Insurance After a Speeding Ticket in California

How Speeding Tickets Affect Your Insurance in California

In California, a speeding ticket adds points to your driving record. Insurance companies use this information when calculating your premiums. Here's what you need to know:

• 1 point is added for most speeding violations (under 100 mph)
• 2 points for speeding over 100 mph
• Points remain on your record for 3 years
• Rate increases typically range from 20-30% per ticket
• Multiple tickets compound the increase significantly

The Window of Opportunity

When you receive a speeding ticket, it doesn't immediately appear on your Motor Vehicle Record. There's typically a processing period of several weeks. During this window:

• Your current insurance company may not yet know about the ticket
• You may be able to shop for new coverage at your current (clean record) rates
• Switching carriers before the violation appears could result in a lower starting rate

Important:We're not suggesting you hide violations — insurance companies will eventually see them. But the rate you lock in when you start a policy can be different from what you'd be quoted after the violation is visible.

How We Help Drivers with Speeding Tickets

Can Traffic School Help?

In California, you may be eligible for traffic school if you haven't attended in the past 18 months. Completing traffic school can:

• Keep the point off your public driving record
• Prevent your insurance company from seeing the violation
• Potentially avoid rate increases entirely

However, traffic school isn't available for all violations, and there are eligibility requirements. Even if you plan to attend traffic school, it's wise to have a quote ready in case you're not eligible.

Multiple Speeding Tickets

If you have multiple speeding tickets or a combination of violations, your insurance situation becomes more complex. Some standard carriers may decline coverage, but specialized high-risk carriers can still offer competitive rates. We work with these carriers daily and know which ones offer the best rates for multi-violation drivers.