How Do Traffic Tickets Affect Auto Insurance?
You recently got a traffic ticket for speeding in Missouri. Not only do you need to worry about the hefty fine you’ll need to pay but you also need to be aware of how your insurance will be affected if you pay (admit guilt) to the ticket and points are added to your driver’s license.
Often our auto insurance is one of the last things on our mind unless we are in a car accident or are driving without insurance. However, auto insurance can impact your life especially if you have traffic violations and points on your Missouri driver’s license. Continue reading to learn more about how much traffic tickets affect auto insurance and what you can do about it.
How Much Do Traffic Tickets Affect Auto Insurance?
Tickets impact your auto insurance because they add points to your license. The more points you have on your license, the more of a “high-risk” driver insurance companies will see you as. Of course, not all traffic tickets are created equally and traffic tickets in Springfield will affect your insurance differently. Here are the types of traffic tickets that can affect your insurance and by how much they will impact your premiums:
- Minor Traffic Tickets – Minor traffic tickets include all minor traffic infractions. Think speeding tickets, running a red light, failure to use a turn signal, parking tickets, failure to wear a seatbelt, texting while driving, etc. Minor traffic tickets have the least amount of points associated with them but will still increase your insurance rates by up to $500 annually.
- Major Traffic Tickets – Major traffic violations usually include traffic infractions such as a DUI or DWI, driving without insurance, driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license, racing, etc. Getting a major traffic ticket on your record will double your annual auto insurance rates.
- Criminal Traffic Tickets – Criminal traffic violations are serious offenses and if you are being charged with one you should contact a Springfield traffic ticket attorney immediately. Criminal traffic tickets will raise your auto insurance the most and include such crimes as Reckless driving, a hit and run, leaving the scene of an accident and vehicular manslaughter. If you have a long record of traffic violations or a criminal record some insurances may even deny you coverage. The ones that will take you on will most likely charge you rates at astronomical prices.
What You Can Do
Even if you have a traffic ticket, there are some things that you can do to keep your insurance premiums down and to reduce points from your driving record:
- Contest the Traffic Ticket – Hire a traffic ticket attorney in Springfield to contest your traffic ticket. This will reduce your chances of getting points put on your license, thus keeping your insurance the same.
- Take a Driver Improvement Course – By taking and completing a driver improvement course in Missouri you have the chance to have the moving violation (traffic ticket) removed from your record.
- Change Insurances – If you already have points on your license from previous traffic tickets, switching to an auto insurance that is a little more forgiving to minor traffic tickets will be the best option for you until you are able to get the points removed from your driver’s license.
