Traffic violations are no fun. Not only do you have to pay the original fine, but once that’s over, you’ll also have to deal with increased insurance rates. Oftentimes these insurance upticks are much higher than the cost of the traffic citation, but which moving violations raise your insurance rates the most?
Thanks to a comprehensive analysis by the firm Marketwatch, we now know which traffic violations jack up your insurance rates the most. Not surprisingly, driving under the influence tops the list.
5 Violations That Increase Your Insurance The Most
On average, these five driving tickets will increase your insurance premiums the most.
1. DUI/DWI
2. Reckless Driving
3. Speeding 31+ mph over the speed limit
4. Speeding 16-30 mph over the speed limit
5. Careless Driving
See a trend there? Driving violations that put you or other drivers at a heightened risk for an accident all raise your rates the most. But now that we now which violations raise your rates the most, the question at hand is, “How much do these violations raise my rates?”
Biggest Rate Hikers
An analysis of the 50 states revealed that on average, your insurance premiums increase this much based on the violation you commit.
- DUI – 92.49%
- Reckless driving – 83.29%
- Speeding 31+ mph over the limit – 29.36%
- Speeding 16-30 mph over the limit – 28.06%
- Careless driving – 26.62%
- Driving the wrong way – 21.34%
- Speeding 1-15 mph over the limit – 20.54%
- Improper passing – 20.30%
- Failure to stop – 18.94%
- Following too closely – 18.86%
- Failure to yield to pedestrian – 18.78%
- Failure to yield – 18.71%
- Not signaling – 18.55%
- Violating railroad rules – 18.07%
- Illegally driving in a carpool lane – 17.91%
- Driving without a license – 16.47%
- Not wearing a seatbelt – 5.60%
So if you’re hit with a traffic ticket, don’t just pay the fine and assume that’s the end of it. If you’re not careful, you may end up paying hundreds or thousands extra in increased insurance rates. A traffic attorney can help you with your case and may be able to get the violation reduced or thrown out. Contact us today for a case evaluation.
Related source: Marketwatch
