No one wants to get a speeding ticket. After all, it’s the last hassle you want to deal with after a stressful day. Still, when the police pull you over, you have to fess up to the consequences. You might have to go to court, pay a fine or go to traffic school. And, you might see your auto insurance rates rise. 

Everyone who gets a ticket needs to be prepared for a hike in their auto insurance rates. However, these rate increases might not be permanent, and there are often ways to continue to control costs in the short-term. Working with your auto insurance agent throughout this process will help. 

What Happens When You Get a Ticket? 

Once you receive a traffic ticket, the ticket is entered into your driving record. Even after you pay your fine and any other penalties, the ticket will remain a notation on the record. The only way it will disappear from your record immediately is if you get it dismissed in court. 

Your state’s DMV will track your history of infractions on your record, and most use a point system to do so. Different infractions will incur a different number of points, and every time you commit an infraction, the corresponding points will be added to your record. Collecting too many points might eventually lead to your license being suspended. 

Still, over time, points might disappear from your record. The length of time this takes, however, depends on the laws set by your state. All the same, as tickets drop off your record (and if you don’t accumulate more) then your record will begin to clear itself. This could come in handy when it comes to managing your auto insurance rates. 

What About Your Auto Insurance Knows 

The more points you accumulate on your record, the more your insurance company will view you as a high-risk driver. As a result, they might have to raise your rates to cover the additional cost risk. Some will even cancel your coverage if you accumulate too many severe infractions. 

Still, as tickets begin to fall off your record, your auto insurance rates might begin to stabilize over time. However, tickets often remain on your insurance record longer than they will remain on your driving record. After all, it might take your insurer a longer to fully consider you a low-risk driver once again. 

If you have speeding tickets, talk to your auto insurance agent about them. Some companies do not raise rates for a single violation. Many even offer accident forgiveness over time. This can help you get lower rates later. Our agents are committed to helping you understand how best to maximize your benefits’ affordability, even when you have a few black marks on your record.