How Much Can Small Traffic Violations Affect Your Insurance Rates?

Traffic accidents, DUIs, and other events can greatly affect your car insurance rate, depending on whether or not you were at fault for an accident, and other factors. However, these aren’t the only things that could potentially increase your insurance bill. Smaller violations like speeding and parking tickets can also increase your bill.

Depending on how dangerous these violations are, most can affect your rate. Examples of minor traffic violations include things like:

●      Speeding, anywhere from 1-10 miles over the speed limit

●      Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign

●      Illegal use of the carpool lane

●      Driving a vehicle you do not have a special license for

●      Littering while driving

Having only one or two of these things on your record won’t affect your insurance rate too much, but the more you start to rack up on your license, the more it will affect your insurance. Too many penalties will look like you are putting yourself at high risk for being in an accident, and therefore will cost more to insure. You should try to avoid accumulating these violations, no matter how small they are, because they will make your insurance bill add up.

While those are small violations, moderate and more severe ones will cause you to increase your insurance rate even more. These include:

●      Not yielding when it’s required by law

●      Texting and driving

●      Illegally turning

●      Hit-and-run

●      Street racing

Any of the harsher violations will add points to your driving record, which sends a red flag to most insurance companies that you are a risky driver to insure. As a result, your rate will definitely go up. However, keep in mind that different policies will cost more or less than others. It’s always best to talk to an insurance agent who can pick a policy that will best suit your situation.

Depending on the violation, accidents and driving misdemeanors might stay on your driving record for a long time, and continue to increase your insurance rates. Speeding tickets and milder violations will take one to three years to clear from your record. If you believe you were wrongfully charged with a violation, you can appeal and have it cleared before they hit your driving record. After these violations have cleared from your record, you can expect your insurance policy rate to return to normal, but it’s always best to talk to your agent and find out what your options are.