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?
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 pays on average 18% more for insurance after getting a speeding ticket, while a North Carolina driver sees an average 51% insurance increase for the same offense.
Here you can see how much this one violation (specifically a ticket for speeding 16 - 20 mph over the limit) and its effect on insurance rates varies based on where you live. The amount you see is the amount more you'll pay for insurance each year after the ticket, not the total amount you'll pay for insurance.
Source: The Zebra
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 100% more or basically twice as much. This works out to more than $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 16 violations will cause your insurance to rise.
Updating data...
| Accident/Violation | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Leaving scene of an accident/hit and run | $4,505 |
| DUI | $4,467 |
| Racing | $4,347 |
| Reckless driving | $4,208 |
| Driving with a suspended license | $4,156 |
| Open container | $3,232 |
| Speeding 16 - 20 MPH over limit | $2,841 |
| Wrong way/wrong lane | $2,841 |
| Improper passing | $2,821 |
| Failure to stop at a red light | $2,798 |
| Speeding in school zone | $2,794 |
| Illegal turn | $2,788 |
| Cell phone violation | $2,783 |
| Driving with expired registration | $2,743 |
| Texting while driving | $2,647 |
| Failure to wear a seat belt | $2,630 |
| None | $2,253 |
Source: The Zebra
This is the average monthly amount you will pay in the U.S. per month after each of these violations.
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.
As mentioned above, the violation that will double your rates is leaving the scene of an accident. But here are some others that will have large impacts on your insurance costs.
98% increase in insurance or an average $2,214 more per year
93% increase or an average $2,094 more per year
87% increase or an average $1,955 more per year
On the other hand, many smaller moving offenses will have a more measured effect on your insurance increases. However, even getting a ticket for failure to buckle your seatbelt can cost you more than $300 a year.
22% increase or an average $490 more per year
17% increase or an average $393 more per year
24% increase or an average $535 more per year
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 310% (Nearly $5,000!) in California, while in Idaho the same offense raises rates by only 2% ($55).
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.
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?
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.
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 $588+ per year — for three years — after the violation. That means one speeding ticket can cost drivers more than $1,600 in insurance penalties alone.
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.
In October 2025, 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.
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