Tickets and accidents on your record can make car insurance unaffordable. Explore the best ways to save in our guide.
If you've been deemed at-fault after an accident, filed an at-fault claim, or received a citation for a serious moving violation, you could be a candidate for high-risk auto insurance. Car insurance for risky drivers is typically expensive, but the increase in rates you receive depends on your insurance company, your driving record, and the state in which you drive.
If you are deemed responsible for causing an auto collision, you should expect your car insurance costs to jump. In Connecticut, the average insurance rate after an at-fault accident is $1,938 compared to the national average of $2,012. A serious incident like an at-fault collision will stay on your insurance record for as long as three years!
| Location | With At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | No At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | Yearly Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $1,938 | $1,544 | $394 |
| National Average | $2,012 | $1,397 | $615 |
The most affordable insurance company after an at-fault collision in Connecticut is State Farm. State Farm’s typical price increase after an accident is $546, leading to a premium 28% less expensive than the average among all companies. If you've been at-fault in an accident in Connecticut, avoid Allstate and Progressive, which sit at the pricier end of the spectrum.
| Insurance Company | Annual Premium After an At-Fault Accident |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,392 |
| GEICO | $1,403 |
| Amica | $1,536 |
| Allstate | $3,054 |
| Progressive | $3,373 |
One of the violations that earn drivers the "high-risk" tag is speeding. In Connecticut, car insurance premiums rise by $303 per year after a speeding ticket, to an average per-year price of $1,847.
| State | With a Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | No Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $1,847 | $1,544 | $303 |
| National Average | $1,727 | $1,397 | $330 |
The foolproof way to find cheap auto insurance after a speeding ticket is to shop around and weigh the options. The cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket in Connecticut is available through GEICO. GEICO’s average rate after a violation is $709 less than the state typical. If you've been caught speeding in Connecticut, Progressive is worth avoiding.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With a Speeding Violation |
|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,138 |
| State Farm | $1,392 |
| Amica | $1,536 |
| Allstate | $2,022 |
| Progressive | $2,395 |
If you are found guilty of distracted driving, one side effect will be increased car insurance rates. In Connecticut, auto insurance costs typically increase by $173 annually. That's an 11% jump from the average yearly premium in Connecticut, and 9% more than the nationwide average cost of auto insurance with a distracted driving offense.
| Location | With Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | No Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $1,717 | $1,544 | $173 |
| National Average | $1,570 | $1,397 | $173 |
The best way to get inexpensive car insurance following a distracted driving citation is to shop a variety of options. The cheapest auto insurance company after a citation for distracted driving in Connecticut is GEICO, with an average rate of just $935 per year, 46% less than the average distracted driving insurance rate from all insurers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Distracted Driving |
|---|---|
| GEICO | $935 |
| State Farm | $1,277 |
| Allstate | $2,022 |
| Amica | $2,260 |
| Progressive | $2,363 |
Racing is treated as an extremely serious offense. Auto insurance carriers commonly penalize racing citations severely — in fact, Connecticut auto insurance prices rise by $1,371 per year after a citation for racing. That's an 89% increase from the usual yearly car insurance premium in Connecticut!
| Location | With a Racing Citation — Annual Rate | No Racing Citation — Annual Rate | Yearly Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $2,915 | $1,544 | $1,371 |
| National Average | $2,397 | $1,397 | $1,000 |
If you've been pulled over for racing, do your homework and shop around for the best rates. In Connecticut, start your search by checking out State Farm, offering rates 52% less than the state average after a citation for racing.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Racing |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,392 |
| Progressive | $2,828 |
| Allstate | $2,893 |
| GEICO | $3,005 |
| Amica | $4,277 |
As one of the most serious moving violations, reckless driving is a surefire way to end up paying more for auto insurance. Insurance companies raise prices by $1,283 per year after reckless driving. That's 83% greater than the average insurance rate in Connecticut and 16% more than the U.S. average price increase for a reckless driving violation.
| Location | With Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | No Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $2,827 | $1,544 | $1,283 |
| U.S. Average | $2,395 | $1,397 | $998 |
If you're ticketed for reckless driving, compare insurance companies to get the most affordable premium. In Connecticut, the most budget-friendly insurance company with a reckless driving ticket is State Farm.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Reckless Driving |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,392 |
| Progressive | $2,828 |
| Allstate | $2,893 |
| GEICO | $2,984 |
| Amica | $3,243 |
If you're looking for car insurance as a high-risk driver, the best course of action is to shop around and compare rates.
