Tickets: Decoding A Car Insurance Estimate Of Risk
It is a sunny day. You are having a pleasant drive, perhaps singing along to your favorite song, when you hear the sirens. Looking at the speedometer, you realize you were speeding. This is your first ticket. For those of us who have experienced these unfortunate events, the first question you may ask after the initial disbelief is: How much is my car insurance going to go up? The answer to that question depends on many factors.
The good news is that insurance companies don't lump all speeders together. A driver with a long and clean history up until the ticket may well not be punished too much by higher premiums. But don't expect that to be true if you've only held your insurance for a couple of months.
Age also plays a strong role, with younger drivers taking a hit in overall cost, even if they abide by all the rules of the road. A young driver with a ticket clearly indicates to the insurance company that they are a bad risk.
The companies also take into account the exact nature of the violation: the amount over the speed limit, as well as how high the total speed was clocked. All these elements have a role in dictating the driver's level of risk.
If your ticket was written as a result of a wreck you caused, expect your insurance to increase significantly. This is true no matter what your age or previous driving record. Anytime a driver causes damages to their own car, someone elseas car, or property, the insurance company must pay money and you become an insurance risk.
Minor infractions can sometimes be cleared from your driving record by the courts. It's possible that a court will be willing to dismiss the infraction, with the driver only having to pay court costs rather than a fine and having his transgression appear on a record. But check out your local state law for details.
Make sure you're covered. Too many Americans put themselves and others at risk by driving uninsured. Insurance is easier to arrange now that ever, with Allstate and Progressive Direct, among others, offering online and over the phone insurance options. Make sure you visit a few different sites so you can make sure you get the best deal for you. Prices will vary greatly from company to company, so don't go with the first one to give you a quote.
Nobody enjoys getting a ticket, but it need not be a disaster in terms of continued insurance coverage of your driving. As with most things in life, it pays to be prepared. Check out your insurer's policy towards traffic tickets BEFORE you get caught. That way you won't have to face anything more unpleasant than the police officer's telling-off.
The good news is that insurance companies don't lump all speeders together. A driver with a long and clean history up until the ticket may well not be punished too much by higher premiums. But don't expect that to be true if you've only held your insurance for a couple of months.
Age also plays a strong role, with younger drivers taking a hit in overall cost, even if they abide by all the rules of the road. A young driver with a ticket clearly indicates to the insurance company that they are a bad risk.
The companies also take into account the exact nature of the violation: the amount over the speed limit, as well as how high the total speed was clocked. All these elements have a role in dictating the driver's level of risk.
If your ticket was written as a result of a wreck you caused, expect your insurance to increase significantly. This is true no matter what your age or previous driving record. Anytime a driver causes damages to their own car, someone elseas car, or property, the insurance company must pay money and you become an insurance risk.
Minor infractions can sometimes be cleared from your driving record by the courts. It's possible that a court will be willing to dismiss the infraction, with the driver only having to pay court costs rather than a fine and having his transgression appear on a record. But check out your local state law for details.
Make sure you're covered. Too many Americans put themselves and others at risk by driving uninsured. Insurance is easier to arrange now that ever, with Allstate and Progressive Direct, among others, offering online and over the phone insurance options. Make sure you visit a few different sites so you can make sure you get the best deal for you. Prices will vary greatly from company to company, so don't go with the first one to give you a quote.
Nobody enjoys getting a ticket, but it need not be a disaster in terms of continued insurance coverage of your driving. As with most things in life, it pays to be prepared. Check out your insurer's policy towards traffic tickets BEFORE you get caught. That way you won't have to face anything more unpleasant than the police officer's telling-off.
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7:12 AM
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