Getting a traffic ticket is a frustrating and embarrassing experience for the average motorist. No one wants to show up late to work because they get pulled over for driving too fast or failing to use their turn signal.
When it does happen, drivers are usually eager to just move on with life as quickly as possible. Often, they just pay their ticket and assume that will be the end of the matter. However, a traffic ticket can cost someone hundreds of dollars more than they realize because even a single citation will increase a motorist’s insurance premiums.
How much will someone’s insurance costs change?
Every driver presents a unique degree of risk for an insurance company, and the amount that they pay for coverage is a reflection of how much risk they represent. After a traffic ticket, an insurance company will increase what someone pays for coverage when they next renew their policy.
According to an analysis of policy costs, the average 40-year-old driver will pay 18% more for insurance after a single traffic ticket. While the ticket itself only costs a few hundred dollars, the insurance increase will add several hundred dollars a year to someone’s insurance costs.
Additionally, once someone has too many points on their record, the state could suspend their license, and they would have to pay a reinstatement fee to get their license back, which will add hundreds of dollars to their total costs.
Multiple tickets tend to have a more significant effect on someone’s insurance costs than a single ticket. Fighting even a first traffic ticket can protect someone’s driving privileges and also help keep their insurance costs reasonable.