Free Car Insurance Quotes and Information

Car Insurance and tickets

I had an interesting question asked to me today via IM (and no, I don't really condone asking me questions via AOL Instant Messenger or the like; talk to your car insurance company). A young driver asked me today how much his car insurance rates will go up since he got a speeding ticket (he was charged going 75 in a 65).

The amount your car insurance can go up depends on many different variables. First, it depends on your car insurance company. Each car insurance company can adjust their rates accordingly depending on the violation. Other variables include the type of infraction (speeding), the car driven, and the age of the driver. These all matter when an adjuster is going over your claim once you've gotten a ticket. Do note that if you get into an accident, you're likely to get a ticket for driving too fast for the conditions (even if you were within the speed limit). Also note that if you are hit for multiple infractions (speeding and no seat-belt) you are hit with multiple points on your record.

You can, however, get by this mess by going to traffic school. The driver I spoke with didn't know he could have went to traffic school. Now, depending on what state you're in, traffic school is normally offered to remove one point off of your driving record. In California you can go to traffic school once every 18 months to remove one point from your record. When a driver accumulates points, these go on your DMV record, and your car insurance company will eventually find out about them come time for policy renewal. If your car insurance company notices these points, your premium will jump up (and jump up quite a bit depending on age).

I urge everyone, if offered, to go to traffic school whenever you can. In CA it costs around $30 and can save you a ton of money over time. In CA it's offered in one 8 hour in-class sitting, two four hour in-class sittings (usually Saturday and Sunday), or online. Personally, I've done one eight hour sitting and the online version. Both have their pro's and con's, but I leave it up to you as far as what you'd feel comfortable doing. This little tip will save you a ton on car insurance.