How a Traffic Ticket Affects Your Car Insurance
Many of us know that getting a traffic ticket means that we will be paying some fine, and depending on the type of traffic violation, points may be added to our driver’s license. However, one thing that many drivers forget about is that, beyond the initial fine for your violation and license points, your ticket will negatively impact your car insurance premium, which adds to the overall, and continual cost of the violation.
When Should You Expect To See Changes?
The adverse effects that a Missouri traffic violation has on your insurance rates are not always immediately apparent. Car insurance companies typically wait until your policy renewal date comes around before checking your driving record (this is mostly true for minor infractions, DWIs, and car accidents will increase your insurance rates almost immediately). What this means is that if you commit a violation a few weeks before your policy renews, you will see an immediate increase for your Missouri car insurance rates. Alternately, if you are convicted of a moving violation shortly after your plan renews, you might not see a change in your bill until your next renewal date, which could be six to twelve months down the road.
The amount your insurance rate will increase depends on the state laws, the number of points you earn from the traffic violation in Missouri, and your previous driving record, among other things.
Generally, the more points a ticket adds, the more your car insurance rates will increase as a result. Excessive speeding, DWIs, and other high-risk driving violations usually result in the most substantial insurance hikes.
There are steps you can take to mitigate the effects of a traffic violation. If you are charged with an offense, consider contesting it or working with a lawyer to ensure that a conviction doesn’t appear on your driving record. Your insurance can only increase your rate if a conviction for a violation appears on your driving record.
Get Help Now
If you have already accepted your conviction and paid your fine for a violation, you may be able to work with a lawyer to appeal your case or apply to have the offense removed from your record after a certain amount of time has passed. You may also consider reducing your driving, changing your driving habits, or agreeing to have an insurance-approved tracking device put in your car to monitor your driving habits. Different insurance companies have different policies on how they change rates in response to a moving violation in Springfield, MO, so it may also be worthwhile to price a new plan with a few different insurance companies if you notice your rate going up. It is not generally a good idea, however, to try to mitigate an insurance increase by reducing the level of coverage on your insurance plan.
