Ticket magnets: The cars with the most violations

September 29, 2014 (Foster City, CA) – One in three drivers of the Subaru WRX has a recent traffic violation, according to a study by Insurance.com, the car insurance comparison-shopping website, putting the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive sport-compact atop its ranking of cars that get the most tickets.

The most-ticketed brand overall was Scion, with 27.5 percent of all owners reporting a traffic violation.

Insurance.com looked at data from 526 models and more than 557,000 recent customers.

“Cars don’t get tickets, drivers do – but those drivers like the WRX,” said Insurance.com Managing Editor Des Toups.  The top-20 list contains other sporty cars, such as the Scion FR-S and Mitsubishi 3000 GT, but also includes the hybrid Toyota Prius C, three sport-utility vehicles and the long-defunct Mercury Topaz.

CARS THAT GET THE MOST TICKETS

Rank/Make and model/% with tickets

1. Subaru WRX – 33.6%

2. Pontiac GTO – 32.7%

3. Scion FR-S – 32.6%

4. Toyota Supra– 30.8%

5. Subaru Tribeca – 29.7%

6. Volkswagen Rabbit – 29.6%

7. Mercury Topaz – 28.8%

8. Scion tC – 28.8%

9. Toyota FJ Cruiser – 28.4%

10. Mazda Mazda2 – 28.1%

11. Hyundai Veloster – 28.1%

12. Volkswagen GTI – 28.1%

13. Suzuki Reno                – 28.1%

14. Scion xA – 27.8%

15. Pontiac G8 – 27.7%

16. MINI Cooper S Countryman – 27.5%

17. Mitsubishi 3000 GT – 27.4%

18. Saturn Aura – 27.1%

19. Infiniti QX56/QX80 – 27.1%

20. Toyota Prius C – 27.0%

“It’s not about horsepower,” Toups said. “The Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper and Nissan GT-R rank well below average for tickets even though they can easily double the highest speed limits. But those cars are also costly, so their buyers tend to be older and take fewer risks.”

For all models, 19.9 percent of drivers reported having a traffic violation – usually speeding but also including such offenses as failure to yield and drunken driving – in the previous three years.

When setting rates on particular vehicles, insurance companies pay more attention to claims than tickets, Toups said. “If you have an accident, it helps to drive up the rates of everyone who owns that kind of car,” he said. “Tickets tend to drive up your rates alone.”

Drivers can see the entire “Ticket Magnet” list at https://www.insurance.com/auto-insurance/vehicle-shopping/cars-that-get-the-most-tickets.html

Methodology

Insurance.com analyzed online quote information submitted by 557,238 drivers Jan. 1, 2013, to July 2014; rankings were calculated on models for which more than 50 quotes were sought.

About Insurance.com

Insurance.com, based in Foster City, Calif., is an online resource where consumers can compare side-by-side, real-time auto insurance quotes from multiple insurance carriers.  Since its inception in 2001, Insurance.com has delivered more than 11 million quotes to consumers – who, in less than 10 minutes, fill out one form and save an average of $540 annually – making it one of the largest independent insurance marketplaces in the U.S.  Participants include some of the biggest names in auto insurance, including Progressive, Esurance, The Hartford, Travelers and 21st Century.  Experts from Insurance.com are available for interviews on all issues pertaining to auto insurance.

Twitter: @InsuranceDotCom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceDotCom

About QuinStreet Inc.

Insurance.com is owned and operated by QuinStreet Inc. (NASDAQ: QNST), one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world.  QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with information they need to research, find and select the products, services and brands that best meet their needs. 

September 30, 2014 (Foster City, CA) – One in three drivers of the Subaru WRX has a recent traffic violation, according to a study by Insurance.com, the car insurance comparison-shopping website, putting the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive sport-compact atop its ranking of cars that get the most tickets.

The most-ticketed brand overall was Scion, with 27.5 percent of all owners reporting a traffic violation.

Insurance.com looked at data from 526 models and more than 557,000 recent customers.

“Cars don’t get tickets, drivers do – but those drivers like the WRX,” said Insurance.com Managing Editor Des Toups.  The top-20 list contains other sporty cars, such as the Scion FR-S and Mitsubishi 3000 GT, but also includes the hybrid Toyota Prius C, three sport-utility vehicles and the long-defunct Mercury Topaz.

CARS THAT GET THE MOST TICKETS

Rank/Make and model/% with tickets

1. Subaru WRX – 33.6%

2. Pontiac GTO – 32.7%

3. Scion FR-S – 32.6%

4. Toyota Supra– 30.8%

5. Subaru Tribeca – 29.7%

6. Volkswagen Rabbit – 29.6%

7. Mercury Topaz – 28.8%

8. Scion tC – 28.8%

9. Toyota FJ Cruiser – 28.4%

10. Mazda Mazda2 – 28.1%

11. Hyundai Veloster – 28.1%

12. Volkswagen GTI – 28.1%

13. Suzuki Reno                – 28.1%

14. Scion xA – 27.8%

15. Pontiac G8 – 27.7%

16. MINI Cooper S Countryman – 27.5%

17. Mitsubishi 3000 GT – 27.4%

18. Saturn Aura – 27.1%

19. Infiniti QX56/QX80 – 27.1%

20. Toyota Prius C – 27.0%

“It’s not about horsepower,” Toups said. “The Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper and Nissan GT-R rank well below average for tickets even though they can easily double the highest speed limits. But those cars are also costly, so their buyers tend to be older and take fewer risks.”

For all models, 19.9 percent of drivers reported having a traffic violation – usually speeding but also including such offenses as failure to yield and drunken driving – in the previous three years.

When setting rates on particular vehicles, insurance companies pay more attention to claims than tickets, Toups said. “If you have an accident, it helps to drive up the rates of everyone who owns that kind of car,” he said. “Tickets tend to drive up your rates alone.”

Drivers can see the entire “Ticket Magnet” list at https://www.insurance.com/auto-insurance/vehicle-shopping/cars-that-get-the-most-tickets.html

Methodology

Insurance.com analyzed online quote information submitted by 557,238 drivers Jan. 1, 2013, to July 2014; rankings were calculated on models for which more than 50 quotes were sought.

About Insurance.com

Insurance.com, based in Foster City, Calif., is an online resource where consumers can compare side-by-side, real-time auto insurance quotes from multiple insurance carriers.  Since its inception in 2001, Insurance.com has delivered more than 11 million quotes to consumers – who, in less than 10 minutes, fill out one form and save an average of $540 annually – making it one of the largest independent insurance marketplaces in the U.S.  Participants include some of the biggest names in auto insurance, including Progressive, Esurance, The Hartford, Travelers and 21st Century.  Experts from Insurance.com are available for interviews on all issues pertaining to auto insurance.

Twitter: @InsuranceDotCom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceDotCom

About QuinStreet Inc.

Insurance.com is owned and operated by QuinStreet Inc. (NASDAQ: QNST), one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world.  QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with information they need to research, find and select the products, services and brands that best meet their needs.