Do Speeding Tickets Affect Car Insurance?

If you’ve been given a speeding ticket, do not pay your ticket online or in person without consulting an attorney because speeding tickets can affect car insurance for years to come. Courthouse staff rarely fully explain the consequences of admitting guilt by paying a ticket upfront. Moving violations are often reported to your insurance company and/or put on your driving record. This can raise the cost of your car insurance and can follow you for 3-5 years.

Your Driving Record

Louisiana doesn’t use a points system to track moving violations, but the state does record each moving violation on your driving record. If you accumulate too many moving violations, the state will suspend your license. Each subsequent violation carries additional harsher penalties. The most common penalties include license suspension and revocation. If your license is suspended or revoked, you will not be allowed to drive until you satisfy all requirements to get your license back. If you get a speeding ticket in Louisiana, but you reside in another state, you’re not out of the woods; Louisiana routinely provides information concerning traffic ticket convictions to other states.

Speeding Tickets & Insurance Costs

If you receive and pay a speeding ticket, your insurance costs will likely rise but how much more you’ll pay can vary based on your driving history, location, and other factors. A quick Google search shows increases ranging from 16%-25% or an extra $300-$500 per year. If you currently receive a safe driver discount, that will almost certainly be removed. The infraction (and thus cost increase) will remain on your driving record for 3-5 years. Hiring an attorney to dispute your ticket could easily save you money in the long run. A quick phone call to a firm like ours that routinely handles traffic violations can give you a good idea of your odds.

Some insurers may not raise premiums after a speeding ticket if the driver is over 25 and has not had a similar violation in the last three years. If you've received a ticket, focus on driving safely and avoiding another moving violation. That being said, you may miss your opportunity to dispute a case you could win, only to find yourself in a worse position after a second violation with heavier penalties that you may not be able to win. Banking on not getting another violation in three years might not work out well. Though this rarely occurs due to speeding tickets alone, drivers with many accidents and traffic violations may become uninsurable.

Disputing a Speeding Ticket

Many citations do not require a court appearance, but paying the ticket automatically admits guilt. The citation will include instructions on how and by what date to pay the fine. Fines are paid to the state or parish, depending on where the violation occurred. You can pay in person, by mail, or, sometimes, online. If your ticket has the “Must Appear” box checked, you cannot pay the fine without appearing in court on the date mentioned on the ticket. If you wish to dispute the citation, you must inform the courts in writing of this. You must appear in court personally on the scheduled date and plea not guilty. You may be able to negotiate with the prosecuting attorney at this initial hearing, but if not, a trial will be scheduled. At trial, you’ll have an opportunity to fight the traffic ticket in front of a judge or jury, and most people prefer to hire a traffic ticket lawyer to defend them in court. If want to dispute the ticket but can’t attend court on the scheduled date, you must inform the court and ask them for a new date. Failure to do this could result in a warrant being put out for your arrest.

What to Do if You Get a Speeding Ticket

It is in your best interest to speak to a lawyer before deciding whether or not to pay a speeding ticket. We offer advice and options for keeping the negative consequences minimal after getting a speeding ticket. We go to court for you, so you don’t have to waste valuable time dealing with this headache. It’s important to fully understand the whole situation before you make a decision that could have years of consequences. Call us today to discuss your ticket. When No One’s Carin’ Call McLaren! 504-300-8338.