How A Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance In New York
Because speeding is quite commonplace in New York, there are quite harsh penalties for being caught.
In New York, a speeding ticket can have more than just a financial penalty; it can significantly affect your auto insurance rates. Many drivers underestimate the ultimate impact of a ticket, believing it’s just a one-time fine. However, insurance companies often view speeding violations as red flags, leading to higher premiums or even policy cancellations.
With 9 years of experience as a licensed insurance agent, I’ve assisted many drivers in finding auto insurance that helps lessen the effects of a speeding ticket. Let me break down how a speeding ticket can impact your insurance in New York.
Key Takeaways
Drivers in New York can choose to pay the fine, contest the ticket in court, or enroll in a defensive driving course to reduce points on their driving record.
If you opt for a defensive driving course to avoid points, you must complete it within 120 days of receiving the ticket.
While insurance rates typically rise after a speeding ticket in New York, there are strategies available to help manage and potentially mitigate these increases.
Do Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance In New York?
Speeding tickets do affect insurance in New York. When you get a speeding ticket, your insurance company may view it as a sign that you are a higher risk driver. This can lead to an increase in your insurance rates. The more serious the speeding violation, the bigger the impact on your premiums.
How A Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance In New York
Maintaining a spotless driving record is beneficial for keeping insurance premiums low. However, even a single violation can cause rates to rise, sometimes significantly, depending on the insurer. Drivers in New York will, on average, see a 15% increase in their premiums after a single speeding ticket.
Here are some examples of how a single speeding ticket can affect your car insurance costs and how these impacts can vary between different companies.
| Provider | Clean Record | Speeding Ticket | Increase |
| Main Street America | $1,434 | $1,491 | 5% |
| Progressive | $2,199 | $2,230 | 2% |
| NYCM | $2,829 | $2,830 | 1% |
| Geico | $3,520 | $3,699 | 5% |
| Erie | $3,356 | $3,746 | 11% |
Auto insurance premiums can fluctuate based on several factors, including your driving record, location, gender, and claim history. When you file a claim related to a speeding ticket, these elements can be affected in various ways, particularly depending on how serious the violation is. If the speeding ticket comes with additional offenses, the resulting increase in your insurance rates may be more significant.
Important: 9 out of t10 drivers admit to speeding even though nearly 90% know that it is wrong.
How To Lower Your Premiums After A Ticket
Receiving a speeding ticket can be stressful, especially when you worry about rising insurance premiums. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to help lower your rates after an infraction. By understanding your options and taking proactive steps, you can mitigate the impact of the ticket on your insurance costs.
From enrolling in defensive driving courses to shopping around for better rates, these actions can ultimately lead to savings and help you maintain financial peace of mind.
Here are some ways to help you lower your premiums in New York after a speeding ticket:
Lower Your Coverage Levels
One effective way to lower your insurance premiums after a speeding ticket is to adjust your coverage levels. Review your current policy and consider whether you can reduce certain coverages without compromising your financial protection. For instance, if you have comprehensive or collision coverage on an older vehicle, you might choose to lower these limits or even drop them altogether.
Additionally, you can increase your deductibles, which can lead to lower monthly payments. However, it’s important to strike a balance, make sure you still have adequate coverage to protect yourself in case of an accident.
Point & Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP)
The Point & Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) in New York is designed to help drivers reduce points on their driving records and lower their car insurance premiums. By completing an approved defensive driving course, participants can remove up to four points from their record and receive a 10% discount on their liability and collision insurance for three years. This program is beneficial for drivers looking to improve their driving habits and manage their insurance costs.
Search For Discounts
Another great way to lower your insurance premiums after receiving a speeding ticket is to search for available discounts. Many insurance companies offer a variety of discounts that can significantly reduce your costs. Look for options such as safe driver discounts, multi-policy discounts for bundling home and auto insurance, or discounts for completing a defensive driving course. Additionally, some insurers provide savings for being a member of certain organizations or for having a good credit score.
Defensive Driving courses
Taking a defensive driving course is an excellent way to lower your insurance premiums after a speeding ticket. These courses not only help improve your driving skills but also demonstrate to insurance companies that you are committed to being a safer driver. Many insurers offer discounts for completing an approved defensive driving course, which can lead to immediate savings on your premiums.
Shop Around
Shopping around for insurance is a smart strategy, especially after receiving a speeding ticket. Different insurance companies have varying policies regarding how they assess risk and set premiums, so it’s worthwhile to compare quotes from multiple providers. You may discover that some insurers are more lenient about past infractions and offer lower rates, while others might not consider a single ticket as heavily.
TIME INFRACTIONS: If you get four or more violations in a twelve-month period your license will be suspended, seven or more in a twenty-four-month period.
Does A First-Time Speeding Ticket Affect Insurance?
A first-time speeding ticket can affect your insurance rates. While the impact may vary depending on the insurance company, most insurers consider a speeding violation as an indication of increased risk. This can lead to a rise in your premiums. However, the extent of the increase often depends on factors such as the severity of the violation and your overall driving history.
CONSEQUENCES: Speeds below 10 MPH over the limit are considered Class C misdemeanors, while speeds ranging from 11 to 25 MPH over the limit, as well as reckless driving, are classified as Class B and Class A misdemeanors, respectively.
How To Find Affordable Insurance After A Speeding Ticket
In New York, different insurance companies handle speeding tickets in their own ways. Some may be more forgiving, especially if it’s your first ticket and you have a good driving record. They might only raise your rates a little or even not at all. Others might increase your premiums significantly, especially if you were going over 25 MPH or if it’s considered reckless driving.
