How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in California

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How speeding tickets impacted insurance for real drivers in California

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

How long does a speeding ticket stay on insurance in California?

Speeding tickets in California generally impact your car insurance rates for three to five years. The state allows insurance carriers to surcharge policies for three years, which is when you see the highest rate. You may see the rate of your policy decrease as time passes without other violations or accidents. Once the surcharge falls off, the ticket can still be “underwritten for,” meaning the carrier is still rating for the risk in the base rate of the policy, but you aren’t in the penalty phase.

Keep in mind that while you wait for the impact of a speeding ticket to fade, your rate can still fluctuate up and down depending on other factors. In addition, each carrier views speeding tickets differently, so if your premium is high, consider shopping your rates and coverage with multiple carriers to find a better deal.

How to avoid an insurance increase after a speeding ticket in California

While many car insurance companies offer benefits like minor violation forgiveness, which can waive a first-time speeding ticket, they are usually unavailable in California. Here are some savings opportunities that may be available to avoid or minimize a speeding ticket rate hike.

Try to keep the speeding ticket off your driving record

If you have the option, you may want to fight the speeding ticket, especially if it is your first offense. Judges tend to be more lenient with first-time offenders, but it is up to their discretion. Ultimately, the only way to avoid a speeding ticket from affecting your auto insurance is to find an option that keeps your driving record clean. If carriers can view the information on the motor vehicle report, they can surcharge your policy. Here are some of the options you may have in California:

• Contest the ticket: You can contest the ticket by written declaration or through a court trial. If the case is dismissed, the speeding ticket will not appear on your motor vehicle report.
• Inquire about traffic court: Eligible drivers may be able to go to traffic court in exchange for lower fines or for the ticket to be waived.
• Community service: If you are found guilty, community service may be an option if you are unable to pay the fine. However, the ticket will show up on your record and likely impact your auto rates.

Shop around for competitive rates after a ticket

If your rates increase after a speeding ticket, it may be the perfect time to non-standard insurer.

Bankrate discovered that California drivers who shopped their policies after receiving a speeding ticket could save as much as $2,300 per year.

Drive defensively to avoid future speeding tickets

While you can’t travel back in time to avoid your last speeding ticket, you can steer clear of others in the future. Maintaining a clean driving record is the best way to keep your auto insurance rates low and earn good driving discounts.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best car insurance company for drivers with a speeding ticket?

  The insurance for drivers with tickets is one that provides the coverage you need at a rate you can afford. Comparing rates between at least three insurance companies can help you narrow your options to the carrier that suits you best.

• Do I have to report speeding tickets to insurance?

  No. You are not obligated to report speeding tickets to your carrier. Most carriers become aware of your moving violation when they run your motor vehicle report. While this usually occurs right before your policy renewal, these reports are expensive. Some carriers may run them every other year, which gives you more time with lower rates. However, if at any point your insurance company asks you if you have received a speeding ticket, you are required to answer honestly.

• What tickets won’t affect my car insurance rates?

  Usually, non-moving violations and parking tickets will not impact your auto rates. However, if you accumulate enough non-moving violations or parking tickets, your driver’s license could be suspended, which could impact your car insurance.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. Bundling and paperless billing discounts are applied.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.

If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics:

• Credit-based insurance scores:

  Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

• Incidents:

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.

• Mileage:

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following differences in mileage: 2K, 5K, 12K (base), 15K and 20K.

• Model:

  Unless otherwise stated, rates are for 2023 vehicle models. For new vs used vehicles, we included the following year in our calculations: 2013.

• Age:

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations. For teen drivers, rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents’ policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.

• Gender:

  The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

• Status:

  Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40-year-old married man and woman. Marital status is not a rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.