- Does a texting while driving ticket raise car insurance rates?
- How much does a texting while driving ticket increase auto insurance premiums?
- How long does a ticket affect your insurance?
- Does a texting while driving ticket add points on your license?
- State laws for cell texting while driving
- How to get a cell phone ticket dismissed
- How to reduce car insurance premiums after a texting while driving ticket
- Frequently asked questions: Texting while driving tickets
Does a texting while driving ticket raise car insurance rates?
Yes, in most cases a ticket for texting while driving will increase your car insurance rates. As with all distracted driving violations, texting while driving is a dangerous distracted driving behavior that increases the chances of an accident. Insurance companies raise rates for drivers who display risky behavior.
In addition to the car insurance rate increase, you will face a fine. Texting while driving fines depend on the state.
People ask
Is texting while driving the same as a cellphone ticket?
It depends on how your state defines the violation, but in general, it's the same thing. Most states consider use of your phone, whether it's to text or make a call, to be the same violation.
How much does a texting while driving ticket increase auto insurance premiums?
The car insurance rate increase after a texting while driving ticket depends on where you live. On average, rates increase by 28% for drivers with a texting ticket on their driving record. California has the greatest average increase at 51%, while New York has the smallest at 9%.
States where insurance rates increase the most with a texting ticket
Your rates will go up the most after a texting and driving ticket in these states, led by California, the only state with an increase of more than 50%
- California - 51%
- New Jersey - 44%
- Vermont - 44%
- Rhode Island - 42%
- North Carolina - 39%
States where insurance rates increase the least with a texting ticket
These states have the smallest increase in insurance rates after a ticket for texting while driving. We've included D.C., although not a state, due to its large population.
- New York - 9%
- Wyoming - 12%
- Hawaii - 14%
- Pennsylvania - 15%
| State | Average clean record rate | Average rate after texting ticket | Percent increase | Dollar increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $1,676 | $1,986 | 19% | $310 |
| Alabama | $1,860 | $2,341 | 26% | $481 |
| Arkansas | $1,957 | $2,618 | 34% | $661 |
| Arizona | $1,812 | $2,362 | 30% | $550 |
| California | $2,416 | $3,651 | 51% | $1,235 |
| Colorado | $2,337 | $2,844 | 22% | $507 |
| Connecticut | $1,725 | $2,247 | 30% | $522 |
| Washington, D.C. | $2,157 | $2,489 | 15% | $332 |
| Delaware | $2,063 | $2,664 | 29% | $601 |
| Florida | $2,694 | $3,174 | 18% | $480 |
| Georgia | $1,970 | $2,427 | 23% | $457 |
| Hawaii | $1,517 | $1,731 | 14% | $214 |
| Iowa | $1,630 | $2,037 | 25% | $407 |
| Idaho | $1,428 | $1,721 | 20% | $293 |
| Illinois | $1,532 | $1,927 | 26% | $395 |
| Indiana | $1,515 | $1,955 | 29% | $440 |
| Kansas | $1,900 | $2,276 | 20% | $376 |
| Kentucky | $2,228 | $2,692 | 21% | $464 |
| Louisiana | $2,883 | $3,501 | 21% | $618 |
| Massachusetts | $1,726 | $2,082 | 21% | $356 |
| Maryland | $1,746 | $2,205 | 26% | $459 |
| Maine | $1,175 | $1,475 | 26% | $300 |
| Michigan | $2,352 | $3,122 | 33% | $770 |
| Minnesota | $1,911 | $2,379 | 25% | $468 |
| Missouri | $1,982 | $2,417 | 22% | $435 |
| Mississippi | $2,008 | $2,552 | 27% | $544 |
| Montana | $2,193 | $2,667 | 22% | $474 |
| North Carolina | $1,741 | $2,421 | 39% | $680 |
| North Dakota | $1,665 | $1,933 | 16% | $268 |
| Nebraska | $1,902 | $2,215 | 16% | $313 |
| New Hampshire | $1,265 | $1,586 | 25% | $321 |
| New Jersey | $1,902 | $2,732 | 44% | $830 |
| New Mexico | $2,049 | $2,439 | 19% | $390 |
| Nevada | $2,060 | $2,667 | 29% | $607 |
| New York | $1,870 | $2,044 | 9% | $174 |
| Ohio | $1,417 | $1,917 | 35% | $500 |
| Oklahoma | $2,138 | $2,628 | 23% | $490 |
| Oregon | $1,678 | $2,171 | 29% | $493 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,872 | $2,154 | 15% | $282 |
| Rhode Island | $2,061 | $2,929 | 42% | $868 |
| South Carolina | $2,009 | $2,542 | 27% | $533 |
| South Dakota | $2,280 | $2,651 | 16% | $371 |
| Tennessee | $1,677 | $2,099 | 25% | $422 |
| Texas | $2,043 | $2,497 | 22% | $454 |
| Utah | $1,825 | $2,239 | 23% | $414 |
| Virginia | $1,469 | $1,810 | 23% | $341 |
| Vermont | $1,319 | $1,895 | 44% | $576 |
| Washington | $1,608 | $1,994 | 24% | $386 |
| Wisconsin | $1,664 | $2,068 | 24% | $404 |
| West Virginia | $2,005 | $2,458 | 23% | $453 |
| Wyoming | $1,758 | $1,974 | 12% | $216 |
*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 Honda Accord LX, age 40, with good credit, full coverage, and a $500 deductible; increases shown are an average from the base rate.
