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Practices differ with insurance companies, but insurance carriers typically assess your driving record before they issue car insurance and at the time of renewal. Premiums may go up if the insured has had an accident, driving while impaired citation or other traffic law violation.

The premium increases vary from insurance company to insurance company, depending on the state where the infraction took place and the seriousness of the infraction. Insurance companies evaluate how risky a driver is.

Another feature that may raise premiums is a poor credit score. Insurers have determined that those with low credit scores are more likely to file an insurance claim.

Key Takeaways

  • Certain moving violations like speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) and accidents almost always increase the driver’s insurance premiums.
  • The amount of the insurance increase after a moving violation varies by type of infraction, insurance carrier and state.
  • Non-moving (when vehicle is not in motion) violations typically don’t alter insurance premiums.

Our take on car insurance with a violation

Car insurance with certain violations can go up considerably. This is because insurance companies would rather not insure very risky drivers, but the amount of risk may be small if the driver commits a non-moving violation. 

“Every insurance company has its own rating plans and policies, and the auto insurance market is highly competitive,” says Kenton Brine, president, NW Insurance Council.

Most carriers will increase rates for a DUI infraction or a DUI-related crash, he says. 

Average car insurance cost after violations

Receiving a DUI can cause a hefty increase in car insurance premiums with an average of 90%. An at-fault accident increases rates an average of 55% and poor credit increases rates 77% in states that allow credit to be used as a rating factor.

When setting or changing premiums, car insurance carriers take into consideration many factors including an individual’s driving record. The chart below shows the average annual premium for drivers with and without major moving violations.

Average annual premium with no violationsAverage annual premium cost after a speeding ticketAverage annual premium cost after one at-fault accidentAverage annual premium after one DUIAverage annual premium with poor credit
Full coverage premium$1,924$2,556$2,979$3,655$3,399

How much does a speeding ticket increase insurance?

On average, a speeding ticket will increase your rates 33% – from $1,924 without a ticket to $2,556. Premiums increase anywhere from 18% at Allstate to 60% at Geico after a speeding ticket.

No hard-and-fast rules govern whether a single speeding ticket will make your car insurance go up. If an insurance carrier offers a safe driver discount, that discount may be taken away after a single speeding ticket.

See rate increases for speeding tickets by company in the table below.

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage with a speeding ticket, by company

CompanyAnnual premium $ increase% increase
Allstate$2,967 $456 18%
Farmers$3,688 $879 31%
Geico$2,170 $814 60%
Nationwide$2,193 $663 43%
Progressive$2,707 $723 36%
State Farm$1,998 $326 19%
Travelers$2,655 $787 42%
USAA$1,510 $247 20%

Car insurance rate increase after a speeding ticket, by state

The amount insurance goes up after a speeding ticket depends on where you speed; going too fast in a school zone can mean a significant premium increase and how fast you were going over the speed limit. 

The chart below analyzes rates for the following speeding violations:

  • Speeding 30+ over limit
  • Speeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limit
  • Speeding ticket 11-29 MPH over limit

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage with a speeding ticket, by state

State Annual premium  $ increase % increase
Alaska$1,682 $394 31%
Alabama$1,967 $450 30%
Arkansas$2,018 $535 36%
Arizona$2,293 $632 38%
California$3,146 $940 43%
Colorado$2,458 $481 24%
Connecticut$1,744 $288 20%
Washington, D.C.$2,389 $484 25%
Delaware$2,271 $519 30%
Florida$3,827 $818 27%
Georgia$2,134 $516 32%
Hawaii$2,163 $854 65%
Iowa$1,593 $352 28%
Idaho$1,259 $248 24%
Illinois$1,881 $516 38%
Indiana$1,845 $564 44%
Kansas$1,859 $366 25%
Kentucky$2,416 $551 30%
Louisiana$4,568 $1,371 43%
Massachusetts$2,209 $449 26%
Maryland$2,560 $593 30%
Maine$1,321 $272 26%
Michigan$5,581 $1,567 39%
Minnesota$2,253 $567 34%
Missouri$2,991 $619 26%
Mississippi$1,759 $354 25%
Montana$2,105 $339 19%
North Carolina$2,083 $686 49%
North Dakota$1,496 $264 21%
Nebraska$2,325 $478 26%
New Hampshire$1,266 $314 33%
New Jersey$2,978 $716 32%
New Mexico$2,067 $372 22%
Nevada$3,100 $711 30%
New York$2,262 $395 21%
Ohio$1,474 $360 32%
Oklahoma$2,381 $529 29%
Oregon$2,043 $541 36%
Pennsylvania$1,521 $223 17%
Rhode Island$2,409 $617 34%
South Carolina$2,271 $459 25%
South Dakota$2,105 $548 35%
Tennessee$1,748 $436 33%
Texas$2,507 $525 27%
Utah$2,001 $400 25%
Virginia$1,667 $439 36%
Vermont$1,325 $268 25%
Washington$2,038 $687 51%
Wisconsin$2,258 $685 44%
West Virginia$1,854 $430 30%
Wyoming$2,319 $557 32%

