One of the greatest fears that a driver has after receiving a traffic ticket is that their insurance rates will go up. As a general rule, moving violations can cause a spike in your auto insurance premium, with more serious infractions corresponding to higher increases. But there are certain rules in New York that govern how much insurance companies can increase rates on their policyholders.
If you’ve received a traffic ticket, it’s important to understand what it might mean for your wallet. Then, it’s time to retain an experienced attorney who can fight the ticket. Let The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers go to work for you today.
Do All Traffic Tickets Cause an Insurance Increase?
There’s a common misconception that receiving a traffic ticket for any sort of infraction will automatically cause a driver’s automobile liability insurance premium to go up. In reality, however, New York law does not allow insurers to raise rates for minor traffic law violations. Your insurance may go up if you are convicted of the following:
- Speeding in excess of 15 mph over the speed limit
- Multiple speeding or reckless driving infractions
- Driving without a valid driver license
- Street racing
- Leaving the scene of an automobile accident
- Driving under the influence of alcohol of drugs (DWI or DUI)
- Reckless driving or speeding that causes injury or death
- Evading law enforcement
- Two or more moving violations
Speeding tickets are one of the most common reasons that insurers raise rates on their policyholders, with a single ticket potentially causing a 10% to 30% increase. The insurance company is going to consider a number of factors in deciding whether, and by how much, to raise your premium. These include:
- How serious the speeding offense is, with higher speeds translating to higher premiums
- Your driving record, and particularly whether you have been previously ticketed for speeding and how long ago it was
- The terms of your insurance policy or the insurer’s internal business standards
There are also aggravating factors which may cause the insurer to decide on a much higher increase. For instance, if you were convicted of speeding in a school zone, you should expect a higher bill when it comes time to renew your insurance. If the offense in question is serious enough, your insurance company may decide to cancel or not renew your policy.
Non-Moving Violations Won’t Cause an Increase
Non-moving violations like an expired vehicle registration, a parking ticket, or broken headlights will not cause your auto insurance to go up. That’s because tickets for these matters are not considered evidence that a driver is unsafe or could cause a serious injury or traffic fatality. If for some reason your insurance goes up and you only have non-moving violations on your record, consult a knowledgeable New York traffic ticket attorney.
How Long Will the Ticket Affect My Rates?
A common question that drivers ask is how long a traffic ticket will stay on their record for insurance purposes (not necessarily for purposes of driving points). Typically, the ticket will cause a higher rate for about three years. After this, the ticket should fall off your record and not impact your rate, so monitor your record and speak with an attorney if your rates stay high.
How Our Traffic Ticket Law Firm Can Help
Being convicted of, or admitting to, a traffic infraction can have serious financial repercussions long after the court deals with the ticket. No matter what sort of infraction you’ve been accused of, remember that you have the right to defend yourself. Our law firm can help by:
- Challenging the evidence against you: If the evidence is unreliable or was illegally obtained, it may be excluded from court.
- Disputing the police officer’s testimony: Just because a law enforcement officer testifies against you does not mean it’s true, and other witnesses or evidence may contradict the officer.
- Arguing for a dismissal: You might be able to contest the ticket and have it thrown out of court entirely under certain circumstances.
- Negotiating a plea bargain: Pleading guilty to a less serious offense may still cause your insurance to go up, but the hike could be substantially less.
- Exploring alternatives: You might be able to take a defensive driving course which can save you from higher insurance rates.
Are you facing the prospect of higher insurance rates after receiving a ticket? Reach out to The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers. You can call or contact us online now.
