You know that traffic tickets will make your car insurance rates go up, but how much should you expect? And of course, not all violations are created equal. What are the most expensive violations, and how do they vary by state?
How 37 common traffic tickets raise the price you pay for car insurance
A single violation can increase your insurance costs by 95%
Find affordable insurance rates by comparing quotes now.
If you’ve been caught speeding or forgetting to use your turn signal, traffic ticket fines are not the only price you’ll pay for breaking the rules of the road.
You can also face steep penalties when it comes to your car insurance costs. Drivers who have recent tickets or car accidents on their driving record are considered higher risk (i.e. they’re more likely to file an insurance claim). That means insurers will typically charge them higher rates.
How much more drivers have to pay for car insurance depends both on the type of violation and where they live. For example, a Pennsylvania driver could pay 15% more for insurance after getting a speeding ticket, while a North Carolina driver could pay 50% more for the same offense.
Insurance impact varies by violation
Let's look at the national averages for how much each violation will raise your insurance rates.
The traffic violation with the single biggest impact on car insurance rates is leaving the scene of an accident — a “hit and run.” Drivers charged with this crime can expect to pay on average 95% (or $2,000+) more per year for car insurance.
However, insurance penalties for traffic violations don’t always line up with what drivers may assume is the most dangerous driving behavior. Getting a ticket for driving too slowly, for example, can spike rates nearly as much as speeding in a school zone.
Let's look at the national average amounts that these 37 violations will cause your insurance to rise.
Updating data...
Accident/Violation | Avg. Monthly Premium |
---|---|
None | $184 |
One Med/PIP claim | $185 |
Not-at-fault accident | $192 |
Two Med/PIP claims | $193 |
One comp claim | $194 |
Two comp claims | $204 |
Failure to wear a seat belt | $213 |
Failure to show documents | $214 |
Driving without lights | $215 |
Child safety restraint | $216 |
Driving with expired registration | $221 |
Speeding 6 - 10 MPH over limit | $224 |
Driving too slowly | $224 |
Failure to yield | $225 |
Illegal turn | $225 |
Cell phone violation | $225 |
Texting while driving | $225 |
Following too closely | $226 |
Speeding in school zone | $227 |
Failure to stop at a red light | $227 |
Speeding 11 - 15 MPH over limit | $227 |
Improper passing | $228 |
Wrong way/wrong lane | $229 |
Speeding 16 - 20 MPH over limit | $230 |
At-fault accident - less than $1000 | $231 |
Passing school bus | $235 |
Speeding 21 - 25 MPH over limit | $238 |
In 65 MPH zone | $238 |
Operating a vehicle without permission | $252 |
Open container | $261 |
At-fault accident - $1000-$2000 | $263 |
At-fault accident - greater than $2000 | $275 |
Driving with a suspended license | $332 |
Reckless driving | $334 |
Racing | $345 |
Refusal to submit to a chemical test | $351 |
DUI | $356 |
Leaving scene of an accident/hit and run | $358 |
Source: The Zebra
The more severe the violation, the bigger the insurance penalty
While violations like not buckling your seatbelt are pretty straightforward, others come with degrees of severity. If you’re caught speeding, for example, just how fast you were going over the speed limit will impact the size of your insurance penalty.
For example, speeding between 6 - 10 miles over the speed limit will raise your insurance rates an average of $40 a month (or $480 a year). However, speeding 21 - 25 mph over the speed limit will raise your rates an average of $54 a month (or $648 a year). After all, the latter is significantly more reckless and more likely to lead to serious accidents, and thus serious insurance claims.
This chart shows the violations that will raise your car insurance premiums the most, and the average percentage increase you will see.
Violations vary significantly by state
Getting a ticket for a driving violation can raise your car insurance rate no matter where you live, but the additional costs vary dramatically across state lines.
For example, a drunk or drugged driving violation (DUI) can increase rates by 160% ($3,500+) in California, while in Maine the same offense raises rates by only 73% ($1,128+).
Why? It all comes down to differences in risk, and how insurance is rated and regulated from state to state.
It’s important to remember that some insurance companies may assign lower penalties — or none at all — even in states where drivers tend to see steep cost spikes for violations, so it’s always important to compare insurance quotes.
Find out which violations have the biggest impact and how much on average they will raise the rates in your state.
Source: The Zebra
What drivers need to know about driving violations
Other than just to avoid getting them, what else do you as a driver need to be aware of when it comes to moving violations?
Driving violations can impact insurance rates for years (but not forever)
Insurers typically consider violations on your record for three years after the infraction, though certain activities can impact auto insurance rates even longer. A DUI violation in California, for example, will impact a driver’s insurance rate for 10 years.
While violations often no longer count after three years, drivers usually aren’t eligible for “good driver” discounts, which can further lower rates, until they’ve been violation-free for five years.
Insurance penalties can cost more than the traffic ticket itself
The insurance impact of most driving violations is often far more costly than the ticket itself, especially when you consider how costs endure for several years.
The legal fine for a speeding ticket is about $150 on average. On top of that, ticketed drivers are likely to see their car insurance costs rise $540+ per year — for three years — after the violation. That means one speeding ticket can cost drivers more than $1,600 in insurance penalties alone.
Insurance penalties after a violation differ from company to company
How heavily you’re penalized for a traffic ticket differs from one insurance company to the next, just like it differs from state to state. While most insurers increase rates for drivers with violations, some may charge you less than others.
In addition to comparing rates to find the best deal, you may be able to lower your insurance rate by participating in a driver safety course accepted by your insurer.
Methodology
In September 2024, The Zebra analyzed millions of unique rates to explore pricing trends across all United States zip codes including Washington, DC. Analysis used a consistent base profile for the insured driver: a 30-year-old single male driving a 2014 Honda Accord EX with a good driving history and coverage limits of $50,000 bodily injury liability per person/$100,000 bodily injury liability per accident/$50,000 property damage liability per accident with a $500 deductible for comprehensive and collision. The driver’s driving history was changed to include violations in order to obtain rate differences.
Stay in touch and subscribe!
Get advice, insights and tips from our newsletter.