How Long Do Tickets Impact Insurance?

As drivers, it’s important that we all do our part to make safe decisions on the road.

During the first six months of 2021, projected traffic fatalities rose by 18 percent across the United States. It was the largest increase since the U.S. Department of Transportation started monitoring data and 2x the surge that occurred in 2020.

Keeping this perspective in mind, tickets are important for holding drivers accountable for necessary traffic laws. Not only can it be frustrating (and sometimes scary) to receive a speeding ticket, but the fines can also hurt your wallet. So how long can drivers expect these violations to increase their auto insurance rates?

Here’s a practical look into the topic to help you stay informed and drive safer.

Why Do Speeding Tickets Impact Insurance Rates?

Speeding is a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities.

There is an economic rationale as to why these infractions are important for keeping roads safe. The core reason is that state governments and insurance companies need systems to encourage safe driving habits. Research has shown that road accidents carry substantial social costs and that financial incentives are known to be effective motivators.

When a driver receives a ticket, insurance companies can see the infraction by pulling the individual’s motor vehicle report from their state's DMV. Based on the severity of the traffic violation, like how fast you were speeding, whether there was an accident, or if there are other charges, your insurance company may need to raise your rates. This is because insurance company business models are based on driver risk profiles. A ticket is a signal for potential unsafe driving. As a result, safer drivers will generally receive lower rates on their policies.

Most states in the U.S. use a point system, tied to driver’s licenses, to enforce good driving habits. There are currently only nine states that do not use a point system:

Hawaii
Kansas
Louisiana
Minnesota
Mississippi
Oregon
Rhode Island
Washington
Wyoming

All nine of these states have implemented their own unique policies outside of the point system. For instance, if you get a speeding ticket in Hawaii, you’ll need to pay fines for traffic infractions, but you will not receive points on your driving record. For serious offenses, such as when a defendant is arrested and taken into police custody, penalties are stricter, require court proceedings, and may even result in jail time. Certain traffic violations may also result in driver’s license suspensions, revocations, or cancellations.

In Washington, while there’s no point system, there are repercussions for getting too many moving violations within a specific period of time. For instance, if you receive six moving violations in a 12-month period or seven moving violations in a 24-month period, your license will be suspended for 60 days, and you will receive a one year probation period following the suspension. In these situations, it is the license suspension, rather than the number of points, that may result in raised auto insurance rates.

Every state has its own policies, so it’s a good idea to research the policies in your unique state.

Drivers can expect their auto insurance rates to increase based on the severity of the infraction. While the amount of time these points will remain on a driver’s record differs by state, they typically remain on driving records for up to several years. Driver’s license suspensions and criminal charges are also potential consequences of receiving a speeding ticket, depending on the severity of the infraction. More serious violations, the level at which you are speeding, result in a higher number of points on your record.

Remember, the purpose of these policies is not to inflict unnecessary punishment, but to encourage better, safer driving habits. Point systems function as incentives for motorists to use good judgment on the road.

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay On Your Driving Record?

How long a speeding ticket will stay on your driving record depends on a few different factors, the most important being the state in which you live. In Hawaii, even though there is no point system, a ticket will stay on your driving record for up to ten years. Alaska does not disclose how long points stay on your record. In California, points can stay on your record for three to seven years. Most states also belong to legal consortiums, such as the Nonresident Violator Compact and Driver’s License Compact, that report infractions to one another. So if you get a ticket in one state, there is often a conversion process around points that will take place behind the scenes.

In general, drivers can expect speeding tickets to remain on their driving records for three-five years. But this isn’t always the case. Some insurance companies and local governments recognize that honest mistakes can happen. For this reason, many states honor traffic school programs that will allow for points to be waived if a specified class or course is taken.

The specifics will depend on your unique situation, so it’s a good idea to talk with your auto insurance company if you are unsure.

How Other Violations Impact Insurance Policies

Speeding isn’t the only traffic infraction with the potential to impact your insurance rates—and it’s not the only moving violation that increases the risk of harm on the road. To be a more conscious, responsible, and considerate driver, it’s important to be aware of other common moving violations.