How much does your insurance increase after an accident?

Research indicates that an at-fault accident can result in a premium increase of between 30% and 47%, says Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council.

“Some insurance companies have ‘accident forgiveness’ policies that protect from a premium increase after their first claim against the policy,” he says. “Consumers should shop around and ask about accident rate impacts and forgiveness policies before they buy.”

Based upon a survey of auto insurers, rates after an accident increased anywhere from 27% at State Farm to 84% with Geico. See more rates after an accident, by company, in the table below.

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage after an accident, by company

CompanyAnnual premium$ increase% increase
State Farm$2,116 $444 27%
Geico$2,496 $1,139 84%
Allstate$4,047 $1,536 61%
USAA$1,879 $616 49%
Progressive$3,248 $1,264 64%
Nationwide$2,367 $837 55%
Travelers$2,741 $873 47%
Farmers$4,243 $1,434 51%

Car insurance rate increase after an accident, by state

California, New Jersey and North Carolina have the highest insurance increases after an accident. Rhode Island, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and New York show premiums going up the least after an accident. See more rate increases by state in the table below.

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage after an accident, by state

State Annual premium $ increase % increase
Alaska$1,880 $592 46%
Alabama$2,245 $728 48%
Arkansas$2,313 $830 56%
Arizona$2,536 $875 53%
California$3,934 $1,728 78%
Colorado$2,757 $780 39%
Connecticut$2,197 $742 51%
Washington, D.C.$2,793 $889 47%
Delaware$2,413 $661 38%
Florida$4,390 $1,381 46%
Georgia$2,576 $958 59%
Hawaii$1,841 $533 41%
Iowa$1,734 $493 40%
Idaho$1,390 $379 37%
Illinois$2,082 $718 53%
Indiana$2,002 $720 56%
Kansas$2,025 $532 36%
Kentucky$2,805 $940 50%
Louisiana$5,164 $1,967 62%
Massachusetts$2,698 $937 53%
Maryland$3,072 $1,106 56%
Maine$1,559 $509 49%
Michigan$5,767 $1,754 44%
Minnesota$2,362 $675 40%
Missouri$3,769 $1,397 59%
Mississippi$2,091 $686 49%
Montana$2,544 $778 44%
North Carolina$2,361 $965 69%
North Dakota$1,681 $449 36%
Nebraska$2,623 $776 42%
New Hampshire$1,393 $441 46%
New Jersey$4,048 $1,786 79%
New Mexico$2,328 $632 37%
Nevada$3,594 $1,205 50%
New York$2,386 $519 28%
Ohio$1,676 $562 50%
Oklahoma$2,812 $961 52%
Oregon$2,286 $784 52%
Pennsylvania$1,698 $401 31%
Rhode Island$2,044 $252 14%
South Carolina$2,593 $782 43%
South Dakota$2,223 $665 43%
Tennessee$2,036 $724 55%
Texas$3,254 $1,272 64%
Utah$2,373 $772 48%
Virginia$1,845 $617 50%
Vermont$1,521 $464 44%
Washington$1,911 $559 41%
Wisconsin$2,401 $828 53%
West Virginia$2,090 $666 47%
Wyoming$2,318 $555 31%

How much does your insurance increase after a DUI?

According to recent data, a DUI can increase your car insurance rates 90%.

“Even though policies and premiums vary widely, most companies charge higher premiums for a DUI infraction or a DUI-related crash,” Brine says.

See how much insurance rates increase after a DUI from major insurers in the table below.

