Home Car insurance Tickets The best car insurance companies for texting tickets The best car insurance companies for texting tickets Find out which car insurance companies offer the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers with texting tickets. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Shivani Gite Shivani Gite Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. | Reviewed by Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service. | Updated on: June 23, 2023 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. When it comes to car insurance, getting a texting ticket has a negative impact on your premiums. Some insurers may view texting while driving as a sign of distracted driving and you might see a rate hike. However, not all car insurance companies treat texting tickets the same way. Some car insurance companies provide lower premiums for drivers with texting tickets. Here’s a list of the best cheap car insurance companies for drivers with a texting ticket, based on Insure.com analysis. Erie Geico Auto-Owners State Farm Nationwide Read on to learn more about which companies offer the most competitive rates to drivers with texting tickets. Does texting while driving affect insurance? Texting behind the wheel is not only illegal in most states, but it is also very dangerous. Additionally, getting a ticket for texting while driving can impact your auto insurance rates. Auto insurance companies view drivers who engage in distracted driving behaviors, such as texting behind the wheel, as higher risk and may raise your rates accordingly. While laws related to texting when driving violations can vary by state, such offenses add points to your driving record, which in turn increases your car insurance premium. A texting ticket on your record can increase your car insurance premiums by 25% on average, based on Insure.com analysis. However, the specific impact on your insurance rates will depend on your car insurance company’s policies and the severity of the offense. How much does texting while driving ticket increase auto insurance premiums? The impact of texting while driving tickets on your car insurance rates can vary depending on the state laws and your car insurance company. It may be as high as 45% or as low as 8%, based on Insure.com data. While many variables influence how much your rate goes up after a texting ticket, Insure.com found that the average driver will see the following increases after a texting-and-driving violation. Company Average rate after texting ticketUSAA$1,491Erie$1,514Geico$1,741Auto-Owners$1,752State Farm$1,896Nationwide$1,947American Family$2,139Travelers$2,616Progressive$2,767Mercury$2,926Auto Club Entreprises$2,950Allstate$2,955Kemper$3,257Farmers$3,866 Best car insurance companies for people with a texting ticket Erie Insurance is the best car insurance company for drivers with a texting ticket. It’s average premium after a texting ticket is $1,514 a year. It’s the most affordable auto insurance company among the carriers analyzed by Insure.com. Geico and Auto-Owners are also relatively affordable, with average annual premiums of $1,741 and $1,752 respectively. Insurance companies consider drivers with a texting ticket to be high-risk and charge them higher insurance costs. It is important to look for an affordable insurance provider that offers adequate coverage for drivers with a texting ticket. Company Average rate after texting ticketUSAA*$1,491Erie$1,514Geico$1,741Auto-Owners$1,752State Farm$1,896Nationwide$1,947American Family$2,139 *USAA offers the cheapest car insurance for drivers with a texting ticket. But it’s only available for the military, veterans and their families. To find the best car insurance company, drivers should compare rates from multiple carriers and choose the one that offers comprehensive coverage at the most affordable price. Learn more about the best car insurance companies of 2023 QuickTake The best car insurance companies for speeding tickets 9 ways to successfully talk your way out of a traffic ticket See more > How do insurance companies treat texting tickets? When it comes to distracted driving, texting is often treated differently than talking on the phone. Texting behind the wheel usually results in a ticket and may eventually impact your insurance premium, especially if it puts points on your license. You may have to pay hefty penalties for texting while driving. Colorado will ding you $1,000 and put four points on your license. Oregon’s fines run up to $1,000 for a first offense and go to $2,000 if you are caught again. New York will send you a bill for $250 for the second offense and add five points to your license. Insurers also differ in how they look at tickets for texting while driving. Some insurers overlook a texting ticket, while others will increase your car insurance costs. Some companies may track the tickets so that they can look at the loss data and then, based on the data, decide how to handle them. On the