Connecticut traffic laws are designed to encourage safe driving behavior and prevent unsafe driving habits. Speeding, reckless and distracted driving, and racing in Connecticut are all punishable offenses, as is driving without car insurance — particularly if it leads to an at-fault accident.
Learn more about auto insurance laws in Connecticut.
Speeding on Connecticut is broken into three categories:
In Connecticut, you aretraveling unreasonably fastwhen your speed exceeds the posted speed limit but not more than 55 miles per hour.
Exceeding 55 miles per hour when a lower speed limit is set is consideredspeedingin Connecticut.
Speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour constitute reckless speeding in Connecticut.
Drivers in Connecticut must adhere to posted speed limits. In addition, the speed limit on multiple-lane, limited-access highways is set at 65 miles per hour, unless otherwise posted.
A driver accused of speeding in Connecticut can be arrested and penalized based on any of the three speeding-related statutes, depending on the specific circumstances.
Fines for speeding in Connecticut are determined on your speed in excess of a posted speed limit. Penalties are based on:
Fines may be doubled for speeding in specific zones, such as work or school zones.
The fine for unreasonable speed in Connecticut is based on a driver’s speed in excess of a posted limit, but not exceeding 55 miles per hour.
The fine for speeding in Connecticut is between $100 and $150 before surcharges and fees and other considerations.
The penalties for a first-time conviction of reckless speeding in Connecticut are:
Subsequent offenses for reckless speeding in Connecticut lead to:
Speeding in Connecticut may also result in the accumulation of one point against a driver’s license.
Penalties and fines are higher for truck drivers.
Reckless driving in Connecticut happens when drivers operate a vehicle in a way that “creates a high degree of risk of physical harm to another” in a way that deliberately disregards those risks.
Reckless driving in Connecticut is also considered:
A driver’s first reckless driving conviction in Connecticut is a class D misdemeanor and leads to:
A second or subsequent conviction for reckless driving in Connecticut is a class A misdemeanor and results in:
Distracted driving in Connecticut is classified as any non-driving activity that causes a driver not to pay attention to the road, such as:
Any type of cell phone or wireless device use is prohibited while driving in Connecticut unless hands-free technology is being used. All drivers, of any age, are prohibited from texting, browsing the internet, or otherwise using a wireless device while driving — even while stopped at a traffic light.
Drivers between 16 and 17 years old are not allowed to use wireless devices in any capacity in Connecticut, even if using hands-free functionality.
Read here for more on texting and driving statistics.
The penalty for a first or second offense of distracted driving in Connecticut is a fine of $150 to $300. Subsequent offenses will result in a fine of $500.
Penalties are more severe — and may include jail time — for any incident of distracted driving resulting in the death of another person.
Racing in Connecticut is classified as participating in an event to make a speed record, racing, or operating a vehicle on a public highway for a wager.
A driver’s first conviction for racing in Connecticut results in:
A second or subsequent conviction for racing in Connecticut leads to:
As with most traffic laws in Connecticut, racing that leads to injury, death, or damage may result in enhanced and harsher penalties.
Connecticut became a fault-based state in 1994. When an accident occurs in Connecticut, blame may be assigned to one or more drivers, making them liable for any claims.
Connecticut requires drivers to maintain active liability insurance as well as mandatory uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in the amounts of:
Driving a vehicle without insurance coverage in Connecticut results in a fine between $100 and $1, 000 and a license suspension of one month for a driver’s first conviction or six months for any subsequent convictions.
Failure to maintain insurance in Connecticut is a class C misdemeanor and leads to:
Failure to carry proof of insurance or registration in Connecticut results in a $35 fine for the first offense. Subsequent offenses are not considered infractions and require violators to pay a $50 fine and appear in court.
Sources and references:
