How do traffic tickets affect my insurance premiums?

How do traffic tickets affect my insurance premiums?
Can you tell the true cost of your traffic ticket?
Do you know how much and how long a traffic ticket can affect the amount you pay for your auto insurance each year?
Although various factors, such as driving record, attribute to the general cost of insurance, most people fail to realize that those speeding tickets also have an impact on their overall insurance rates.
Hardly any person will go his/her whole life without having at least one ticket on their track record. AS such, there are some key things you need to know about traffic tickets and ways in which it can affect your auto insurance coverage down the road.

Safe driving attracts affordable premiums

Insurance companies want to offer coverage to you because they believe you are worth protecting. They prefer safe-drivers to high-risk drivers.
Safe-drivers generally don’t get involved in accidents, or get traffic tickets and thus attract bigger advantages such as discounts and affordable premiums. On the other hand, providing insurance coverage to high-risk drivers is very risky since they are likely to get a DUI (Driving Under Influence), traffic ticket or be involved in an accident. Therefore, high-risk drivers will pay more without getting discounts or other insurance benefits.
Traffic laws are meant to keep every road user safe. If all road rules were to be obeyed by everyone, there would be no accidents. Note that different routes have different features that every driver needs to adapt to; these features include speed limits, road signs, and the number of lanes. You shouldn't drive in the wrong direction, speed at school areas or keep driving at red lights. Although these offenses may not end up in an accident, traffic offers will pull you over if you commit any of them. After being pulled over for a traffic offense, you’ll be fined, and DMV will document this and attach it to your driving record.
Eventually, your insurer will check these records, and if any critical violation appears on your driving record, the auto insurance company will transfer you from the category of safe-drivers to the category of high-risk driver; meaning you’ll pay higher for coverage.

How much will my premiums increase?

Different traffic tickets attract different rates; thus it’s tough to determine the actual amount of increase in premiums. Well, some tickets will increase your premiums slightly, but others will even break the bank. For example, parking fines may not attract any increase in premiums regardless of the amount you have collected. They can only cause difficulties in vehicle registration renewal. However, a DUI can be quite an issue. Therefore, more severe offenses result in greater consequences. Some major traffic violations include over-speeding, reckless or careless driving and driving while intoxicated. All of these violations have a high likelihood of causing fatal accidents. Remember, a traffic ticket isn’t erasable easily. Even if you receive a traffic ticket in one state, this record will be reflected in your driving record in other states.