Texting while driving is illegal in nearly every state. Only Montana has no law, while Missouri outlaws it only for drivers under 21. Drivers can be ticketed and face fines, and if they cause a collision while distracted the penalties can be even more severe.
If you get a texting ticket, will it raise your insurance rates? In most cases, yes. Whether or not texting tickets hike your rates a lot, a little or not at all depends on your insurance company and state laws, among other factors.
The average percentage rate increase after a texting ticket is 23%, but could be as low as 12% and as high as 45%. That doesn’t mean all carriers raise your rates, though.
In some states, texting while driving isn't a moving violation, and in others it's illegal for car insurance companies to hike your rate for a texting ticket conviction. In Idaho and North Carolina, state laws prohibit insurers from raising rates based on texting violations.
Below we'll explore how a texting while driving ticket affects car insurance rates.
- A texting while driving ticket will likely increase your insurance rates, but it depends on the company and state laws.
- The average rate increase after a texting ticket is 23%, however it could be as high as 45% or as low as 12%.
- In some states, texting ticket adds points to your driving record, which can lead to a rate increase.
Does texting while driving increase car insurance rates?
Texting while driving has a good chance of increasing your car insurance rates if you get a ticket. The increase , however, varies by state. Take a look at the average rate increase after a texting ticket by state.
| State | Average clean record rate | Average rate after texting ticket | Percent increase | Dollar increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $1,708 | $2,484 | 45% | $776 |
| Ohio | $960 | $1,290 | 34% | $330 |
| Indiana | $1,094 | $1,468 | 34% | $374 |
| New Hampshire | $1,346 | $1,802 | 34% | $456 |
| Rhode Island | $2,364 | $3,164 | 34% | $800 |
| Massachusetts | $1,425 | $1,900 | 33% | $476 |
| Maine | $1,047 | $1,353 | 29% | $306 |
| Alaska | $1,254 | $1,615 | 29% | $361 |
| Texas | $1,767 | $2,267 | 28% | $500 |
| Florida | $2,382 | $3,029 | 27% | $647 |
| Michigan | $1,960 | $2,478 | 26% | $518 |
| New Mexico | $1,638 | $2,071 | 26% | $433 |
| Iowa | $1,118 | $1,413 | 26% | $295 |
| Illinois | $1,231 | $1,554 | 26% | $323 |
| South Dakota | $1,386 | $1,748 | 26% | $362 |
| Arkansas | $1,784 | $2,250 | 26% | $467 |
| Virginia | $1,007 | $1,268 | 26% | $261 |
| Utah | $1,244 | $1,561 | 25% | $317 |
| Alabama | $1,331 | $1,660 | 25% | $329 |
| Oregon | $1,370 | $1,712 | 25% | $342 |
| Arizona | $1,615 | $2,010 | 24% | $395 |
| Oklahoma | $1,722 | $2,138 | 24% | $416 |
| Georgia | $1,776 | $2,195 | 24% | $419 |
| Connecticut | $2,069 | $2,554 | 23% | $485 |
| New Jersey | $1,598 | $1,967 | 23% | $370 |
| Wisconsin | $933 | $1,135 | 22% | $202 |
| DC | $1,859 | $2,239 | 20% | $381 |
| Nevada | $1,580 | $1,900 | 20% | $320 |
| Delaware | $2,091 | $2,502 | 20% | $411 |
| Hawaii | $1,494 | $1,784 | 19% | $290 |
| Washington | $1,390 | $1,657 | 19% | $267 |
| Mississippi | $1,575 | $1,877 | 19% | $302 |
| Kansas | $1,528 | $1,815 | 19% | $287 |
| Maryland | $1,641 | $1,947 | 19% | $306 |
| North Dakota | $1,004 | $1,177 | 17% | $173 |
| West Virginia | $1,566 | $1,835 | 17% | $269 |
| South Carolina | $1,392 | $1,629 | 17% | $237 |
| Montana | $1,835 | $2,145 | 17% | $309 |
| Tennessee | $1,410 | $1,648 | 17% | $238 |
| Kentucky | $1,611 | $1,862 | 16% | $251 |
| Vermont | $1,098 | $1,261 | 15% | $163 |
| Nebraska | $1,360 | $1,562 | 15% | $202 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,306 | $1,498 | 15% | $192 |
| Missouri | $1,347 | $1,536 | 14% | $190 |
| Colorado | $1,659 | $1,881 | 13% | $222 |
| Wyoming | $2,012 | $2,275 | 13% | $262 |
| Louisiana | $2,001 | $2,243 | 12% | $242 |
| New York | $1,283 | $1,435 | 12% | $152 |
| National average | 23% | $346 |
*Methodology: Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to field rates from up to six major insurers in 10 ZIP codes in every state for a driver of a 2017 Honda Accord, age 40, with good credit and full coverage and $500 deductible; increases shown are an average from the base rate.
Does a texting while driving ticket put points on your license?
Is a cell phone ticket a point on your record? Beyond a fine and an insurance increase, a texting ticket adds points to your driving record in some states. That's important because you could lose your license if you rack up too many. In California, for instance, four points in a 12-month period gets you a six-month license suspension and year-long probation.