other hand, when texting tickets show up on an MVR (Motor Vehicle Record), many insurers treat them as a minor moving violation. How much does texting while driving increase the cost of insurance by the state? While it will vary by a number of factors, insurance rates go up around $396 a year, on average, after a texting ticket. California leads the nation with a 45% increase after a texting ticket, while New Jersey placed a distant second with a 43% jump. The increase in premiums varies dramatically across states, but if you do end up with a texting ticket on your record, don’t start panicking immediately, it may not impact your rates. “Because states charge a fee for every motor vehicle record (MVR) pulled, many insurance carriers don’t pull MVRs yearly,” says John Espenschied with Insurance Brokers Group. If your insurer doesn’t pull an MVR regularly, it will never know about your texting ticket, and your rates will stay the same. In a few states, it’s illegal for car insurance companies to bump up your rate for a texting ticket. In Idaho and North Carolina, state law prohibits insurers from raising rates based on texting violations. In states where points are assigned to your license, you may find your license suspended if a texting citation puts you over the top. In New York, for example, a texting ticket puts five points on your license, and if you hit 11 points in 18 months, you can say goodbye to your license for a bit, raising your insurance premium. Here’s how much more you can expect to pay in each state for texting while driving, ranked from highest rate increase to lowest: State Average rate Rate after texting %increase $increase California$2,206$3,20045%$994New Jersey$2,228$3,19243%$964North Carolina$1,396$1,94239%$545Washington$1,325$1,82538%$501Indiana$1,279$1,70233%$422Arizona$1,665$2,19232%$527Illinois$1,368$1,80232%$434Oregon$1,461$1,93232%$471Louisiana$3,121$4,08031%$959Wisconsin$1,587$2,08331%$495Arkansas$1,475$1,89328%$418Iowa$1,241$1,57027%$329Ohio$1,110$1,41327%$303Michigan$4,013$5,04426%$1,031Rhode Island$1,793$2,25026%$458Maryland$1,981$2,47925%$499Maine$1,072$1,33825%$266Nevada$2,371$2,95325%$582Mississippi$1,407$1,74624%$339Oklahoma$1,836$2,28024%$444South Carolina$1,804$2,24524%$441Virginia$1,230$1,52824%$298Florida$2,927$3,60123%$674Massachusetts$1,760$2,17023%$410New Hampshire$949$1,16923%$220Montana$1,766$2,14622%$380Tennessee$1,308$1,59122%$283Texas$1,969$2,40822%$439Georgia$ 1,597$1,92721%$331Kansas$1,488$1,80521%$318Kentucky$1,857$2,23921%$382Minnesota$1,699$2,04921%$349Utah$ 1,582$1,91321%$331Vermont$1,081$1,30621%$225Missouri$2,403$2,88220%$479Alaska$1,286$1,53119%$245Alabama$1,503$1,78619%$283Colorado$1,970$ 2,34519%$375Idaho$1,015$1,20319%$188West Virginia$1,413$1,67919%$266New Mexico$1,686$1,99218%$306South Dakota$1,585$1,87018%$285Delaware$1,730$2,00916%$278North Dakota$1,239$1,43616%$198Hawaii$1,309$1,50115%$193Washington D.C.$1,909$2,16313%$254Nebraska$1,861$2,07411%$213Pennsylvania$1,297$1,43711%$140Connecticut$1,461$1,61310%$152New York$1,822$1,9738%$151Wyoming$1,812$1,9518%$139 Why do insurance companies charge more for texting while driving? Insurance companies charge more for texting while driving because distracted driving increases the risk of accidents and, therefore, the likelihood of drivers filing insurance claims. Nine people in the United States die every day in crashes that involve a distracted driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texting while driving is a dangerous behavior that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, which can cause them to miss things such as traffic lights, pedestrians, and other vehicles. As a result, drivers who text while driving are more likely to get into accidents, which can cause property damage, injuries, and even fatalities. To cover the increased risk of accidents caused by texting while driving, insurance companies may charge higher premiums or increase deductibles for policyholders who engage in this behavior. What are the state laws for cell phone use while driving? When it comes to the use of cell phones while driving, 48 states have laws banning texting for all drivers. Some states also restrict the use of electronic devices to make phone calls. For instance, in California, drivers can only make calls using a hands-free device. While in New York, all drivers are prohibited from using hand-held electronic devices, including making phone calls. Below are the state laws for cell phone use while driving. State Texting and driving ban Hand-held phone conversations ban License points AlabamaAll driversNo2 Points on LicenseAlaskaAll driversNoNoArizonaAll driversAll driversNoArkansasAll driversDrivers 18 or older but younger than 21; school and highway work zonesNoCaliforniaAll driversAll driversNoColoradoAll driversNo4 PointsConnecticutAll driversAll driversNoDelawareAll driversAll driversNoD.C.All driversAll driversNoFloridaAll driversDrivers in school and work zones3 Points for Second Offense, 2 more Points