Speeding tickets, high risk drivers and car insurance

Eric Rockfeller : How does a speeding ticket put you in the high risk driver and affect your auto insurance?

Response : The number of speeding tickets or traffic vilation tickets within a short period of time 0 say over three tickets in 2 years will certainly be considered as a high risk dvirver and this will affect your car insurance. If your are over twenty five and this is the only ticket on your record in the last three years it will make little difference on your auto insurance rates. Insurance companies do not necessarily review your driving record every year. It is checked when you first apply and then it depends on the policy of that particular company.

The problems will start with your second ticket. That is why it is important to keep any and all tickets off your record. Many states will allow you to take traffic school or they have a deferment program.

Check the laws in your state to see what options are available. In most cases just showing up on your court date will allow you to negotiate for a reduction in the fine and points.

If you drive a company vehicle or have a CDL license it is very important to keep your driving record clean because the records of these drivers are checked every year.

As a general rule you can expect one four point ticket to increase your insurance premiums by at least 50% for each of the next three years. In many cases it is cost effective to retain an attorney.

 Many insurance companies will not check your MVR every year unless there is a change to the policy. If they do not check, then your rates will not change. Typically insurance companies only check high risk drivers and those who drive a company vehicle every year. If you are a high risk driver you might be asked to buy SR22 form.