Without knowing the true connection between speeding tickets and insurance premiums, you may think the cost of a speeding ticket is manageable after looking it up online.
However, the full impact is rarely apparent, as the amounts shown are often just the "base fine," which does not include the ten CA surcharges, penalties, and assessments approved since the original base fine and does not account for the effect on insurance premiums.
The True Cost of a Speeding Ticket in CA
For speeding 1-15 mph over the limit, the base fine is $35, but with surcharges, your total fine is closer to $237.
For 16-24 mph over, the base fine is $70, but the total comes to nearly $360.
For speeding more than 25 mph but less than 100 mph, the base fine is $100, and the total penalty is around $490.
Speeding over 100 mph could result in fines between $859 and $2,137.
The real expense, however, comes from the long-term effects on speeding tickets and insurance premiums.
With a conviction or paid fine, the DMV will assign one NOTS point for speeding under 100 mph, which stays on your record for three years.
For speeding over 100 mph, two points remain on your record for up to seven years, impacting your insurance.
Traffic Violator School (TVS) and Eligibility
One way to prevent speeding tickets and insurance premiums from rising is to attend Traffic Violator School (TVS).
If you’re eligible, TVS can keep your speeding ticket conviction confidential, which means your insurance company won’t know about it or raise your premiums.
However, you can only use TVS to keep a ticket confidential once within 18 months, and certain situations, such as multiple tickets, may reduce its financial effectiveness.
To qualify for TVS, you must have a valid driver’s license, a minor infraction ticket, and be willing to plead guilty.
You also must pay the fine and county fees and complete the course by the court's deadline. If you do not complete the course, your conviction becomes part of the public record, and your insurance company will have access.
Plus, you cannot use TVS if you were driving a commercial vehicle or were cited for a major infraction or misdemeanor.
You should always discuss your options with a traffic attorney before pleading guilty and accepting TVS.
Speeding Tickets and Insurance Premiums
Speeding tickets have a significant impact on speeding tickets and insurance premiums. If you're convicted of speeding and can’t use TVS, you could lose your “good driver’s discount,” which is 20% off your insurance premium in California.
For example, the average Californian pays $2,645 annually for full coverage car insurance, according to Bankrate.com.
Losing the good driver’s discount would add about $529 to their annual premium.
Additionally, depending on the severity of the ticket, your insurer might raise your rates even further. For speeding 25 mph over the limit, their premium could increase by 40%, or around $1,048 per year, for up to three years that the ticket remains on their driving record.
If convicted of speeding over 100 mph, their insurance premiums could double or even triple, potentially costing them $5,290 to $7,935 annually over seven years. In some cases, their insurer might choose to drop them entirely.
Remember, these are averages, and your insurance premium could be less or much more, especially if you have a teen on your insurance.
Speak with a Merced County Traffic Attorney
The financial impact of speeding tickets and insurance premiums can be substantial.
Consulting a traffic attorney in Merced County can help you navigate these challenges, potentially reducing your penalties and keeping your insurance premiums from skyrocketing.
The average premium for full coverage goes up to $6,459 per year with a 16-year-old on your policy.
Consult Bigger & Harman about the Connection Between Speeding Tickets and Insurance Premiums in Merced County
If you have been issued a speeding ticket that needs to be resolved in Los Banos or Merced Courthouse, call Bigger & Harman, APC, at (661) 349-9300—Se habla Español 349-9755.
Use their online contact form or email attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2024.