How Much Will a Single Speeding Ticket Increase Insurance Your Rates?

Last Updated on January 3, 2026

Nobody wants a speeding ticket. Beyond the fine, a conviction can raise your car insurance premiums—sometimes for years.

The good news is that one minor speeding ticket doesn’t always lead to a big rate hike. The bad news is that the impact depends on your insurer, your state, how fast you were going, and what else is on your driving history.

Below is what to expect after a single speeding ticket, why insurers charge more, and what you can do to reduce (or avoid) the increase.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. One Ticket Isn’t Always a Big Deal: A single minor speeding ticket on an otherwise clean record may cause little to no increase—especially with insurers that don’t surcharge first-time minor violations.
2. Average Increases Often Land in the 20%–30% Range: Real-world impacts vary widely by insurer and state, but many drivers see a noticeable bump after a conviction.
3. Severity and History Matter Most: Excessive speeding, points, multiple tickets, or prior at-fault accidents can trigger much larger hikes or even non-renewal.
4. You May Be Able to Reduce the Damage: Fighting the ticket, taking traffic school, and shopping carriers at renewal can lower (or prevent) premium increases.

How Much Can One Speeding Ticket Raise Your Insurance?

There’s no universal percentage. However, many drivers see a modest bump for a first-time, low-level speeding ticket, while serious speeding or a pattern of violations can trigger much larger increases.

• Minor speeding on a clean record: Often little to no increase, or a small bump (commonly in the single digits to low teens) if you have no other tickets or citations on your record.
• Typical “average” impact: Many national studies land in the 20%–30% range, but averages can be misleading because they mix minor and serious citations and vary widely by state and insurer.
• Serious speeding or prior violations: Bigger increases are common—especially if the ticket is treated as excessive speeding or if your history includes reckless driving, multiple moving violations, or an at-fault accident.

Insurers typically rate your policy based on your recent history (often the last 3 to 5 years). If your driving record already has a few marks, even one additional speeding ticket can cause a noticeable jump.

When a Single Speeding Ticket Might Not Affect Your Rates

A single speeding ticket may have little or no impact if:

• The ticket is for a small amount over the limit (for example, 5–10 mph in many jurisdictions).
• You have a long, clean history and the insurer doesn’t surcharge minor first offenses.
• Your insurer offers a minor-violation forgiveness or similar program (availability and rules vary by company and state).

Even if your insurer increases your premium, a truly minor first ticket is less likely to cause a dramatic change than a major violation or repeated tickets.

Why Speeding Tickets Increase Car Insurance Premiums

Auto insurance pricing is built around risk. Insurers generally view speeding as a sign of higher crash risk and may re-rate you as a higher-risk driver. That can matter even more if you already fall into a high-risk auto insurance category (or you’re close to it).

Speeding is also one of the most common moving violations. It can affect how insurers score your record and it’s a frequent factor in how fault gets assigned after a crash. If you were speeding during a collision, you could be found at fault for the accident—or partially at fault—even if the other driver also made mistakes.

Want the bigger picture? Here’s how citations can affect pricing across the board: do traffic violations affect insurance premiums?

Some Speeding Tickets Have Bigger Consequences Than Others

Insurers don’t treat every speeding ticket the same. These factors matter a lot:

• How fast you were going: “Excessive speeding” (often 20+ mph over, or higher thresholds depending on the state) may be rated more like a major violation.
• Where it happened: School zones, construction zones, and certain highways can be treated more seriously.
• Your recent history: A second ticket within a few years can hurt much more than a first.

In some cases, repeated violations can even lead to a non-renewal or cancellation. If you’re worried about that scenario, learn how it typically works: can an insurance company cancel your policy without notice?

State Laws and License Points Can Affect Your Premium

States handle tickets differently. Many states use a point system that assigns points to your driver’s license for each violation. A minor ticket might be fewer points than a major ticket, and points can influence how insurers rate you.

If you’re trying to clean up your record, this guide breaks down common options: how to get rid of points on your driver’s license.

State law can also limit what insurers can use for pricing. For example, California restricts certain rating factors (like credit score and gender), which can make your driving record weigh more heavily than it might elsewhere.

Average Rate Increases by State

Rate impacts vary dramatically by state and insurer. The table below shows average annual changes by state after a speeding ticket:

How to Reduce the Impact of a Speeding Ticket

If your ticket is eligible, reducing the charge—or keeping it off your record entirely—can be the biggest money-saver long term. Here are common strategies:

• Fight the ticket (when it makes sense): contesting a speeding ticket may lead to dismissal, a reduction to a non-moving violation, or a deal that avoids points.
• Ask about traffic school/defensive driving: Some courts allow it to keep points off your record, and some insurers give discounts or treat it as mitigation.
• Shop around at renewal: Different companies price tickets differently. If your insurer surcharges heavily, compare carriers (especially if your goal is affordability): how to find cheap auto insurance quotes even if you have a speeding ticket.

FAQs on Insurance Rate Increases After a Speeding Ticket

Final Word on the Impact of a Single Speeding Ticket

For many drivers, a single minor speeding ticket causes little or no change—especially if the rest of your record is clean. But if the ticket is severe, you have prior violations, or your state/insurer rates tickets aggressively, your premium can rise noticeably (often lasting until the ticket ages off your rating period).

If you’re unsure how your insurer treats speeding tickets, call and ask how violations are rated at renewal and what options you have to reduce the impact.