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage after a DUI, by company

CompanyAnnual premium$ increase% increase
State Farm$2,905 $1,232 74%
Geico$3,598 $2,242 165%
Allstate$5,040 $2,529 101%
USAA$2,493 $1,230 97%
Progressive$2,810 $826 42%
Nationwide$3,412 $1,882 123%
Travelers$3,253 $1,386 74%
Farmers$3,806 $997 35%

Car insurance rate increase after a DUI, by state

A DUI citation will increase insurance rates, plus you’ll pay a hefty fine. The highest increases are in California, Hawaii and North Carolina. Because driving while impaired shows the driver is a risk to insure. Some insurance carriers won’t sell a policy to someone who has received a DUI. See rates after a DUI by state in the table below.

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage after a DUI, by state

State Annual premium  $ increase % increase
Alaska$1,853 $566 44%
Alabama$2,369 $852 56%
Arkansas$2,449 $966 65%
Arizona$2,719 $1,058 64%
California$6,111 $3,905 177%
Colorado$3,009 $1,032 52%
Connecticut$2,588 $1,132 78%
Washington, D.C.$3,058 $1,153 61%
Delaware$2,728 $977 56%
Florida$4,073 $1,065 35%
Georgia$2,863 $1,244 77%
Hawaii$4,150 $2,842 217%
Iowa$1,792 $551 44%
Idaho$1,664 $652 64%
Illinois$2,375 $1,010 74%
Indiana$2,064 $783 61%
Kansas$2,500 $1,007 67%
Kentucky$3,209 $1,344 72%
Louisiana$5,015 $1,818 57%
Massachusetts$3,137 $1,376 78%
Maryland$3,143 $1,176 60%
Maine$1,555 $506 48%
Michigan$10,260 $6,247 156%
Minnesota$3,337 $1,651 98%
Missouri$3,341 $969 41%
Mississippi$2,373 $968 69%
Montana$2,786 $1,020 58%
North Carolina$5,726 $4,329 310%
North Dakota$2,175 $944 77%
Nebraska$3,212 $1,364 74%
New Hampshire$1,606 $655 69%
New Jersey$3,885 $1,623 72%
New Mexico$2,451 $756 45%
Nevada$3,902 $1,513 63%
New York$2,784 $917 49%
Ohio$1,697 $583 52%
Oklahoma$2,643 $792 43%
Oregon$2,340 $838 56%
Pennsylvania$2,072 $775 60%
Rhode Island$3,061 $1,268 71%
South Carolina$2,666 $855 47%
South Dakota$2,883 $1,325 85%
Tennessee$2,126 $815 62%
Texas$2,963 $982 50%
Utah$2,402 $801 50%
Virginia$1,819 $592 48%
Vermont$1,743 $686 65%
Washington$2,374 $1,023 76%
Wisconsin$2,753 $1,180 75%
West Virginia$2,494 $1,070 75%
Wyoming$3,087 $1,324 75%

How much does your credit score affect your insurance premium?

On average, poor credit will increase your car insurance rates 77%. Some states, however, disallow the use of credit scores to set car insurance premiums. California, Hawaii, Michigan, and Massachusetts don’t allow insurers to use credit information to set rates. See increases by company in the table below.

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage with poor credit, by company

CompanyAnnual premium$ increase% increase
State Farm$4,264 $2,592 155%
Geico$2,284 $927 68%
Allstate$4,117 $1,607 64%
USAA$2,401 $1,138 90%
Progressive$3,483 $1,499 76%
Nationwide$2,055 $525 34%
Travelers$3,253 $1,386 74%
Farmers$5,058 $2,249 80%

Car insurance rate increase with poor credit, by state

The use of credit-based insurance scores (an insurance score derived from credit information) varies from insurance company to insurance company and according to the statutes in different states.

“For example, California prohibits credit information from being considered in auto insurance premiums, ” he says. “Washington and Oregon allow credit information to be used, but limit what information can be considered within a score.

Idaho shows a big increase in premiums for insured with poor credit at 103%. Brine says Idaho has statutory language that says credit information can not be more than half of the weight given to other, non-credit factors.

“There are rates for an insured with an excellent credit-based insurance score that are half of the premium for an insured with a less-favorable score, but that’s not believed to be standard, ” he says.

In the table below, see car insurance rates with poor credit by state.

