Will My Insurance Go Up After a High Speed Citation in Florida?

Florida drivers often ask whether a high speed citation will affect their car insurance. The simple answer is yes. This article addresses what happens when you get a speeding ticket in Florida and the consequences that follow.

Even a single violation can lead to an insurance increase, and understanding how a speeding ticket affect your insurance is important. More serious violations, such as going 30 mph or 50 mph over the posted speed limit, can trigger significant insurance rate hikes. Any car insurance company will view speeding tickets as signs of risky driving behavior, and repeated traffic violations can cause car insurance costs to rise for years.

This guide explains how a ticket in Florida affects your insurance policy, how long a speeding ticket impacts your driving record, and what options are available to reduce the consequences through traffic school or a driver improvement course.

How Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance in Florida

When a driver gets a speeding ticket in Florida, the citation is recorded on their driving record for motor vehicles. Insurance companies review driving history, including violations involving motor vehicles, when setting car insurance rates. A single speeding ticket may lead to higher auto insurance rates, while multiple moving violations or more serious offenses like reckless driving can cause long-term insurance premiums to increase. Various types of traffic tickets, not just speeding, can also impact your insurance rates.

How speeding tickets affect your rates depends on several factors:

• The number of miles per hour over the posted speed limits
• Whether the violation occurred in a school zone or construction zone
• Whether the citation was a first time speeding ticket or part of a pattern of traffic incidents
• The insurer’s underwriting rules and how state laws allow them to use driving history
• Whether the driver elects to take a basic driver improvement course

Speeding Ticket Impacts on Car Insurance

Car insurance companies routinely impose a rate hike after a driver is caught speeding or commits another type of traffic violation. Data from Quadrant Information Services shows that even a single speeding ticket can raise auto insurance rates by 15 to 30 percent. Rate hikes vary widely depending on the insurer and the severity of the violation.

For example:

• A driver going 10 mph over the limit may see a small increase in insurance costs
• A driver cited for speeding thirty miles over the posted speed limit may face higher fines and increased car insurance rates
• A driver convicted of reckless driving or involved in an at fault accident will almost certainly pay higher car insurance premiums for years

How Long a Speeding Ticket Stays on Your Record

In Florida, the speeding ticket stay on your record typically lasts for three to five years. Insurance companies often apply higher rates for up to five years depending on the severity of the violation. Speeding ticket impacts last longer for drivers with multiple violations or those convicted of more serious offenses.

For drivers with a clean driving record, a first time speeding ticket may result in shorter increases if they attend a driver improvement course or basic driver improvement program. For repeat speeding violations, insurance providers may keep rates higher for much longer.

Penalties Beyond Insurance

A ticket in Florida brings more than insurance costs. Drivers may also face:

• Fines and citation fees set by county courts, with a maximum fine imposed for severe or repeat speeding violations
• Increased penalties and higher fines for speeding in sensitive areas such as school zones and construction zones
• Court costs for mandatory hearings if required by Florida statute
• Points on their driving record, which may trigger license suspension if too many points are accumulated within a certain amount of time
• Possible jail time if the speeding ticket involved reckless driving, a crash, or serious injury

How Insurance Companies Decide Rate Hikes

Insurance companies consider several factors before raising insurance rates after a traffic ticket:

• Driving history over the past several years
• The severity of the violation
• Whether the violation involved property damage coverage or personal injury protection claims
• The number of points on the license
• Whether the driver completed a defensive driving course or traffic school

Insurance companies assess drivers for risky behavior, such as traffic violations like speeding tickets, as these are indicators of a higher likelihood to cause an accident and can lead to increased premiums. Maintaining good driving habits, including defensive driving and participation in telematics programs, can help drivers avoid rate hikes by demonstrating responsible behavior on the road.

Rate hikes vary widely. Some car insurance companies offer competitive rates for drivers with good credit and otherwise clean driving records, while others impose higher insurance rate increases after even minor infractions.

