Help! Will A Traffic Ticket Affect Your Auto Insurance?

Logically, automobile insurance is going to be more expensive for someone who has more traffic tickets than someone who does not. While there is no way to know exactly how much your insurance will be affected by a ticket, you can assume your rate will increase depending on what type of ticket you acquired. In order to help you get a better idea of what to expect, it can help to learn a little more about how a traffic ticket could impact your insurance and what else the insurance provider looks at. This is the best way to prepare for an increase in rates if you've recently had a ticket.

What Factors Make a Difference

When you get a ticket, there are some things which will affect your insurance rates more than others. If you have more than one ticket in the span of a few months, then you might find your insurance rates go up. If you are someone who hasn't had a ticket in a long time, then it might not affect your rates that much. You can expect a single ticket to raise your rates for a few months, but not significantly. If you are racking up the tickets though, the increase will be more significant and last longer.

If you are facing a more serious violation than speeding or a parking ticket, then you're looking at a higher rate of pay. If you are cited with reckless driving or driving under the influence, for example, then you are looking at a more significant increase in your insurance rates. Wrecks in which you're at-fault will also affect how much you're going to have to pay on your insurance and the type of coverage you'll be able to keep.

Does A Ticket Affect More Than Your Rate?

While getting a speeding ticket or some other traffic violation is only going to impact your insurance rate temporarily, this isn't the only thing you have to worry about. If you have several tickets on your driving record, you may not be eligible for any kind of cost reduction when the time comes for your insurance company to offer you one. Your insurance company may even drop you as a client if you get enough tickets – or get severe enough violations.

The severity of your violation will determine how much your insurance is affected. The best way to keep your insurance rates down is to be mindful of your driving and your speed on the road.

For more information, talk with an auto insurance provider, such as Western Insurance Agency.

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