How Traffic Infractions Affect Car Insurance

Your car insurance rates will likely increase when you have traffic tickets on your driving record. This is because insurance companies see driving infractions as a red flag for potentially expensive car insurance claims, which they will have to pay.

Fortunately, traffic tickets and other infractions disappear after a certain period of time on your driving record. So when your driving record is clean again, you should get better car insurance rates. Still, the only way to know how much you’ll pay is to find quotes from different companies.

Shopping online to compare car insurance quotes is one simple way to find the most affordable car insurance rates in your area, even if you have one or more tickets on your driving record. As you compare rates, you’ll see which companies offer the coverage you need on your vehicle for a cost that works with your budget.

What is a traffic citation?

A traffic citation, or traffic violation, is a type of infraction in which a driver violates the law while behind the wheel. There are typically three types of traffic violations: 

• Moving violations
• Non-moving violations
• Parking violations

Each violation brings about specific consequences, and the severity of the ticket or fine will depend on the nature of the violation.

Moving Violations

A moving violation occurs when a driver violates the law while the vehicle is in motion. Some of the most common types of moving violations include:

• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Hit-and-run
• Driving with a suspended license
• Driving with a revoked license

Most moving violation convictions result in points on the driver’s license and fines. Depending on the nature of the violation, the driver may lose their license, pay higher fines, or even spend time in jail. 

Non-Moving Violations

Oddly enough, some non-moving violations occur while the vehicle is in motion. Some of the common examples of a non-moving violation include:

• Driving without proper registration
• Driving without a seat belt
• Having faulty equipment on the vehicle

If you receive a non-moving violation, you may simply need to pay a fine, though you will likely have points added to your license. Still, if you were driving without a valid license or insurance, the consequences could be much more serious and involve more money and a temporary loss of your driver’s license.

Parking Violations

A parking violation occurs when a driver parks in a restricted area or parks illegally. Some common examples of parking violations include:

• Parking on a sidewalk
• Parking in a prohibited space
• Double parking

While consequences for parking violations are not severe, they can still be a hassle. At the very least, you will have to pay a fine, and you may have points added to your license. In addition, if you park illegally and an officer discovers that you are driving without insurance or a valid license, you could get in a lot of trouble. Learn about how parking tickets affect your car insurance here.

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How Traffic Infractions Affect Car Insurance

Your insurance rates will surely increase if you’ve received a traffic ticket. Insurance companies use a person’s driving record to help determine their insurance rates. You’ll pay higher monthly or annual coverage rates if you have blemishes on your driving record. In addition to a person’s driving record, some of the other factors that affect car insurance rates include:

• Age
• Gender
• Marital status
• ZIP code
• Credit score
• Car make and model
• Coverage type

With a clean driving record, you’ll get cheaper car insurance rates than you will if you have one or more driving infractions. Still, your age, gender, and other factors may impact your insurance rates significantly.

Traffic Violations and Insurance Rates

Your insurance company will increase your monthly or annual rates if you have traffic violations on your driving record. Insurance companies see you as a risk if you have blemishes on your record since you’re more likely to file an auto insurance claim.

Insurance companies typically increase insurance rates to mitigate any sort of risk or cost. You won’t know how much you’ll pay for car insurance with a traffic violation on your record until you compare quotes from several insurance companies. Once you do, you’ll be able to find the best car insurance companies for people with speeding tickets that offer you the coverage you need at a price that works with your budget.

Will having a traffic ticket impact my car insurance coverage options?

Most car insurance companies offer standard car insurance coverage to all drivers. However, insurance companies may classify you as a high-risk driver if you have one or more traffic violations on your record. Once considered high risk, you may find that certain companies will only offer you minimum coverage options for car insurance.

Standard car insurance coverage often includes:

• Property damage liability: Property damage is a type of liability car insurance that helps if you cause an accident and damage someone’s car or other personal property.
• Bodily injury liability: Bodily injury protects you if you cause a car accident and injure one or more individuals. 
• Medical payments (MedPay): Medical payments insurance covers medical bills associated with a covered accident. 
• Personal injury protection (PIP): Personal injury protection insurance covers things like medical bills, lost wages, and funeral costs associated with a covered accident. 
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: If you purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, your insurance company will pay for damage to your vehicle someone else caused if they do not carry the proper insurance. 

In addition to the car insurance coverage options listed above, most insurance companies also offer collision and comprehensive insurance to help policyholders build a full coverage car insurance policy:

• Collision insurance: Collision car insurance helps if you cause an accident and your vehicle is damaged.
• Comprehensive insurance: Comprehensive car insurance helps if inclement weather, wild animals, theft, or vandalism damages your vehicle.

If your driving record is blemished, some insurance companies may only offer you minimum coverage that includes your state’s legally required insurance. Other companies may include collision and comprehensive insurance while limiting your ability to purchase add-on coverage options like roadside assistance or rental car reimbursement. 

What if a company denies coverage?

In extreme cases, you may find that insurance companies will not accept your application for coverage. For example, if you have a DUI on your record, some companies may see you as too much of a risk and turn you down if you apply for a car insurance policy.

Don’t hesitate to apply elsewhere for coverage. If you find that certain companies will not help you, research auto insurance companies that accept high-risk clients in your area to see your potential monthly or annual insurance rates.

As you compare quotes, you’ll still be able to choose the car insurance coverage that works best for you based on your needs and budget. 

Learn more about getting car insurance after a DUI.

How can I lessen the impact of a traffic violation?

If you have one or more traffic tickets on your driving record, it’s not the end of the world. You can still apply for coverage with several companies and determine which company offers the right policy.

Keep a Clean Driving Record

Drivers with clean driving records should work hard to keep their records clean. Insurance companies are far more likely to offer cheaper insurance quotes if you keep a clean driving record for several years. You may even qualify for a safe driver discount.

How can I improve my driving record?

Most blemishes automatically disappear from a person’s driving record after around three years. After that, states make their own laws regarding driving records and how long an infraction stays there. The average is anywhere from three to five years.

If you have a DUI on your record, you may find that it stays on your record for 10 years or more. Still, many insurance companies will see you as less of a risk and offer you more reasonable rates over time. So be sure to avoid doing anything that can add a new blemish to your driving record as you work to keep it clean. 

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How do traffic violations impact car insurance rates? 

The nature of your traffic violation will impact your car insurance rates. For example, if you have a serious moving violation like a DUI, you can expect your rates to skyrocket. Some companies may not be willing to offer you any car insurance coverage because of your driving record.

In comparison, a non-moving or parking violation will often garner fewer negative consequences, as these infractions pose less potential to harm another person.

Traffic Violations and Car Insurance: The Bottom Line

There are three types of traffic violations: moving, non-moving, and parking violations. Traffic violations can impact your car insurance rates, as insurance companies believe you’re at a greater risk of filing a car insurance claim.

If you have a clean driving record, you should compare car insurance quotes to find the cheapest possible coverage. People with a clean record can often get rates much lower than their state’s average monthly car insurance rates.

You can expect higher-than-average car insurance rates with one or more traffic violations. Your best bet for finding affordable coverage is to compare car insurance rates from several companies. When you compare rates, you should be able to find a company that offers the coverage you need at a price that works for you. 

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