Many drivers do not realize the effect traffic tickets can have on their lives. Often, they are more complicated than just pleading guilty, paying a fine and being done with it. Aside from the risk of losing your driver’s license, your insurance rates could increase quite a bit.
The effect on your insurance is not immediate
The “good” news is that a ticket likely will not have an immediate effect on your insurance rates. Your auto insurance company probably does not check your driving record every month, but it almost certainly will when it comes time to renew your insurance policy.
If your driving record reveals traffic violation conviction, your insurance company may consider you a higher risk and charge you more. At that time, you could be in for a drastic change to your rates if you have a ticket or two.
Or perhaps not. For example, if you got only one speeding ticket and it is your sole traffic ticket ever, your rates may not go up by much, if at all. The bottom line is that, in many cases, traffic tickets are worth fighting. You may be able to get the charges reduced or thrown out.
Another way to minimize the blow
By taking a Point and Insurance Reduction Program class, you can see a 10 percent savings on your liability and collision premiums, and you can get four points subtracted from your driving record.