Notifying the Insurance Company After a Speeding Ticket

After receiving a speeding ticket in Florida, it’s important to understand how and when to notify your insurance company. While it might be tempting to keep quiet, your insurance provider will almost always find out about the ticket eventually, as speeding tickets and other traffic violations are recorded on your driving record and shared with insurance companies through state databases.

Being upfront with your insurance company about a ticket in Florida can help you avoid unexpected changes to your car insurance rates. If you proactively inform your insurer, you can get a clearer picture of how the speeding ticket will affect your insurance premiums and discuss any possible steps to minimize the impact. Some insurance companies may even offer advice on how to keep your car insurance costs as low as possible, such as enrolling in a driver improvement course or adjusting your coverage options.

Failing to notify your insurance provider doesn’t prevent them from discovering the violation. When your policy is up for renewal or if you make changes to your car insurance policy, your insurer will review your driving record. At that point, any undisclosed speeding tickets can result in sudden insurance rate increases or even policy cancellation.

To stay ahead, contact your insurance company soon after receiving a speeding ticket. Ask how the violation might affect your insurance rates and whether there are any programs or discounts available to help offset higher insurance premiums. Open communication with your insurer ensures you’re not caught off guard by changes to your car insurance costs and helps you make informed decisions about your coverage moving forward.

Driver Improvement and Insurance

Florida allows eligible drivers to attend traffic school, often called a basic driver improvement course, to avoid points on their record. Completing the course within 30 days and submitting proof to the county clerk can help avoid points and sometimes minimize insurance costs. Some insurers recognize traffic school elections and may not raise premiums as much when a driver has completed a defensive driving course. However, drivers with a commercial driver’s license are not eligible to attend traffic school for certain violations.

However, drivers cited for speeding thirty miles over the limit or 50 mph over cannot simply elect traffic school. These violations require a mandatory hearing, and while the court may order a driver improvement course, insurance premiums will almost certainly increase.

After completing a driver improvement course, drivers must still maintain at least the minimum coverage required by Florida law, which may not fully protect them in the event of an accident.

Defensive Driving and Point Reduction

In addition to the basic driver improvement course, some drivers may take a defensive driving course to show improved driving behavior. While this does not erase the traffic citation, it can be useful when negotiating with an insurance company and may help reduce insurance costs. Some drivers qualify for point reduction programs after completing approved driving school programs, which can help avoid license suspension and maintain driving privileges.

Commercial Driver’s License Holders

Drivers with a commercial driver’s license face tougher penalties. Even a single speeding ticket can result in major car insurance rate increases and threaten employment. CDL holders are often not eligible to attend traffic school for certain violations, and repeat offenses may result in license suspension. For these drivers, insurance policy rates tied to employment may also rise sharply.

Insurance After High Speed or Reckless Driving

A citation for 50 mph over the limit or a reckless driving conviction almost always results in higher car insurance premiums. Insurance companies view these as evidence of risky driving behavior, and rate hikes may last for years. Drivers with these violations may lose access to the cheapest car insurance and be forced to shop for coverage options through high-risk insurers.

How to Save Money After a Speeding Ticket

While you cannot always avoid higher insurance premiums after a speeding ticket, you can take steps to save money:

• Compare competitive rates from multiple insurance providers
• Complete a basic driver improvement course or defensive driving course if eligible
• Avoid further traffic violations to keep a cleaner driving history going forward
• Ask about coverage options or discounts, including safe driver incentives, good credit savings, or accident forgiveness programs

FAQs

Does a speeding ticket increase insurance in Florida

Yes. A speeding ticket typically results in higher insurance premiums. Even a minor moving violation can affect your insurance rate, and more serious offenses can keep rates higher for up to five years.

Will a speeding ticket raise insurance rates

Yes. A speeding ticket usually raises insurance costs because insurers consider it a sign of risky driving behavior. The amount depends on your driving record, your insurance provider, and the severity of the violation.

Call for a Free Consultation

If you are concerned about how a speeding ticket will affect your insurance rate, contact SuperSpeederLawyer.com for a free consultation. Led by attorney David A. Haenel and supported by The Law Place, our attorneys will review your traffic citation, explain your options under Florida law, and fight to protect your driver’s license, your driving record, and your financial future.