How 37 common traffic tickets raise the price you pay for car insurance

A single violation can increase your insurance costs by 95%

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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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Ross Martin

Insurance Writer

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  • 5+ years in the Insurance Industry

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.

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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?

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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. 

Violation Increases (National Averages)

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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

This is the average monthly amount you will pay in the U.S. per month after each of these violations.

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 by state
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Accident/Violation Avg. Monthly Premium
Improper passing $207
Failure to yield $206
Driving without lights $195
Not-at-fault accident $170
DUI $300
One Med/PIP claim $164
Reckless driving $276
At-fault accident - greater than $2000 $244
Texting while driving $203
Operating a vehicle without permission $241
Failure to show documents $198
Two comp claims $178
Racing $292
Driving with expired registration $202
Leaving scene of an accident/hit and run $311
Illegal turn $206
None $164
Speeding 21 - 25 MPH over limit $215
Failure to stop at a red light $207
Passing school bus $214
Failure to wear a seat belt $197
Speeding in school zone $203
Wrong way/wrong lane $205
Cell phone violation $202
Speeding 11 - 15 MPH over limit $204
At-fault accident - $1000-$2000 $237
Speeding 6 - 10 MPH over limit $203
Child safety restraint $199
Driving too slowly $203
One comp claim $169
Speeding 16 - 20 MPH over limit $206
Refusal to submit to a chemical test $294
Following too closely $206
In 65 MPH zone $220
Driving with a suspended license $288
Open container $249
Two Med/PIP claims $169
At-fault accident - less than $1000 $217

Source: The Zebra

Filter by your state to find what each violation will cost where you are

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.