the insurance company?

No, you don't have to report a ticket to your insurance company. However, car insurance companies regularly check your driving record; the company will find out about your ticket at that time.

How much does it cost to get a speeding ticket off your record?

There's no direct cost for keeping a speeding ticket off your record, in that you can't simply pay a fee for it to go away. You may have to pay the following:

Attorney fees: $200 - $500. If you choose to hire a lawyer to fight the ticket, you'll have to pay their fees. Many attorneys charge a flat fee for fighting a simple ticket.
Court fees: Varies. If you go to court, even without a lawyer, you will likely pay court fees that vary by jurisdiction.
Driving course fees: $20 - $100 or more. If you choose to take a defensive driving course to remove a ticket, you'll have to pay a fee. The National Safety Council's courses range from $20 - $100, but other training programs may differ.

What to do when you get a speeding ticket

When you are pulled over for speeding, follow these steps:

Cooperate and don't argue with the officer at the scene. Accept the ticket, but don't admit to the infraction.
Decide if you are going to fight the ticket. If so, make note of your court date and plan to appear.
Pay the fine. If you don't plan to fight the ticket, be sure to pay the fine on time.
Take a defensive driving course. Take a state-approved course if possible to reduce the impact. This may remove the ticket or simply earn you a discount on your insurance.

How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket?

Will a speeding ticket affect your insurance? Most likely, yes. If a speeding ticket goes on your driving record, you can expect your car insurance premiums to increase byan average of 39% over the cost with a clean driving record according to a 2023 Insurance.com rate analysis.

Some of the most expensive states for insurance once a speeding ticket is on your record include North Carolina, California and Oklahoma.

The car insurance company surcharge after a speeding ticket will last for several years, but the length of time depends on the company.

"It varies by insurer, but a speeding ticket can affect your insurance premium for at least three years," says Kristofer Kirchen, president of Advanced Insurance Managers in Tampa, Florida.

People ask

Does a first time speeding ticket affect insurance rates?

Yes, in most cases your first ticket will increase your insurance rates.

How much does insurance go up after two speeding tickets?

That second ticket results in much higher insurance premiums, with an average increase of 43% according to Insurance.com's 2023 rate data analysis. Multiple traffic tickets show the insurance company that you didn’t learn your lesson the first time.

That makes you a much higher risk of an accident, and rates will increase even more accordingly.

People ask

What is a first time ticket forgiveness?

Some car insurance companies offer first-time ticket forgiveness, which allows you to have one ticket without an increase to your rates. Not all tickets will apply.

How do speeding tickets affect your driving record?

In many states, the DMV keeps track of drivers' records through a points system. The DMV gets notified whenever you’re convicted of a moving violation and adds points to your license. The number of points will depend on your state's particular scale and the infraction's seriousness.

For example, in Utah, speeding 10 miles per hour or less above the speed limit will result in 35 points on your record; 11 to 20 mph over the limit will result in 55 points, and more than 20 mph will result in 75 points. In Arkansas, however, speeding at those same intervals will result in points of four, five or eight, respectively.

These points can cause your car insurance rates to increase. And if you accumulate too many points, your driver's license could be suspended. Usually, you'll get a warning if you get close to that point.

Nine states do not currently use a driver's license point system:

Hawaii
Kansas
Louisiana
Minnesota
Mississippi
Oregon
Rhode Island
Washington
Wyoming

You can avoid points on your driving license if you keep the ticket off your record. Even in states without a points system, a speeding ticket will still appear on your driving record, affecting your insurance rates.

How long does a speeding ticket stay on your driving record?

In many states, a moving violation stays on your record for three to 10 years. Less serious moving violations, such as running a stop sign, tend to stay on your record for much less time than something serious like a DUI. Serious offenses may remain on your record for life.

Regarding how long a speeding ticket or points will stay on your driving record, it depends on your state and how fast you were going. To find out, you can contact your local DMV and ask.

How to lower your car insurance after a ticket

Unfortunately, the only way to prevent a speeding ticket from affecting your insurance is to get it removed from your record. If you do wind up with a ticket on your record, there are still ways you can save on car insurance.

Shop around. Insurance companies use their own point systems for traffic violations, and they're all different. Comparing car insurance quotes can save you money. For example, looking at rates from six major carriers for a speeding violation of 16 to 29 mph over the limit, here is the average increase:

State Farm – 21%
Allstate – 18%
Nationwide – 31%
Farmers– 31%
Progressive – 37%
Geico – 74%

Increase your deductible. If your insurance premium is now higher due to a speeding ticket, raising your deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim. is one way to offset that increase. Just be sure that if you do, you can afford the higher deductible if you need to file a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing..

Ask about other discounts. A ticket doesn’t make you ineligible for all discounts. Make sure you have explored all of the available options. Bundling your homeowners or renters insurance is the quickest way to get a discount.

Source

Sulte Law Firm. "How much does it cost to fight a speeding ticket?" Accessed January 2025

Frequently asked questions

What is the best auto insurance company if I have a speeding ticket?

According to Insurance.com data, State Farm, Allstate, and Nationwide have the lowest rate increases for speeding tickets, on average. Of course, you'll also need to consider the base policy amount, which may be higher than that of other insurers.

Can I get a ticket removed after I have already pled guilty?

If you already pled guilty to a speeding violation and it's been noted on your driving record, it's difficult to remove. You could hire a lawyer and attempt to get it removed, or you can wait for the ticket to fall off of your record in a few years. The good news is the courts usually try to avoid this situation because of the time and cost involved, so they sometimes offer opportunities to wipe the ticket from your record before entering a plea.

Is it worth fighting a speeding ticket?

It depends on your situation. You should consider the events leading up to your ticket and whether you have a good case for having it reversed. For example, maybe your speedometer was faulty, or you were experiencing a medical emergency. Unless you feel comfortable representing yourself in court, you may also need to hire an attorney, which can be pricey. The local court will also make a difference – some are willing to drop tickets or points for drivers with otherwise clean driving records, while others aren't so generous.

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