On-Road Zoomers: Car Models with the Most Speeding Tickets

Click here to see the Car Models with the Most Speeding Tickets report for 2021.

Which cars tend to have the speediest drivers?

Getting out of the house and onto an open roadway may be one of the most liberating activities we can safely do nowadays. Despite our pent up energy from staying at home in quarantine, drivers should make sure to be aware of speed regulations on the road. According to USNews, while traffic overall in the United States has thinned out over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of reckless driving and speeding have spiked. These patterns are likely due to the lack of inhibitions drivers tend to feel when confronted with a non-congested road — without other drivers around you to set the pace, it can be easier to overdo it on the gas pedal.

When it comes to speeding violations, some particular models seem to be ticketed for exceeding the speed limit more than others. Maybe these car models are just unlucky enough to attract more attention, or maybe their drivers truly are adrenaline junkies. Either way, the research team at Insurify was curious to understand which car models have accumulated the most speeding violations.

Insights

• National averages. Across all car models, 10.54 percent of drivers have a speeding violation on their record. As of February 2020, the average transaction price for a lightweight vehicle is $37,876.

• Little change over time. Between 2019 and 2020, most of the car models that made the top ten list for speeding violations remained the same. Seven out of ten car models on this year’s list were also in last year’s top ten.

• Dodge is a speeding standout. The automobile brand with the most models that made the top ten is Dodge, representing four out of the top vehicles. In more recent years, Dodge has increased its focus on performance vehicles rather than purely functional models, perhaps influencing its drivers and their speeding tendencies.

• Affordable brands see more speeding violations. Despite the reputation of flashy sports cars like Ferraris and Mustangs flying down the street, the models that had the highest speeding violation rates were primarily sold at a starting retail price below the national average.

• Sports car-inspired models experience higher speeding rates. While the models with the most speeding violations are relatively affordable, many of them are in the vein of the high-performance sports car — convertibles and performance cars are greatly represented in the rankings. The drivers of these specific models may not be shelling out for the fanciest cars like Teslas or Porsches, but the aesthetic they are aspiring towards in their vehicle choice shows an affinity for life in the fast lane.

Methodology

The research team at Insurify, an auto insurance quote comparison platform, examined their database of over 2.5 million car insurance applications to identify the car models with the most speeding violations. To apply for quotes, drivers input personal and vehicle information, including the model of car they drive and whether or not they have been convicted of speeding in the past. The research team analyzed the number of car owners with a prior speeding violation against the total number of drivers for each model to determine the proportion with a speeding violation. From this selection, they narrowed down the subset to the models with the ten highest shares of ticketed drivers. Data on the cars’ MSRP and MPG was compiled by Autoblog for the most recent model available.

Car Models with the Most Speeding Tickets

10. Nissan 350Z

• Percentage of Nissan 350Z drivers with a speeding violation: 14.65%

• MSRP (Base Model): $36,870

• MPG: 17 City / 24 Highway

Coasting down the highway with the top down may be any driver’s dream, but owners of the Nissan 350Z had better be careful — drivers of this car experience speeding violations at a rate that’s 29 percent higher than the national average. Despite being the most expensive model on the list, the Nissan 350Z still markets itself as an affordable alternative to more high-end brands. Drivers of the 350Z may try to live up to this reputation by driving free and fast. Unfortunately, this also means that drivers of these models are more likely to get penalized for their speedy on-road behavior.

9. Dodge Charger

• Percentage of Charger drivers with a speeding violation: 14.71%

• MSRP (Base Model): $29,995

• MPG: 19 City / 30 Hwy

Drivers of Dodge Chargers certainly aren’t holding back from charging forward with great speed on the road. This model that “defines raw muscle”, according to Dodge, is ninth on the list of car models with the most speeding violations. Drivers of this Dodge model, the first of four on the top ten list, experience speeding violations at a rate that’s 29 percent above the national average. While the Dodge Charger is a relatively inexpensive model, sold at a cost 21 percent below the average vehicle price, it’s clear that its sensible price does not necessarily lead to sensible driving.

8. Dodge RAM 2500

• Percentage of RAM 2500 drivers with a speeding violation: 14.79%

• MSRP (Base Model): $21,580

• MPG: 14 City / 16 Hwy

The second Dodge model on the list, and a consistent figure in the rankings of car models with the most speed violations, the Dodge RAM 2500 comes in eighth for the fast pace of its drivers. While it has moved from sixth to eighth place for its speeding violations, drivers of the Dodge RAM 2500 are still remarkably speedy with a citation rate 29 percent higher than the nationwide mean. The Dodge RAM 2500 is also notably the only pickup truck in the top ten rankings. Don’t be fooled by its size and relative fuel inefficiency — Dodge RAM 2500 drivers are uninhibited by this pick-up truck’s bearings to reach high speeds on the road.

