Here’s How Long a Speeding Ticket Stays on Your Record

Depending on where you live, a speeding ticket can remain on your record anywhere from one to 10 years.

Jamie Johnson
Written byJamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
  • 6 years experience in personal finance writing

  • Featured on Credit Karma and Insider

Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.

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Evelyn Pimplaskar
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
  • 10+ years in insurance and personal finance content

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Updated September 1, 2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes

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It’s common knowledge that if you’re caught speeding, you’ll have to pay a fine. But that’s far from the only cost of a speeding ticket. Depending on where you live, a speeding ticket can stay on your driving record for one to 10 years — and increase your insurance costs for three to five years.

Speeding tickets are a fairly common driving infraction, and they can increase your car insurance premiums. All licensed drivers should understand the effect of speeding tickets, how long they’ll stay on your record, and how comparing quotes from multiple insurers can help mitigate a ticket’s effect on your car insurance rates.

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How long a ticket stays on your driver’s license record

The amount of time a speeding ticket stays on your driving record can vary depending on where you live and the severity of the offense. The number of miles per hour you were driving above the posted speed limit can determine the severity of the ticket.

If you’re convicted of speeding, your state’s motor vehicle agency will assign a certain number of driver’s license points to your record. If you accrue too many points, insurance companies will see you as a high-risk driver.

Depending on your state, a speeding ticket can stay on your record anywhere from one to 10 years. If you want to see where you stand, you can request a copy of your driving record from the state for a small fee.

The following table outlines how long a speeding ticket will stay on your record in different states.

State
Years
State
Years
AlabamaPermanent, but driver’s license points drop off record after 2 yearsNebraska5 years
Alaska1 yearNevadaPermanent, but points drop off after 1 year
Arizona1 yearNew Hampshire3 years
Arkansas3 yearsNew JerseyPermanent
California3 years or longerNew Mexico3–4 years
Colorado5–10 yearsNew York4 years (points drop off after 18 months)
Connecticut2 yearsNorth Carolina3 years
Delaware5 yearsNorth Dakota3 years
Florida5 years or longerOhio3 years
Georgia2 yearsOklahoma3 years
Hawaii10 yearsOregon5 years
Idaho3 yearsPennsylvania5–10 years
Illinois4–5 yearsRhode Island3 years
Indiana2 yearsSouth Carolina2 years
Iowa5 yearsSouth Dakota3 years
Kansas3 yearsTennessee2 years
Kentucky2 yearsTexas3 years
Louisiana3 yearsUtah3 years
Maine5 yearsVermont2 years​​
Maryland3 yearsVirginia5 years
Massachusetts6 yearsWashington5 years
Michigan7 yearsWashington, D.C.2 years
Minnesota5 yearsWest Virginia5 years
Mississippi3 yearsWisconsin5 years
Missouri3 yearsWyoming3 years
MontanaIndefinitely  

How a speeding ticket affects car insurance

Receiving even one traffic ticket will cause your car insurance costs to increase. Speeding is a form of reckless driving and endangers other people on the road. Speeding causes accidents and contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2021.[1]

The following table shows full-coverage car insurance quotes for drivers with a clean driving record as opposed to one speeding ticket. As you can see, drivers with a clean record pay lower rates for car insurance than someone with a bad driving record. Plus, maintaining a clean driving record for several years can help you qualify for a good driver discount if your insurer offers one.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT
Insurance Company
Clean Record
With Speeding Ticket
COUNTRY Financial$40$50
NJM$54$78
Auto-Owners$76$91
Erie$93$116
USAA$100$118
Mile Auto$101$127
Root$110$150
Metromile$115$152
GEICO$121$143
State Farm$121$140
CSAA$130$161
Allstate$137$162
Progressive$138$163
Safeco$142$173
Mercury$161$221
National General$166$199
American Family$167$197
The Hartford$174$253
Clearcover$179$219
Nationwide$185$223
Direct Auto$191$225
Travelers$194$233
State Auto$194$273
Elephant$195$272
Shelter$206$265
Dairyland$231$275
The General$237$288
Chubb$238$291
21st Century$247$314
AssuranceAmerica$247$300
Farmers$248$290
Infinity$254$326
Liberty Mutual$254$354
Bristol West$267$316
Amica$280$391
GAINSCO$283$395
Foremost$292$407
Commonwealth Casualty$308$430
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

How long does a speeding ticket affect car insurance?