Does a texting ticket raise car insurance rates if it points on your license? Points almost always lead to a rate increase, regardless of the reason.
What are the state laws for cell phone use while driving?
Below are the laws by state for cell phone use, including which states have laws against texting and driving, how those laws are enforced and if the penalty carries license points.
| States | Hand-held ban/Talk only hands-free | All cellphone ban | Texting ban | Enforcement | License points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | Drivers age 16 and 17 who have held an intermediate license for less than 6 months. | All drivers | Primary | 2 |
| Alaska | No | No | All drivers | Primary | |
| Arizona | All drivers | School bus drivers; and drivers under 18 | Yes | Primary | |
| Arkansas | Drivers ages 18 to 20 years of age; school and highway work zones | School bus drivers, drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary: for texting by all drivers and cell phone use by school bus drivers. | |
| California | All drivers | School and transit bus drivers and drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Colorado | No | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | 4 |
| Connecticut | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18, and school bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | |
| Delaware | All drivers | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders and school bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | |
| District of Columbia | All drivers | School bus drivers and learner's permit holders | All drivers | Primary | |
| Florida | No | No | All drivers | Secondary | 3 points for second offense; 6 points if accident |
| Georgia | All drivers | School bus drivers. Drivers younger than 18. | All drivers | Primary | 1 |
| Hawaii | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18 | All Drivers | Primary | |
| Idaho | No | No | All Drivers | Primary | |
| Illinois | All drivers | Learner's permit holders younger than 19, drivers younger than 19, and school bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | |
| Indiana | No | Drivers under the age of 21 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Iowa | No | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders | All drivers | Primary | |
| Kansas | No | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders | All drivers | Primary | |
| Kentucky | No | Drivers younger than 18, school bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | 3 |
| Louisiana | Learner or intermediate stages | School bus drivers, first year of license | All drivers | Primary | |
| Maine | All drivers | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders; bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | |
| Maryland | All drivers | Drivers under 18 | All drivers | Primary | 1 for third offense |
| Massachusetts | All drivers | School bus drivers, drivers younger than 18. | All drivers | Primary | |
| Michigan | No | Level 1 or 2 license holders and school bus drivers. | All drivers | Primary | |
| Minnesota | All drivers | School bus drivers, learner's permit holders and provisional license holders | All drivers | Primary | |
| Mississippi | No | School bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | |
| Missouri | No | No | Drivers 21 years or younger. | Primary | |
| Montana | No | No | No | Not applicable | |
| Nebraska | No | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders younger than 18 | All drivers | Secondary | 3 |
| Nevada | All drivers | No | All drivers | Primary | 4 for second offense |
| New Hampshire | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| New Jersey | All drivers | School bus drivers, and learner's permit and intermediate license holders | All drivers | Primary | 3 for third offense |
| New Mexico | Local option | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders. | All Drivers | Primary | |
| New York | All drivers | No | All drivers | Primary | 5 |
| North Carolina | No | Drivers younger than 18 and school bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | |
| North Dakota | No | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Ohio | No | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Oklahoma | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders | No | All drivers | Primary | |
| Oregon | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Pennsylvania | No | No | All drivers | Primary | |
| Puerto Rico | All drivers | All drivers | Primary | ||
| Rhode Island | Yes | School bus drivers and drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| South Carolina | No | No | All drivers | Primary | |
| South Dakota | No | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders | All drivers | Secondary | |
| Tennessee | All drivers | School bus drivers, and learner's permit and intermediate license holders | All drivers | Primary | |
| Texas | Drivers in school crossing zones | Bus drivers. Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Utah | No | Drivers under | All drivers | Primary for texting; secondary for talking on hand-held phone | |
| the age of 18. | |||||
| Vermont | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Virgin Islands | Yes | ||||
| Virginia | No | Drivers younger than 18 and school bus drivers | All drivers | Primary: for texting by all drivers. | 3 |
| Secondary: for drivers younger than 18. | |||||
| Washington | All drivers | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders. | All drivers | Primary | |
| West Virginia | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18 who hold either a learner's permit or an intermediate license | All drivers | Primary | 3 for third offense |
| Wisconsin | No | Learner's permit or intermediate license holder | All drivers | Primary | 4 |
| Wyoming | No | No | All drivers | Primary | |
| Total | All drivers: 21 states and District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. | School Bus drivers: 20 states and District of Columbia. | All Drivers: 46 states and District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. | Primary for all drivers texting: 48 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. | |
| Teen drivers: 38 states and District of Columbia. | Secondary for all drivers texting: 4. |
Governor’s Highway Safety Association and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, February 2020.
Frequently asked questions: Texting while driving tickets
Is texting while driving illegal?
Yes, in almost every state. The exceptions are Montana, which has no law, and Missouri, where it's illegal only if you are under 21.
Is a cell phone ticket a moving violation?
A cell phone ticket is considered a moving violation in most states. If you live in a state that treats a texting ticket as a moving violation, it’s treated by insurance companies like any other minor ticket. But there’s a big difference in how individual companies handle tickets.
How much is a ticket for texting while driving?
The amount of the ticket will vary by state, as well as whether it is your first violation. The fine goes up for each subsequent violation.