7. Dodge Challenger

• Percentage of Challenger drivers with a speeding violation: 15.09%

• MSRP (Base Model): $28,295

• MPG: 19 City / 30 Hwy

With a “big, brash personality” according to Dodge, the Challenger’s claim to the seventh-highest frequency of speeding infractions may be slightly unsurprising. Challenger drivers are ticketed for speeding at a rate that’s 31 percent higher than the norm. This is especially notable given that its share of speeding offenses didn’t even break the top 10 in the 2019 rankings.. Known for its all-wheel-drive and forceful engine, the Challenger boasts “a legacy of increasing adrenaline to satisfy any thrill seeker”. By targeting its marketing toward a consumer looking for an exciting ride, the Challenger’s messaging may influence how its drivers behave on the road. No wonder why they call it a Hellcat!

6. Hyundai Veloster

• Percentage of Veloster drivers with a speeding violation: 15.43%

• MSRP (Base Model): $18,900

• MPG: 25 City / 33 Hwy

Hyundai describes the Veloster as “both fun to look at and fun to drive” with a “sporty and aggressive design.” It may come as no shock then that the Veloster drivers have the sixth-highest rate of speeding violations of any car owners at 32 percent higher than the national average. While this hatchback stands out as a relatively affordable and fuel-efficient model, its high rate of speeding violations suggests that its drivers do not necessarily follow the Veloster’s embodiment of practicality.

5. Dodge Dart

• Percentage of Dart drivers with a speeding violation: 15.45%

• MSRP (Base Model): $16,995

• MPG: 25 City / 36 Hwy

The Dodge Dart is the fourth Dodge model and the fifth-highest speeding violation rate on the list. As a compact sedan, the Dart has historically made a name for itself as a reliable, sturdy, and safety-conscious vehicle. Even as its marketing skews towards the astute consumer, rather than the speed junkie, Dart drivers still tend to lay heavy on the gas pedal — their speeding violation rate is 32 percent higher than the average driver’s.

4. Infiniti G37

• Percentage of G37 drivers with a speeding violation: 15.61%

• MSRP (Base Model): $32,950

• MPG: 19 City / 27 Hwy

The fourth model on the list, the Infiniti G37, moved up from eighth place in last year’s rankings — these drivers’ speeding violation rate increased to 15.61, which is 33 percent higher than the national average. Not only is the G37 a repeat offender, but it also follows the overarching pattern of speed violators being comparatively affordable and practical versions of sports cars. Before it was discontinued, the G37 could come as a sedan, a coupe, or hardtop convertible — the vision of flying down the highway with the top down could very well have been an aspiration of Infiniti G37 owners, hiking up their speeding rates.

3. Subaru Impreza

• Percentage of Impreza drivers with a speeding violation: 15.90%

• MSRP (Base Model): $18,695

• MPG: 24 City / 31 Hwy

Subaru describes the Impreza as a model that’s “as reliable and sensible as cars get.” Despite the Impreza’s physical features and built-in safety measures, such as the 2020 model’s automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, its drivers may not be so safety-conscious — their speeding violation rate is 34 percent higher than the national average. Hopefully, as more Impreza owners adapt to the newer models with the increased on-road protective measures, their overall driving behaviors will settle at more reasonable speeds.

2. Volkswagen GTI

• Percentage of GTI drivers with a speeding violation: 17.38%

• MSRP (Base Model): $24,395

• MPG: 25 City / 34 Hwy

With a 40 percent above-average speeding rate, the Volkswagen GTI rose in the ranks from third to second in this year’s list. Prior to its discontinuation, the GTI was marketed as a powerful sports car, albeit slightly bulkier and significantly more affordable than your typical sleek sports model. The only Volkswagen to make the list, the GTI follows the pattern of car models that are somewhat more practical versions of high-end sports cars — considering factors like fuel efficiency, base price, and safety features — experiencing high rates of speeding violations.

1. Subaru WRX

• Percentage of WRX drivers with a speeding violation: 20.49%

• MSRP (Base Model): $27,495

• MPG: 21 City / 27 Hwy

The Subaru WRX has maintained its spot at number one in the rankings for the car model with the most speeding violations. Subaru owners are widely considered to be practical and value functionality over flashiness, which makes the WRX’s 49 percent higher-than-average speeding rate somewhat surprising. The Subaru WRX does boast a high volume of safety features, including brake assist and traction control systems. Perhaps the abundance of safety precautions enables WRX drivers to go faster than normal, but in any case, it’s evident that these Subaru drivers are consistently getting caught for violating speed regulations on the road.

If you have questions or comments about this article, please contact insights@insurify.com.