[USER]

My husband got a speeding ticket a few days ago in our home state of Alabama. We have USAA insurance.

How likely is this to raise our insurance premium?

It is his first ticket in over 10 years and he was clocked at 81 in a 60 zone.

Trying to figure out if he needs to go to driver’s school…

[Sarah]

Not sure how much it’ll raise but just wanted to say USAA is usually more expensive than other insurances in Alabama…

if you want to shop around!

[Christina]

we have USAA and a similar situation happened a few years ago. he took a class that reduces license points and the ticket fell off within like 2 years since he took the class to lose the points.

his was out of state and he couldn’t appear in court.

[Thea]

Don’t know how it works in Alabama but here in Pa I Pay the fine, plead innocent and ask for a court date.

I’ve had three separate traffic violations (speeding, reckless, and red light) and all of them they dismissed my case and one of them even paid me back my fine.

It was recommended by the officer that pulled me over when I asked him are they goin to take points off.

I felt relieved and blessed in all those case bc I didn’t even expect that result.

[John]

If you’re willing to pay a little more you can use a service that will go to court for you. I uploaded a copy of my ticket, paid them about $85 it think and paid the ticket fine and court fee.

But no points.

Another option is the driving school (where I am) you may want to look into that also.

But note, you can only do that so many times.

[Jason]

Check with the county clerk or prosecutors office to see if they have a pretrial diversion program.

He might be eligible since it has been ten years. I have done it twice.

[Charlotte]

Have him appear in traffic court. You may be able to get the ticket reduced to a lesser speed or a non-moving violation.

The fee will likely be the same but it doesn’t impact insurance.

[Jennifer]

I am in Alabama and usually they give you the option to take a driving class on the first ticket.

[Lisa]

Ticket attorney all the way! Often reduced to non moving, doesn’t affect insurance. They are worth their weight in gold IMHO.

Never risk an insurance increase for 3 years due to a ticket! Way more than an attorney to handle.

[Brian]

in Texas you can do deferred adjudication basically probation, dont get another ticket for 6 months and the original ticket falls off (DA costs same as the ticket and you can only use it every so often)

[Lois]

We (4 adult drivers) had a ticket affect rates in combination with other events (a fender bender which we reported to insurance office but such minimal damage the other party never used the policy to repair), a hit and run damage in a parking lot, and a collision.

This all over 3 years.

I doubt a single speeding ticket would do it.

[Therese]

Please call the prosecutor’s office about what you can do for a dismissal. Do not just pay the ticket.

A lot of these places issue speeding tickets to increase revenue.

[Linds]

I have USAA and haven’t had any tickets or accidents in over a decade and my premiums have gone up at every renewal.

He definitely should take the driving class to avoid any points if possible but my point is that your insurance can increase at any point and it may or may not be related to the ticket.

I live in FL so depends on location too.

[Brian]

In MO you can get a lawyer and they can eat it to another charge that’s a non-moving violation.

Usually costs about double the ticket.

[Annie]

YMMV, but I’m in AL. I was told this: unless the judge specifically states that taking the class will result in the dismissal of the ticket, it will still show up on your MVR and that will still cause your rates to go up with your insurance.

The safe driving class may make your rates go down a bit, so it wouldn’t be as big of a hit to your rates, but they do not always cancel each other out.

and you also have to remember to submit proof of completion of the class to both the state, so that your ticket gets dismissed, and to your insurance agent so that they can apply against your rates.

[Stacey]

It’s very expensive for insurance companies to run MVRs on current customers so unless you are in a nonstandard company or have some other higher risk indicators it is unlikely that they will.

You will likely get charged for it if you change insurance companies though so plan to stay put for 3-5 yrs

[Ashley]

In Indiana, you can pay a higher fine for a deferral option. It doesn’t put it on your driving record and isn’t reported to the insurance company.

If you get another ticket within a certain time, then you have to have both tickets on your record and no deferral option.

[Ron]

I have USAA. It’s been a while, but I’ve had speeding tickets and never noticed an increase in rates.

I don’t think they’re quick to raise rates because I just noticed my monthly automated payments have gone down recently.

But I assume rates depend on a lot of factors.

[Jeff]

Unlikely to raise your rate unless you move insurance carriers or you’re in the first 6 months of your policy with them.

Many insurance companies only check your driving record when initially applying for coverage.

Typically they look back 3 and 5 years.

[Lori]

I hired an online lawyer from the app, Off the Record. It was affordable. The lawyer went to court in my place. I did not have to go myself.

I still had to pay the traffic ticket but the ticket was not put on my driving record.

Thus, my insurance never increased (I’m with USAA too)

[Valerie]

My daughter (17) got a ticket our first night in Phoenix the week we moved her in to her campus.

It was with one of the vans so no actual ticket was written, it came in the mail a month later under my name because the car is registered to me I guess.

We live in CO.

I paid it, didn’t argue it and my insurance has not increased so far, that was in August.

I have State Farm. We haven’t had a ticket or accident since before she was alive.

[Author]

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