Use our traffic ticket calculator to find out how traffic violations like texting while driving affect rates.
People ask
Should I plead guilty to a cell phone ticket?
If you go to court for a cell phone ticket, it's up to you to decide how you will plead. If you don't want to fight the ticket, you can usually simply pay the fine and avoid court.
How long does a ticket affect your insurance?
Most tickets affect your insurance rates for three to five years. Minor tickets will generally cause a rate increase for three years. A texting while driving ticket is generally seen as a minor moving violation.
However, if you cause an accident because you were texting, you may face more penalties and a longer impact on your insurance.
Does a texting while driving ticket add points on your license?
Whether you will have points added to your license for a texting violation depends on your state. Not all states use a points system, and those that do what points are applied for varies.
In states where points are applied, the number varies. Texting while driving may fall under the umbrella of distracted driving or may stand on its own. Even if points are not added to your license, your car insurance rates may go up, as the ticket will still appear on your driving record.
People ask
How many points does a texting while driving ticket add to your driver’s license?
The number of points varies by state, ranging from one to five, and some states don't use points at all. Check with your state's enforcement agency to find out.
Is texting and driving a moving violation?
Texting and driving is a moving violation in every state where it is illegal. Montana is the only state where it is not illegal, while in Missouri the law only applies to drivers under 21.
In most states, texting while driving is a primary offense, which means the police can pull you over for that alone.
State laws for cell texting 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.
| State | 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 | Drivers under 18 (effective Jan 01, 2025) | 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 | School and work zones only | No | All drivers | Primary | 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 | Yes | 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 | Yes | 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 license drivers regardless of age; school zone drivers | School bus drivers, drivers under the age of 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Maine | All drivers | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders | 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 | For school bus drivers and novice drivers | No | 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 | Yes | School bus drivers (effective 8/29/2023 and citations begin 1/1/2025) | Primary: For drivers 21 years or younger. Secondary: For other drivers | School bus drivers, and learner's permits and intermediate license holders | |
| 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 | No | 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 | Yes | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Oklahoma | Learner's permit and intermediate license holders | School bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | |
| Oregon | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Pennsylvania | Yes (Effective June 5, 2025) | No | All drivers | Primary | |
| Puerto Rico | All drivers | No | 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 | All drivers; while the vehicle is moving | All drivers; while vehicle is moving | Primary | |
| Texas | Drivers in school crossing zones and public school property | Bus drivers with minor passengers and Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Utah | No | School bus drivers, Drivers under 18 years of age | All drivers | Primary | |
| Vermont | All drivers | Drivers younger than 18 | All drivers | Primary | |
| Virgin Islands | Yes | No | All drivers | Primary | |
| Virginia | No | School bus drivers | All drivers | Primary | 3 |
| 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, except in work zones | Learner's permit or intermediate license holder | All drivers | Primary | 4 |
| Wyoming | No | No | All drivers | Primary |
How to get a cell phone ticket dismissed
To get a cell phone ticket dismissed, you will have to fight it in court. Here's what you need to do:
- Don't pay the ticket.
- Check your citation to find out when you need to be in court if you want to fight the ticket.
- Prepare a defense, including any evidence or witnesses that can cast doubt that you were using your phone while driving.
- Consult with a traffic ticket attorney; even if you decide not to hire one, you will get a better idea of the merits of your case.
- Attend your court date and present your evidence.
How to reduce car insurance premiums after a texting while driving ticket
A ticket for texting while driving will raise your rates, but there are a few things you can do to combat the increased cost:
- Shop around for new coverage. Not every insurance company treats a texting ticket the same way, so you might find a better price, even with a ticket.
- Raise your deductible. A higher deductible means lower rates; just ensure you can afford to pay it if you need to.
- Ask about discounts. If you had a good driver discount, you may lose it after getting a ticket, but that doesn't mean you can't qualify for other discounts to lower your rates.
- Bundle your coverage. You'll save on both policies when you bundle your home and auto insurance with one company.
Frequently asked questions: Texting while driving tickets
Does a cell phone ticket affect insurance in California?
Yes. Using a cell phone while driving is illegal in California, and the resulting ticket will affect car insurance premiums. Rates increase by an average of 51% after a texting while driving ticket in California; a cell phone ticket is likely to be similar.
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 auto insurance 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 distracted driving violation. The fine goes up for each subsequent violation.
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