By Vanessa Santos, Boston MA
Insurance premiums are impacted greatly by moving violations and traffic tickets. Drivers that receive multiple violations will pay higher premiums. Each time a driver is convicted of a traffic violation and required to pay a fine, a record is made. This record is often tabulated in the form of points attached to your license. As the number of points increases, so too does your premium. Points can be assigned to your license for things like speeding, running traffic lights or stop signs, unsafe lane changes or accidents that you may cause.
While vehicle and traffic laws vary from one state to another the point systems are all somewhat similar. A smaller number of points are generally given for each minor traffic violation, and several points can be given for a single violation that may be considered very severe such as very excessive speed, or other dangerous driving behaviors and violations. Often there is a certain threshold that applies to these point systems that can result in a suspension or loss of license if the threshold is exceeded. Causing an auto accident can also result in points on your license.
When dealing with points on your license, fines and moving violations, you will want to make sure to know how many points your violations may be added to your license. You will also want to know how many points are currently on your license if you have had violations in the past. In most states, points will be removed after a certain time has passed so you will want to know how long your points will last.
Your insurance rates will be higher if you are required to pay fines and if you accumulate points on your license due to traffic violations. Each state has regulations as to when an insurer can raise rates due to traffic violations so you should check your own state laws or contact your insurance agent to find out how a history of traffic tickets, moving violations, traffic accidents and fines can affect your premium. In some states there is some leeway provided and you are allowed a certain number of points on your license before any increase in premium will take place.
Once points are applied to your license it is important to find out the best way to have them removed, and how to avoid getting them in the future. You may find that if you can contest the ticket and get the violation reduced, fewer points will be added to your license.
In many cases you can avoid points on your license altogether by paying the fine and enrolling in traffic school. This can be very worthwhile as the points that would have otherwise been added to your license could translate into significant additional premium dollars. While inconvenient, the payback can be significant. An alternative is to contest the charges as discussed above, but this method is much more reliable as a judge’s whim can be the determining factor in the outcome of your challenge.
While traffic school is usually offered at the time you appear in court for your violation, many defense driving courses can be used to remove points that are already on you license from previous accidents. Consult with your state’s department of motor vehicles to determine how these laws may apply to your situation. You may even find that traffic schools and defensive driving courses are offered online.
Auto insurance companies are in the business of avoiding risk and one way they can do that is to identify people that are most likely to cause accidents. Once those people are identified, the insurer can use data to make an educated guess as to the likelihood of an accident. Traffic violations are one way that insurance companies can determine how likely a driver is to be involved in an accident.