Insurers also look at factors like how long you've had your policy and any past claims when deciding how much to adjust your rates. For instance, a driver with a clean record may face a smaller increase than someone with several violations. This is why it’s important to shop around and get quotes from different companies. Some of the best methods to find affordable insurance after getting a speeding ticket are:
Reducing Your Coverage To Liability Only
Having full coverage can be costly, especially after a speeding ticket. If you’re not required by a lease to keep full coverage, consider switching to liability insurance. While this means you won’t have protection for your car in case of an accident or theft, you’ll likely find that your monthly payments are much more affordable.
Taking A Defensive Driving Course
Insurance companies appreciate drivers who take steps to improve their behavior after a mistake, like getting a speeding ticket. Completing a defensive driving course shows that you are committed to safer driving and can often lead to lower insurance rates.
Changing Insurance Companies
Not all auto insurance companies treat speeding tickets the same way. Some may impose heavy penalties, while others might be more lenient and give you a second chance. If your current insurer has raised your rates significantly after your ticket, it’s a good idea to shop around for other options. You may find a company that offers better rates for your situation.
What To Do After Getting A Speeding Ticket
When you get a speeding ticket, you have two main options: pay the ticket and face the consequences, or contest it in court.
Paying The Ticket
You can pay NYC tickets online through the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) on the DMV website. However, the TVB does not handle local tickets, parking tickets,, felony offenses, like driving under the influence (DUI), tickets from red light or speed cameras.
Contesting The Ticket
If you decide to fight the ticket, you’ll plead not guilty during your court appearance, and a new court date will be set. You can either represent yourself or hire a lawyer. If the court finds you not guilty, the ticket will be dismissed. However, if you’re found guilty, you’ll have to pay the fine, and the ticket will go on your driving record.
Be sure to respond to your ticket by pleading guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If you ignore it, the state will suspend your driver’s license. To lift the suspension, you’ll need to pay $70 plus the ticket fee.
How Much Is A Speeding Ticket In New York?
In New York, speeding is taken very seriously, and the consequences can vary significantly based on where the violation occurs. While a standard speeding ticket can lead to an increase in your insurance rates, often around 10-20%, the impact can be greater if you’re caught speeding in sensitive areas like school zones or construction zones, where fines and penalties are typically higher.
It’s crucial to be aware of these factors, as they can affect both the severity of your ticket and the subsequent impact on your insurance.
| Fine by MPH over limit | Posted Limit | School Zone | Construction Zone |
| 1 to 5 | $150 | $300 | $300 |
| 6 to 9 | $200 | $300 | $300 |
| 10 to 14 | $250 | $300 | $300 |
| 15 to 19 | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| 20 to 29 | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| 30 plus | $600 | $600 | $600 |
In New York, driving at 30 miles per hour is typically the speed limit in many residential areas and near schools. This lower speed limit is designed to enhance safety for pedestrians, children, and cyclists. Speeding at or above this limit can lead to significant penalties, including fines and points on your driving record.
Penalties For Speeding
In New York, speeding can lead to fines that cost you hundreds of dollars, possible jail time, and points added to your driving record, even if you were only going under 10 miles per hour over the limit. Here’s a breakdown of the potential consequences:
- The minimum fine if you’re up to 10 mph over is $45 in New York, and the maximum fine is $150.
- If you’re 10-30 mph over, the minimum fine is $90 and the maximum fine you would have to pay is $300 in New York.
- If you get more than one speeding ticket in the last 18 months, your fines will go up. If you have three speeding violations during that time, your license will be taken away.
- Accumulating 11 points or more within 18 months can result in a suspension of your driver’s license.
- Speeding in school zones or construction zones can result in doubled fines and higher points, reflecting the increased risk to pedestrians and workers.
- If you accumulate six or more points on your driving record in 18 months, you might have to pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA). With this, you’ll have to pay a fine over a three-year period. The fine is usually $100 per year.
DANGEROUS FACTOR: According to the NHTSA, speeding was a factor in 29% of accident fatalities in 2022.
FAQs
What is the cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket?
After receiving a speeding ticket in New York, finding the cheapest car insurance can be challenging, but it is possible. Many companies offer competitive rates even for drivers with infractions. Typically, insurers like Geico, State Farm, and Progressive are known for providing affordable options for drivers after a ticket.
It’s important to shop around and compare quotes, as each insurer assesses risk differently and may treat your speeding ticket with varying levels of severity.
How do I get a speeding ticket off my insurance?
To get a speeding ticket off your insurance, start by checking with your insurance company about their policies. Some companies might offer discounts for completing a defensive driving course, which can help reduce points on your record and potentially lower your rates.
Additionally, avoid any further traffic violations to maintain a clean record. After a certain period, usually around three years for a speeding ticket, the ticket may automatically drop off your record, which could help lower your insurance premiums.
Will my insurance company find out about my speeding ticket immediately?
In New York, your insurance company typically won’t find out about your speeding ticket immediately. However, most insurers regularly check driving records, usually at the time of your policy renewal or when you apply for a new policy. Once they check, they will see any recent violations, including speeding tickets.
It’s a good idea to inform your insurer about the ticket yourself, as being proactive can help maintain a good relationship and avoid surprises when your rates are reviewed.
Sources
⇅- NHTSA – Dangers of speeding
- New York State Gov. Â – Penalties for speeding
- New York State Gov. – Pay or plead to a traffic violation
- New York Courts – How to resolve a traffic ticket violation