The following infractions are handled similarly to speeding tickets, with a three-five year rate increase to insurance policies. Again, situations are case-specific and vary from state to state.

Texting and Driving

The United States Department of Transportation classifies texting and driving as a type of distracted driving. Because driving requires your full attention, it is not possible to operate a vehicle safely if you are looking down at your cell phone. Teens are particularly vulnerable to this type of distraction.

“Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds,” writes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

In the U.S., 48 states have implemented legislation around the use of cell phones while driving. Specific laws vary, as some states make a distinction between handheld use and other forms of cell phone use.

If you find yourself tempted to text and drive, you can try keeping your phone in a part of a car that is inaccessible to you while driving or use an app that restricts device usage. If you need to use your phone, pull over. Read our article 8 Safety Tips for Highway Driving for more insights on tips for the road.

Red Light Camera Violations

When you’re approaching an intersection, remember to be watchful of red and yellow lights to ensure enough of a reaction time buffer. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and stoplights are particularly dangerous spots.

If you’re tempted to run a red light, don’t. The risk just isn’t worth the time you think you might save.

A recent study from AAA found that two people are killed every day in red light running crashes, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. AAA also found that in 2019, deaths from running a red light hit a ten-year high.

That’s why most states treat red light camera violations in a similar way to speeding. There are two ways that people typically receive red light camera violations:

Being pulled over by a police officer who observes the infraction
Receiving a red light camera infraction in the mail

Both types of fines and penalties are similar in terms of their fee amounts and impact on your driving record. However, a police officer that observes multiple offenses—what a red light camera, alone, cannot capture—may cite you for multiple infractions. For instance, if you’re caught speeding while running a red light, you may receive a ticket for both.

Driving While Intoxicated Violation (DUI or OWI)

There’s no excuse for driving under the influence. In today’s technology-driven age, there are countless alternatives to getting behind the wheel when you are not in a condition to operate a vehicle.

For this reason, consequences for DUIs are especially harsh—more so than other moving violations. In most states, they will remain on your record for up to ten years. In some cases, insurers will not be able to cover you for a number of years after an impaired driving conviction. In other cases, DUIs may prevent drivers from obtaining insurance altogether.

DUIs also carry the risk of criminal charges as a misdemeanor or felony, even if no accident occurred. Driving under the influence is never worth it and is an infraction that’s entirely possible to avoid. Ultimately, DUI fines are in place to keep you and others on the road safe.

Failing to Yield Violation

Remember that driving is a privilege, not a right. When you get your driver’s license, you agree to share the road with pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists.

Every state has its own rules about yielding to other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Some examples include flashing yellow lights, yield signs, and permitted turns on red lights. Failure to yield has the potential to cause serious harm. So if you don’t yield when required, you may get a failure to yield ticket, even if there is no accident.

Failure to yield tickets are handled similarly to speeding in that points will remain on your record for three-five years, depending on where you live. The specific timeframe will depend on your unique circumstances, like if there was an accident, if anyone was injured, etc.

What About Parking Tickets?

You may be surprised to learn that parking tickets do not result in points on your driving record. Throughout the 1990s, many states chose to privatize parking ticket enforcement. As a result, parking tickets are not considered moving violations.

It’s a good idea to abide by parking enforcement rules, regardless. If you do receive a parking ticket, paying your parking ticket is important. If you don’t pay your parking ticket on time, you could end up with late fees, be taken to court, or even receive a parking boot (a wheel clamp device designed to prevent vehicles from being moved).

Drive Responsibly and Save With Clearcover

It’s always important to practice safe driving, stay alert on the road, and follow traffic and safety laws. At Clearcover, we know that accidents and mistakes happen. We’re committed to helping you stay safe on the road and will always have your back. Part of safe driving includes maintaining good insurance coverage that supports your unique needs. We make it easy to get a free, no-obligation quote in seconds to help you find the insurance that’s right for you—no more, no less—at the best price possible.

Take control of your coverage and see what you can save with Clearcover today.