How Long Do Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance?

There’s no denying that speeding tickets are frustrating. In addition to being pulled over and having to pay your fine, you face the additional future issues of having a ticket on your driving record. Any misstep that goes on your driving record is also likely going to increase your insurance. Understandably, you may be wondering how speeding tickets affect insurance. Michigan law does not provide for the expunging of driving records, so once a ticket is on your driving record it’s there to stay.

However, there is good news. While your ticket most likely will stay on your driving record indefinitely, it won’t affect your insurance for that long.

A Detroit speeding attorney is an excellent resource if you have any questions regarding your tickets and how they fit within your insurance policy. Call Davis Law Group for any ticket-related assistance you may need in the Detroit area at (313) 818-3238 to discuss your case during a free case consultation.

Preventing Your Ticket From Appearing on Your Record Will Keep Your Insurance Payments From Increasing

One way to avoid having your ticket affect your insurance is to keep your ticket from appearing on your driving record to begin with. It is true that once your ticket appears on your record, it’s there for good. If you successfully fight your ticket, however, it will never appear on your driving record to begin with.

Tickets Will Only Affect Your Insurance for a Predetermined Period

Like many states, Michigan insurance companies use a “points” system when determining your insurance rates. This shouldn’t be confused with the points the DMV puts on your license when you are convicted; those are a separate system.

The insurance agencies have their own points system, for which the criteria are not made public. Just like the points on your driver’s record, you only retain your insurance points for a certain amount of time. This is known as the chargeable period. The downside is that this chargeable period can last longer than the amount of time the ticket is on your driver’s record. For example, under Michigan law, traffic violations remain on your driving record for two years. The chargeable period for a speeding ticket, however, could be three years or more. The chargeable period for different offenses varies between carriers, so it’s important to talk to your insurance provider if you have a question about how long a specific offense will affect your insurance.

Separate Systems Means Offenses Can Affect Your Insurance Without Adding Points to Your License

Certain minor traffic offenses won’t result in points being added to your license. Even if you’re convicted, you won’t accumulate any DMV points. This doesn’t mean that the offense won’t still go on your insurance record. This is important to consider when deciding whether or not to fight your speeding ticket. You may have previous violations on your insurance record that don’t appear on your driving record. These violations can cause your insurance costs to increase during the chargeable period. If this is the case, merely accepting your speeding ticket could result in even more inflated costs than you expect.

Discuss Your Speeding Ticket Case With Davis Law Group Today

It can help to discuss the potential issues your speeding ticket can cause with a speeding attorney. Our team at Davis Law Group can represent you, or someone you know, in a speeding ticket case. We will fight for your rights.

To speak with a Michigan attorney today, contact us at (313) 818-3238 for a free and confidential consultation.