The length of time a speeding ticket affects your insurance depends on your auto insurance company. On average, a speeding ticket can increase your auto insurance costs for three to five years. But the exact effect will vary depending on your driving history and the severity of the offense.

It’s a good idea to contact your insurer with any questions about how a speeding ticket will affect your premiums. Some car insurance companies offer ways to mitigate the cost of speeding tickets, like taking a defensive driving course.

Keep Reading: What Is a Defensive Driving Course and How Do You Enroll in One?

Keep Reading: What Is a Defensive Driving Course and How Do You Enroll in One?

Other effects of a speeding ticket

An increase in car insurance premiums isn’t the only potential consequence of a speeding ticket — here are other ways a single ticket can affect you:

  • Fines: Anytime you receive a speeding ticket, you’re responsible for paying the fine. Most fines cost between $75 and $400, depending on how much faster you were driving over the posted speed limit.[2]

  • Driver’s license points: When you’re caught engaging in a moving violation, your state’s motor vehicle agency adds a certain number of points to your driving record. The number of points depends on the violation. Each state has its own points system and rules regarding the number of years these points will stay on your record.

  • License suspension: Receiving too many demerit points can result in a suspension of your driver’s license and registration. Most states will send a warning letter if you’re in danger of this happening.

How to find cheap car insurance after a speeding ticket

Here are some steps you can take to find affordable car insurance after a ticket:

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/fa11c1fe75/comparison-website.svg

    Comparison shop

    Every insurance company allows speeding tickets to affect rates a bit differently. Compare quotes from at least three different insurers to see which car insurance company offers you the best auto insurance rates.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/150x150/3b97fae014/money-96x96-blue_033-magnifying-glass.svg

    Look for discounts

    Taking advantage of car insurance discounts can help mitigate some of the effects of a ticket. For example, you could earn a discount for bundling your auto and home insurance.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/c822f20cb3/billing-related.svg

    Adjust your deductible

    A deductible is an out-of-pocket expense you pay when filing a collision or comprehensive insurance claim. Increasing a $500 deductible to $1,000 can lower your insurance premiums.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/ba9869f2f9/defensive-driving.svg

    Take a defensive driving course

    Some states require insurance companies to give you a discount for completing a defensive driving course. Contact your insurer to see if this is an option.

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How to get a speeding ticket off your record

In most states, you can remove a speeding ticket from your driving record by taking a traffic school course. But there may be a limit on how many times you can have a ticket removed from your record.

You can also contact an attorney to see if they can have the charges dropped from your motor vehicle record. This process will likely be easier if it’s your first speeding ticket.

Learn More: 10 States With the Most Speeding Tickets

Learn More: 10 States With the Most Speeding Tickets

Speeding tickets and insurance FAQs

Here’s some additional information about speeding tickets and how they affect car insurance rates.

  • How long will your car insurance rates be high if you have a speeding ticket?

    After a speeding ticket, most drivers will see their insurance rates go up once they renew their policy. A ticket can affect your insurance rates for three to five years, depending on your insurance company and driving history.

  • How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in New York?

    In New York state, a speeding conviction will stay on your driving record for 18 months.[3] Speeding results in three to 11 license violation points, depending on how many miles per hour you drove over the speed limit, according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The Driver Violation Point System calculates your points based on the date of the violation, and if you receive 11 points in 18 months, your license could be suspended.

  • How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in Nevada?

    In Nevada, a speeding ticket will stay on your record for one year after conviction. Once the 12-month period is up, the demerit points will fall off, but the conviction remains part of your permanent record.[4]

  • Can you get a speeding ticket off your record?

    Some states will wipe a speeding ticket off your record if you attend traffic school. But most states limit the number of times you can remove a ticket from your driving record. For example, Nevada will only allow you to attend traffic school once within a 12-month period.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Speeding."
  2. NOLO. "Traffic Fines, License Suspensions, and Traffic School."
  3. New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "About the New York State Driver Point System."
  4. Nevada Division of Motor Vehicles. "Demerit Point System."
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson

Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.

Evelyn Pimplaskar
Edited byEvelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
Evelyn Pimplaskar
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
  • 10+ years in insurance and personal finance content

  • 30+ years in media, PR, and content creation

Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.

Featured in

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