How A Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance In California

Receiving a speeding ticket can be a frustrating experience, but its implications extend far beyond the immediate fines and penalties. In California, traffic violations can significantly impact your auto insurance rates, often leading to increased premiums and changes in coverage.

With 9 years of experience as a licensed insurance agent, I’ve helped many drivers find auto insurance that can lessen the impact of a speeding ticket. If you’ve received a ticket, there are ways to still get affordable auto insurance. Let me explain how a speeding ticket can affect your car insurance in California and how you can manage it.

How A Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance In California

Maintaining a clean driving record is beneficial for keeping car insurance rates low. However, even one minor violation can raise your insurance costs, and the increase can vary significantly depending on the insurer. In California, you can see a 37% increase in your insurance premiums with just one speeding ticket on your record.

Here are some examples of how a single speeding ticket can affect your insurance rates. You’ll see how much the impact differs among different companies.

Insurance rates can change based on several factors, including your driving record, where you live, your gender, and your claims history. When you file a claim for a speeding ticket, it can affect these factors differently, especially depending on how serious the ticket is. If the speeding ticket includes additional violations, the increase in your insurance cost can be more significant.

How To Lower Your Premiums After A Ticket

In California, getting a speeding ticket usually means your insurance rates will go up. However, you won’t notice this increase until it’s time to renew your policy. In California, the ticket can stay on your record for three to ten years, depending on the severity of the violation.

Here are some tips to help lower your premiums in California after receiving a speeding ticket:

Reduce Your Coverage Levels

If you’re leasing a car, you usually have to keep full coverage, but if you own an older vehicle, you might consider lowering your coverage. Increasing your deductible can also lower your premium, but keep in mind that you’ll pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim. If you drop Comprehensive and Collision, remember that your insurance will only cover damages to the other party in an accident, not your own vehicle.

Bundle Your Policy

55% of California residents own a home. Check with your insurance company for any discounts you might qualify for. If you also have homeowners or renters insurance, bundling those policies can save you money. Other discounts may be available for completing a defensive driving course, being part of specific organizations, or driving less than a certain number of miles each year.

Attend A Traffic School

You can go to traffic school to have a one-point violation taken off your record. You’ll need to check your eligibility. You can only do this once every 18 months. California has a list of state-approved traffic schools. You can check the ones in your area.

Defensive Driving courses

Taking a defensive driving course usually makes you eligible for a discount on your car insurance, which can lower your monthly rate. While the exact discount varies by state, it typically falls between 5% and 10%. This means you can save money each month and over the course of a year. It could also show an insurance company you are serious about correcting poor driving habits.

Shop Around

Car insurance varies from company to company, and so do the consequences of a speeding ticket. As mentioned earlier, each insurer raises rates differently. If you get a speeding ticket and see a big increase at your renewal, consider looking for other options. Another company might be more flexible regarding your ticket.

Remember, keeping a clean driving record is important for your future rates. If you get another ticket within three years, it will reset the clock, and your insurance rates could go up even more because you’ll be seen as a higher risk.

Join The California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan

If you have a speeding ticket on you, it makes you a high risk driver. Insurance companies usually avoid having high risk drivers as their customers. Learn about the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan.

Does A First-Time Speeding Ticket Affect Insurance?

How your first speeding ticket impacts your insurance premium depends on the insurance company. Some insurers may view you as a high risk, leading to a significant rate increase. However, others might understand that mistakes happen and may not raise your rates much at all, especially companies that offer accident forgiveness.

What To Do After Getting A Speeding Ticket

When you get a speeding ticket, you have two options: you can either pay the ticket and accept the consequences, or you can challenge it.

Paying The Ticket

This process is quite simple. When you go to court, you’ll receive instructions on how to pay the ticket. Make sure to pay it on time to avoid additional fees. If you wait too long, you could even face an arrest warrant.

Contesting The Ticket

Another option is to request a trial before the deadline on your court notice. During this trial, you can bring witnesses and provide evidence to support your case. If the judge finds you guilty, they will determine the fine.

The trial can happen in two ways:

Written Declaration: With this option, you don’t have to go to court in person. Instead, you can write a statement explaining what happened and ask for a trial based on that written declaration.

Court Trial: You can also ask for a court trial, which can be held in person or remotely via phone or video. If you choose this option, a lawyer can represent you.

Deferred Disposition

Another option is deferred disposition. In this case, you plead no contest and pay the fine. You’ll then be placed on probation, and if you don’t get another speeding ticket during the agreed time, the original ticket won’t appear on your record.

How Long Does A Speeding Ticket Stay On My Record?

In California, a speeding ticket typically stays on your driving record for 3 years from the date of the violation. However, more serious offenses, such as reckless driving, can remain on your record for up to 10 years. Points from speeding tickets can affect your insurance rates and lead to penalties if you accumulate too many within a specific timeframe.

How Much Is A Ticket In California?

If you’re driving in California and find yourself pulled over for speeding or another traffic violation, you might be wondering, “How much is a ticket?” The cost of a ticket can vary significantly based on several factors, including the type of violation, your driving record, and even the county where the ticket was issued. In California, speeding tickets can range from around $35 for minor infractions to several hundred dollars for more serious offenses.

But what happens when you are fined when other factors are in play such as school and construction zones?

Penalties For Speeding

Here are the key penalties for speeding in California:

Fines

• The base fine for speeding can range from around $35 for minor violations to over $500 for serious offenses, such as excessive speeding or reckless driving.
• Additional fees and assessments can significantly increase the total cost, often doubling the initial fine.

Points On Driving Record

• Speeding violations result in points added to your driving record.
• Minor speeding (1-15 mph over the limit) typically adds 1 point, while more serious speeding (16 mph and above) can add 2 points.

Insurance Rate Increases

• Accumulating points from speeding tickets can lead to higher car insurance premiums.
• Insurance companies may view you as a higher risk, resulting in increased rates for several years.