Does Texting While Driving Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates?

Texting while driving might seem harmless, but it can raise your insurance premiums and even impact your ability to get coverage. If you’ve been cited for texting behind the wheel, you’re in the right place. During my 9 years in the insurance industry, I’ve helped many drivers navigate the consequences of distracted driving. In this article, I’ll explain exactly how texting violations can affect your auto insurance rates.

If you’re caught texting while driving, your insurance rates will likely go up. On average, a single ticket for texting while driving can increase your auto insurance premium by 23%. However, the actual increase depends on several factors, including your driving history, the severity of the violation, and your insurance provider’s policies.

Some insurers are more forgiving than others, especially if you have a clean record. But if you already have speeding tickets or other infractions on file, a texting citation may result in a steeper hike.

Here are some examples, by state, of how texting while driving infractions affect your auto insurance rates:

What Is A Texting While Driving Violation?

Texting while driving is defined as using a handheld mobile device to send, read, or write messages while operating a motor vehicle. It’s a form of distracted driving and is illegal in 48 U.S. states, as well as Washington D.C.

While the exact laws vary by state, the core definition is consistent: if you’re using your phone behind the wheel, whether stopped at a light or moving, you’re likely breaking the law.

Penalties For Texting While Driving

Depending on where you live, the consequences of a texting violation can include:

• Fines ranging from $25 to over $500
• Points added to your license
• Increased insurance premiums
• License suspension for repeat offenses
• In some states, jail time for habitual or aggravated violations

Does A Texting While Driving Ticket Affect Your Car Insurance Rates?

Yes, getting ticketed for texting while driving can cause your car insurance premiums to go up, often significantly.

Because it’s considered a moving violation, it will appear on your driving record, and most insurers will factor it into your risk profile when your policy is up for renewal. In 48 states, this type of violation is treated like speeding or running a red light.

Texting While Driving Ticket Rates – By Company

Just like receiving any other moving violation, each company treats each driver differently and their violation has its own severity. Basically, you can find a cheaper rate if you shop around after you receive a ticket for texting while driving.

Does A Ticket Add Points On Your License?

Whether a texting-while-driving ticket adds points to your license depends on your state’s laws.

Some states classify it as a moving violation, meaning points are added to your driving record. Others consider it a non-moving violation, which doesn’t add points—but can still raise your insurance rates.

As of 2024, there are only 10 states that do not invoke a point system. These are:

• Hawaii
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Washington
• Wyoming

In these states, drivers can have their license suspended for their moving violations.

As for states that use a point system, each state’s system varies:

For example:

• California – 1 point for minor violations; 2 points for major violations; suspension if you accumulate 4 in 12 months.
• Illinois – 5 points for minor violations; 55 points for major violations; suspension if you commit 3 violations in 12 months.
• Maine – 2 points for minor violations; 8 points for major violations; suspension if you accumulate 12 points in 12 months.
• Montana – 2 points for minor violations; 15 points for major violations; suspension if you accumulate 30 points in 36 months.
• New York – 2 points for minor violations; 11 points for major violations; suspension if you accumulate 11 points in 18 months.
• Utah – 35 points for minor violations; 80 points for major violations; suspension if you accumulate 200 points in 36 months.

Even in states without a point system, insurers can still treat drivers as high-risk violations. This can lead to rate increases.

Is Texting And Driving Considered A Moving Violation?

A moving violation is any traffic offense committed by a driver while the vehicle is in motion. These include behaviors like speeding, running a red light, or reckless driving.

Texting and driving fall into this category. Other moving violations can include:

• Speeding
• Failure to yield
• Passing Illegally
• Tailgating
• Reckless Driving
• Running a red light
• Failure to signal
• Driving without a license

Texting while driving can be considered a moving violation, but it depends entirely on the state where the violation occurs.

In many states, especially after a second offense, texting behind the wheel is officially classified as a moving violation and can result in points on your license, fines, or even license suspension. However, in other states, a first-time offense may be treated as a non-moving violation, which typically carries a fine but no points.

For example:

• Florida: A first texting offense is non-moving. A second becomes a moving violation with points.
• California: First offense is non-moving; repeat offenses can add points.
• Montana: Has no statewide ban on texting while driving.

Understanding how your state classifies texting violations is key, especially since insurers often treat all distracted driving tickets as high-risk, even if no points are added.

What Are U.S. State Laws For Using Your Cell Phone While Driving?

Each U.S. state has its own laws regarding the use of cell phones behind the wheel, and these laws directly affect both the severity of the penalties and potential auto insurance rate increases.

In most states, texting while driving is illegal and may be treated as a moving violation. This can result in fines, points on your license, and increased insurance premiums. However, some states treat a first offense as a non-moving violation, which may not impact your rates unless it’s a repeat offense.

Even if you hold a license in one state, you must follow the laws of the state you’re driving in. An out-of-state texting ticket will still appear on your driving record, and your insurance company will see it—possibly leading to a premium hike.

Here is a breakdown of how each U.S. state’s law on texting and driving.

Why Does Texting While Driving Increase Auto Insurance Premiums?

Auto insurance companies raise premiums for drivers caught texting because it’s considered high-risk behavior. In fact, many insurers treat it as seriously as a speeding ticket or reckless drivig violation.

Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. According to the NHTSA, reading or sending a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds—long enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 MPH.

Insurers know that distracted drivers are statistically more likely to cause accidents and file claims, which costs the company more in payouts. For that reason, even a single texting violation on your driving record can trigger a noticeable rate increase, especially if combined with other infractions.

How Long Does A Texting While Driving Ticket Stay On Your Driving Record?

In most states, a texting while driving ticket stays on your driving record for three to five years. However, the exact length depends on the laws in your state and the severity of the violation.

For example, in California, a first-time texting offense typically stays on your record for 36 months. But if the violation led to an accident, it could remain longer or result in additional penalties.

This violation can impact your auto insurance premiums for as long as it appears on your record—usually for the full duration. Insurers may view you as high-risk during this time, especially if the ticket is combined with other infractions.

Can You Remove A Texting While Driving Ticket From Your Driving Record?

Whether or not you can remove a texting ticket from your driving record depends on your state’s laws. In most cases, texting violations remain on your record for three to five years, but there are a few options that might reduce or remove the impact:

Defensive Driving Courses

Some states allow drivers to take a state-approved defensive driving course or attend traffic school to have a violation dismissed or reduce a fine. For instance, both Texas and Florida offer dismissal for first-time offenders upon completion of an approved driving course.

Go To Court

You can take your chances and go to court over your offense. This may help if it is your first offense by lessening your penalty.

Petition For Expungement

In some states, you may be able to request expungement, which is the formal removal of a violation from your record—typically after a set period of clean driving. Check your state’s DMV website or speak to a traffic attorney to learn more.

Wait It Out

If you are guilty, you may have no choice but to wait out the duration of your penalty. This would include the increased premium. Depending on the state you live in this could take between three and five years.

Will Removing A Ticket Lower Your Insurance Rates?

Yes, once the violation is removed, your insurer may reduce your premium. Some companies will do this automatically, while others require you to request a premium review. Be sure to drive safely in the meantime, as new violations can reset the clock.

Texting while driving is a serious offense. But with forethought and practice you can keep yourself and others safe on the road and your auto insurance rates affordable.