TABLE: Annual premiums for full coverage with poor credit, by state

State Annual premium  $ increase % increase
Alaska$2,119 $831 65%
Alabama$3,015 $1,498 99%
Arkansas$3,167 $1,684 114%
Arizona$3,926 $2,265 136%
California$2,206 NANA
Colorado$3,295 $1,318 67%
Connecticut$2,315 $860 59%
Washington, D.C.$3,355 $1,451 76%
Delaware$3,156 $1,405 80%
Florida$4,862 $1,854 62%
Georgia$2,701 $1,083 67%
Hawaii$1,309 NANA
Iowa$2,156 $915 74%
Idaho$2,049 $1,038 103%
Illinois$2,426 $1,062 78%
Indiana$2,129 $847 66%
Kansas$2,549 $1,056 71%
Kentucky$3,814 $1,949 105%
Louisiana$7,448 $4,251 133%
Massachusetts$1,760 NANA
Maryland$3,412 $1,446 74%
Maine$1,759 $710 68%
Michigan$8,600 $4,587 114%
Minnesota$3,608 $1,922 114%
Missouri$4,157 $1,785 75%
Mississippi$2,961 $1,556 111%
Montana$2,747 $981 56%
North Carolina$2,069 $673 48%
North Dakota$2,154 $922 75%
Nebraska$3,606 $1,759 95%
New Hampshire$1,545 $593 62%
New Jersey$3,988 $1,726 76%
New Mexico$2,516 $821 48%
Nevada$3,711 $1,322 55%
New York$4,753 $2,886 155%
Ohio$2,056 $942 85%
Oklahoma$3,326 $1,474 80%
Oregon$2,586 $1,084 72%
Pennsylvania$2,373 $1,076 83%
Rhode Island$3,225 $1,433 80%
South Carolina$3,427 $1,616 89%
South Dakota$3,210 $1,652 106%
Tennessee$2,612 $1,301 99%
Texas$3,329 $1,348 68%
Utah$3,024 $1,423 89%
Virginia$2,151 $923 75%
Vermont$1,919 $862 82%
Washington$1,351 NANA
Wisconsin$3,166 $1,593 101%
West Virginia$2,554 $1,130 79%
Wyoming$2,870 $1,107 63%

FAQ on car insurance and driving violations

Frequently asked questions

Do parking tickets affect insurance rates?

Parking tickets are considered non-moving violations, something done illegally while the car is stationary. They don’t usually change car insurance rates. That holds true if they are paid on time, but if you don’t pay for the infraction, you may be unable to renew your vehicle registration.

Does one speeding ticket affect one’s insurance rates?

A single speeding ticket will most likely raise a driver’s car insurance premium, but the increase may not be as high if they have never gotten a speeding ticket before. That infraction also becomes a part of an individual’s driving record.

How to lower insurance costs after a speeding ticket?

Individuals can practice safe driving or enroll in a traffic safety course to lower insurance premiums. These programs go by the name of defensive driving classes or accident prevention. They can also look for another insurance carrier, increase their deductible, raise their credit score, and bundle their policies if they haven’t already.

Which tickets don’t affect car insurance rates?

Parking violations, tickets for heavily tinted windows, not wearing a seat belt, broken lights or an expired vehicle registration don’t typically alter insurance rates.

expert

What our expert says

Q. What should drivers do if they have an accident on their driving record?

expert-image
Kenton BrinePresident of the NW Insurance Council.
“Some insurance companies have ‘accident forgiveness’ policies that protect from a premium increase after their first claim against the policy. Consumers should shop around and ask about accident rate impacts and forgiveness policies before they buy.”

Resources & Methodology

Sources:

Car and Driver. “How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Your Insurance?” Accessed March 2024.

Insurance Information Institute. “Do insurance premiums go up after a claim?” Accessed March 2024.

Experian. “Which traffic violations increase your insurance rates?” Accessed March 2024.

Progressive Insurance. “Do speeding and parking tickets affect insurance?” Accessed March 2024.

Methodology

In 2024, Insure.com pulled rates from Quadrant Information Systems for 40-year-old male and female drivers with full coverage insurance with 100/300/100 liability limits and $500 comprehensive/collision deductibles. The Auto Problems Report comprises data from 51 states, 548 cities, 1,467 ZIP codes, 202 companies and 5,000,736 car insurance quotes.