Do Parking and Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance?
A parking ticket may not seem like a big deal at first. You toss it in the glovebox, get a little annoyed at yourself for misreading the parking meter, and eventually dig it out to pay off the fine a few weeks or months later. Speeding tickets tend to be a little more alarming, but even then, you can usually pay a fine without ever going to court.
The surprise comes when you renew your auto insurance policy and find out that your insurance rates have increased because of a parking or moving violation. If that’s you, then you’re probably asking yourself questions like “How do parking tickets affect insurance?” and “How long do speeding tickets stay on your record?”
While you can’t hide your driving record from your insurance company, there are steps you can take to reduce its impact on your insurance costs.
How Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Your Driving Record?
Most states use some type of point system to keep track of your driving habits and as a way to determine punishable actions. The state’s motor vehicle system assigns points based on the frequency and severity of the traffic violations.
A speeding ticket is assigned a specific number of points against your driving record depending on where you live. Your state’s motor vehicle commission will send you a letter each time points are assessed against your record.
After accumulating a certain number of points, you could be required to enroll in a driver improvement course, or the DMV may suspend your driver’s license altogether.
Since driving laws vary from state to state, it’s a good idea to brush up on each state’s laws if you’re going on a road trip. For example, Georgia has some unusual traffic laws like the Super Speeder law that can catch unwitting drivers by surprise. One such law dictates that anyone caught driving over 75 mph on some roads, or over 85 mph anywhere in the state, will be hit with a $200 state fee, plus local penalties!
How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record?
Most states allow speeding tickets to drop off of your record after a certain period, but each state is different regarding its driving laws and conviction visibility. Let’s look at how long a speeding ticket stays on your record in each state:
| State | Time Ticket Stays on Your Record |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 years for points to be removed, but incident is permanent on your record |
| Alaska | 1 year |
| Arizona | 1 year |
| Arkansas | 3 years |
| California | 3 years and 3 months |
| Colorado | You can reduce your points, but incident is permanent |
| Connecticut | 3 years |
| Delaware | 2 years |
| Florida | 5 years |
| Georgia | 2 years |
| Hawaii | 10 years |
| Idaho | 3 years |
| Illinois | Up to 5 years |
| Indiana | 2 years |
| Iowa | 5 years |
| Kansas | 3 years |
| Kentucky | 5 years, but points are removed after 2 years |
| Louisiana | 3 years |
| Maine | 1 year |
| Maryland | 3 years |
| Massachusetts | 6 years |
| Michigan | 7 years |
| Minnesota | 5-10 years |
| Mississippi | 1 year |
| Missouri | 3 years |
| Montana | Points are removed are 5 years, but incident is permanent |
| Nebraska | 5 years |
| Nevada | Points are removed after 1 year, but incident is permanent |
| New Hampshire | 3 years |
| New Jersey | 5 years |
| New Mexico | 1 year |
| New York | 1.5 years |
| North Carolina | 3 years |
| North Dakota | 3 years |
| Ohio | 2 years count toward your suspension, but the incident is permanent |
| Oklahoma | Up to 3 years |
| Oregon | 2 years |
| Pennsylvania | 1 year |
| Rhode Island | 3 years |
| South Carolina | 2 years |
| Tennessee | 2 years |
| Texas | 3 years |
| Utah | 3 years |
| Vermont | 2 years |
| Virginia | 5 years |
| Washington | 5 years |
| West Virginia | 5 years, but points are removed after 2 years |
| Wisconsin | 5 years |
| Wyoming | 1 year |
| Washington D.C. | 2 years |
As you can see, the average length of time is between one and five years, with a couple of exceptions not allowing removal at all.
During the time that the ticket is on your record, you are at risk of receiving second and third offenses, which will bring stiffer penalties. And after a certain number of infractions or points on your record, your license can be suspended.
Each of the times listed above assumes you don’t get the option of a deferred conviction or a driver improvement course. If you don’t want to wait for that amount of time to pass, you can contact the court clerk to discuss options for expungement.
Keep in mind that DUI and DWIs are not traffic tickets and can stay on your record for much longer. For example, in California, most traffic violations will be removed after three years and three months, but a DUI will stay on your record for an entire decade.
Do Speeding Tickets Affect Car Insurance Prices?
Speeding tickets can have a negative impact on your car insurance premiums whether or not you inform your insurance company – they will find out eventually!
Car insurance companies usually find out about tickets when it’s time to renew your policy. Your agent will run your name through the system to determine your new auto insurance rate, and your premiums will likely increase.
The exact amount will depend on a few factors, such as how fast you were driving over the speed limit and whether or not you’re classed as a high-risk driver.
For example, in North Carolina, the Safe Driver Incentive Plan requires insurers to raise your rates by 30% for minor speeding violations and 80% for reckless driving.
If your rates increase because of a speeding ticket, you can ask your insurance provider what your options are to bring your rates back down. You might be able to secure lower rates after completing a defensive driving course or participating in one of the many discount programs offered by auto insurance companies.
If you don’t take action or attempt to receive a discount, a ticket can negatively impact your insurance rates for three years. Still, just because your rates went up, it doesn’t mean you can’t shop around for a better auto insurance quote elsewhere.
Learn more about how car insurance works here, or use our handy tool to compare car insurance rates in your ZIP code:
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Do Parking Tickets Affect Insurance?
If you haven’t gotten any speeding tickets and you’re still wondering, “Why is my car insurance so high?” then you may need to look for another explanation for the rate increase. Are parking tickets likely to affect your insurance rates?
The short answer is no: Parking violations aren’t considered moving violations, such as running a red light or failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. So you won’t get a suspended license simply for misreading a parking sign.
That said, unpaid parking tickets can still affect your car insurance rates in states where insurers are allowed to check your credit score. That’s most states except for California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and a few other states.
So if you’ve gotten a ticket for double-parking, don’t hide it in the glove compartment forever! It’s important to pay your parking tickets on time to avoid any unpaid tickets going to a collection agency and ending up on your credit report.
If you can’t afford to pay them up-front, ask the court or the relevant authority in your municipality if you can work out a payment plan.
How to Find Lower Car Insurance Rates After a Speeding Ticket
If you have a clean record, even a single speeding ticket or parking violation can be stressful – but you don’t have to let it affect your car insurance rates forever.
Any rate increase will be temporary in most cases, and you won’t have to worry about having your driving privileges revoked.
The important thing is to learn how demerit points or driver’s license points work in your state, so you know how long a traffic ticket will stay on your record. Then, you can ask your insurance company to check your eligibility for discounts.
And of course, you can always shop around. Since each insurance company has its own methodology for setting premiums, comparing car insurance rates is the best way to ensure that you aren’t paying more than you need to.
Use our handy tool to compare car insurance rates in your ZIP code and get the lowest rates today:
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FAQs About How Long a Ticket Stays on Your Record
Can you have a ticket removed from your record?
Yes, a ticket can be removed from your record in some circumstances. For example, you can contest the ticket, or a judge may allow you to take a driver improvement course.
Alternatively, you can wait until the ticket automatically disappears from your record, which can take up to 10 years, depending on where you live.
Is it bad to have a speeding ticket on your record?
Yes. A speeding ticket will lead to more points on your driving record, which can increase your insurance premiums and even result in a suspended license if you get too many.
How long do speeding tickets stay on your record for insurance?
A speeding ticket will typically remain visible to insurance companies for about three years, assuming you don’t receive any additional tickets during this period.
Does a speeding ticket affect your insurance?
Your premiums may increase when you attempt to renew your policy. The more tickets you have, the higher your insurance premium will be. Certain companies can choose to drop you if you regularly receive tickets.
