Consequences Of Speeding Tickets

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Speeding tickets may seem like a common traffic offense, but they have adverse effects on one’s driving record and insurance rates. According to USA Today, nearly 41 million tickets are issued each year. Though the consequences on your driving record or the price you pay for the actual ticket varies, almost all tickets have effects on insurance. Insurance companies all have different policies when it comes to speeding tickets. Some companies may raise the premium for several years, and others apply a surcharge (DMV.org). Insurance companies raise prices when you get a ticket because you are now considered a high risk driver. Drivers that obtain speeding tickets are more likely to be involved with a crash in the future says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (21st.com). With speeding tickets on your record, you become a higher risk driver than someone without any traffic infractions. Thus, by raising your insurance price, insurance companies can compensate for the increased risk in you having a crash and filing a claim. The severity of the ticket also contributes to the increase in your insurance payments. Generally, tickets …show more content…
Your insurance rates will not be increased only for a month; they could possibly be increased for 7 years (thenest.com). While the average of increased rates is three years, you must keep a clean driving record during those three years. The length of time a speeding ticket stays on your record varies from state to state. Most states offer defensive driving classes to shorten the duration of the effects speeding tickets have on insurance policies. If you continue to accumulate speeding tickets, though, it will become increasingly harder for you to ever get back to the original insurance rate you had before the ticket. Your insurance rate will also increase by a higher margin the more tickets that you