for School Zone, 6 for AccidentGeorgiaAll driversAll drivers1 PointsHawaiiAll driversAll driversNoIdahoAll driversAll driversNoIllinoisAll driversAll driversNoIndianaAll driversAll driversNoIowaAll driversNoNoKansasAll driversNoNoKentuckyAll driversNo3 PointsLouisianaAll driversDrivers in signed school zones; with respect to novice driversNoMaineAll driversAll driversNoMarylandAll driversAll drivers1 Point & 3 if AccidentMassachusettsAll driversAll driversNoMichiganAll driversNoNoMinnesotaAll driversAll driversNoMississippiAll driversNoNoMissouri*Drivers 21 and youngerNoNoMontanaNoNoNoNebraskaAll driversNo3 PointsNevadaAll driversAll drivers4 Points for Second OffenseNew HampshireAll driversAll driversNoNew JerseyAll driversAll drivers3 points for Third OffenseNew MexicoAll driversNoNoNew YorkAll driversAll drivers5 PointsNorth CarolinaAll driversNoNoNorth DakotaAll driversNoNoOhioAll driversNoNoOklahomaAll driversLearner’s permit and intermediate license holdersNoOregonAll driversAll driversNoPennsylvaniaAll driversNoNoRhode IslandAll driversAll driversNoSouth CarolinaAll driversNoNoSouth DakotaAll driversNoNoTennesseeAll driversAll driversNoTexasAll driversDrivers in school crossing zones and on public school property during the time the reduced speed limit appliesNoUtahAll driversNoNoVermontAll driversAll drivers4 points for school construction zones, 5 points for second offenseVirginiaAll driversAll drivers3 pointsWashingtonAll driversAll driversNoWest VirginiaAll driversAll drivers3 points for Third OffenseWisconsinAll driversDrivers in highway construction areas4 pointsWyomingAll driversNoNo Frequently asked questions How long will a texting ticket stay on my record? How long a ticket for texting while driving stays on your driving record varies by state but usually ranges from three to five years. Do cell phone tickets affect insurance? Cell phone tickets can affect insurance premiums as they are considered a violation of traffic laws and indicate unsafe driving behavior. Insurance companies may view drivers receiving a cell phone ticket as a higher risk, leading to increased premiums. Does distracted driving increase insurance rates? Using a mobile phone while driving can result in a ticket for distracted driving, which may cause an increase in your insurance premium. However, the impact on your rates may vary based on your state and insurance provider. In certain states, insurance companies are barred from considering texting and driving violations when setting rates. It’s best to avoid using your phone when driving a vehicle to ensure your safety and that of others on the road. How can I get a cell phone ticket dismissed? You can get a cell phone ticket dismissed by arguing your case in court before a judge or writing a letter to prove your innocence. Hire an attorney to assist you with the negotiation or to represent you in court. If nothing works, you can request the prosecutor to reduce the fine amount or points on your license. Methodology Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to field rates for drivers with texting tickets on their driving records. The insurance rates are based on the profile of a 40-year-old male driver carrying a full coverage policy with limits 100/300/100. To analyze the rates, we have compared 50,00,736 insurance quotes of 27 company groups across 548 cities and 1,467 ZIP codes in the U.S. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Distracted Driving.” Accessed May 2023. Insurance Information Institute. “Cellphone use laws by state.” Accessed May 2023. NewYork State Department of Motor Vehicles. “Cell phone use & texting.” Accessed May 2023. Oregon.gov “Distracted Driving.” Accessed May 2023. Colorado General Assembly. “Distracted Driving and Cell Phone Use.” Accessed May 2023. – Mark Vallet contributed to this story. Shivani GiteContributing Writer | . .Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2024 Car insurance rates by state in 2024 What is full coverage car insurance? How much does car insurance cost for seniors in 2024? A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy in 2024 What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault Total warfare: What to do when your auto insurer totals your car Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? 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Part 1: How insurance companies spot bogus claims Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1 On this page Does texting while driving affect insurance?How much does texting while driving ticket increase auto insurance premiums?Best car insurance companies for people with a texting ticketHow do insurance companies treat texting tickets?How much does texting while driving increase the cost of insurance by the state?Why do insurance companies charge more for texting while driving?What are the state laws for cell phone use while driving?Frequently asked questionsMethodology ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates