How long before a Speeding Ticket is supposed to raise insurance rates??

[zlloyd1]

Hello all, just joined here, and have a question about my auto insurance with Geico....
I pay my insurance on a 6 month plan, and just today got a notification that they need a payment in advance this time around. So, I went to pay it, and saw that my insurance premiums had increased from the last time around. This confused me as I have not had any traffic infractions since last Summer.
I contacted them about this and was informed that the increase was the result of a speeding ticket i got last August. My last payment on the previous 6 month balance was in December, and I asked why the delay, and was told that they have to wait until the case is completely closed before changing my rates. This was also confusing to me as I knew that I have not had a ticket for almost a year now, and they said the amount of time to close a case differs, and is determined by the court systems.
So my question is this, how long before a speeding ticket comes back and increases your insurance payments??
The answer I got from them was unhelpful and concerning, that they can determine a rate increase up to 5 years following an infraction.
Also, how long before a traffic court case is actually finished??
Their answer to this was also concerning, as I paid this ticket immediately when it occurred, that there is no way to know this without contacting the court clerks.
So basically, if I got a speeding ticket 4 years ago, my rates might increase next time around?? That seems a bit confused for someone who has been with Geico for 6 years now!!

 

[mjkacmom]

Next time go to traffic court and pay extra to lower the points, I think higher rates stick with you for 3 years.

 

[JimMIA]

Traffic ticket policies vary greatly from state to state, and how traffic issues affect insurance rates also varies a lot from company to company.

With a traffic violation, I think how the insurance company responds is totally up to the company and probably depends on a lot of things including your age and sex, driving history, and many other factors. For the insurance company, the issue with a speeding ticket is that the violation indicates to them that you are a higher risk than someone who hasn't had a ticket in many years.

"Points" on your license are not the issue, although they are certainly important for keeping your license.

The court records are irrelevant. You got the ticket. They know you got the ticket, and by paying the ticket you acknowledged your mistake. At this point, I think your only option is to try another insurance company.

GEICO is a great company, but they're not the only company. We had GEICO for years, but even without any tickets or accidents their rates just got too high for us because of the crazy Miami drivers. We switched first to Met Life & Casualty and were very pleased, and later switched to Progressive, who have also been great.

I would check with other companies. Explain the ticket to them and see what they say -- don't try to hide it.

 

[lanejudy]

When exactly a ticket impacts your rates depends on when the insurance company checks your driving record and their algorithm for determining rates. It usually will not impact mid-policy-period, but rather take effect on the renewal. So yes there can be a lag. Try shopping around for new insurance to check rates others may offer to you.

 

[wildride]

here in MA - 6 years. The rate of increase is determined by the actual violation.

Try another company some will forgive the first accident or violation

 

[tvguy]

I'm confused. You are upset that they waited to raise your rates? At least here in California, the information is all reported by the courts to DMV. Insurance companies pay to have the DMV report violations to them. So how often your insurance company checks your driving record would determine when the rate hike went into effect. I think mine checks once a policy period, so every six months.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Hello all, just joined here, and have a question about my auto insurance with Geico....
I pay my insurance on a 6 month plan, and just today got a notification that they need a payment in advance this time around. So, I went to pay it, and saw that my insurance premiums had increased from the last time around. This confused me as I have not had any traffic infractions since last Summer.
I contacted them about this and was informed that the increase was the result of a speeding ticket i got last August. My last payment on the previous 6 month balance was in December, and I asked why the delay, and was told that they have to wait until the case is completely closed before changing my rates. This was also confusing to me as I knew that I have not had a ticket for almost a year now, and they said the amount of time to close a case differs, and is determined by the court systems.
So my question is this, how long before a speeding ticket comes back and increases your insurance payments??
The answer I got from them was unhelpful and concerning, that they can determine a rate increase up to 5 years following an infraction.
Also, how long before a traffic court case is actually finished??
Their answer to this was also concerning, as I paid this ticket immediately when it occurred, that there is no way to know this without contacting the court clerks.
So basically, if I got a speeding ticket 4 years ago, my rates might increase next time around?? That seems a bit confused for someone who has been with Geico for 6 years now!!

Depends on the state, and it also matters how much above the speed limit you were going. You should speak to a local insurance agent who can give you more info and answer your questions.

 

[Kittyblue]

I know this doesn't answer your question, but I agree with checking rates from other companies. DH had a ticket and fender bender when we were with Geico and our rates went way up, but we were offered a much lower rate from AAA even with his extra points.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I had Geico from 2006 to 2011. I have NEVER in my entire life been pulled over, so no tickets at all, and no accidents either. My rates went up every 6 months anyway. The only answer I ever got was "your car is getting older"

 

[disneychrista]

California it is reported to DMV upon "conviction" (when you pay the fine). You can do traffic school every 18 months to prevent the point from going on your record. You have to pay a fee to the court to do traffic school on top of the cost of traffic school.

 

[mom2rtk]

I had Geico from 2006 to 2011. I have NEVER in my entire life been pulled over, so no tickets at all, and no accidents either. My rates went up every 6 months anyway. The only answer I ever got was "your car is getting older"

And if you got a newer one, they would have gone up "because it's newer".

 

[zlloyd1]

I'm confused. You are upset that they waited to raise your rates? At least here in California, the information is all reported by the courts to DMV. Insurance companies pay to have the DMV report violations to them. So how often your insurance company checks your driving record would determine when the rate hike went into effect. I think mine checks once a policy period, so every six months.

Yes, I agree with you there, ti does seem that Geico does not check your driving record every time you make a payment, but instead as you said, every time you renew!!

 

[zlloyd1]

Thanks to all who took the time to respond, but I have just come to grips with the added costs now....
Still, I greatly appreciate the comments, and information, it was helpful!!

 

[spiders]

The damage is done but State Farm does not check. It's actually one of the reasons I'm still with them is because I'm waiting for a ticket to drop off because if I try to switch then the new rate will obviously reflect a ticket.

 

[zlloyd1]

The damage is done but State Farm does not check. It's actually one of the reasons I'm still with them is because I'm waiting for a ticket to drop off because if I try to switch then the new rate will obviously reflect a ticket.

Thanks, I will take a look into State Farm. I actually think that is one that I had not checked yet. All of the other insurance companies I check wanted even more than Geico. As such, I am not certain I will find a better price right now, but I will check up on State Farm, they are right at the corner of Chesapeake, basically across the street.
Thanks!!

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, I agree with you there, ti does seem that Geico does not check your driving record every time you make a payment, but instead as you said, every time you renew!!

I’d be surprised if any insurance company would check every time you make a payment especially if paying monthly. You have a rate for the length of the policy and your monthly payment schedule is based on that 6-month (or 12-month) rate. At renewal is pretty common. Though depending on the timing of the ticket with relation to your renewal, it could take a couple of policy cycles to catch up with you.

 

[cobright]

So my question is this, how long before a speeding ticket comes back and increases your insurance payments??

It can vary from state to state but usually what happens is getting a moving violation results in some sort of 'insurance points' against your license (separate from the license points system). This aspect of your driving record is updated by the state and some limited access to it is available to insurance underwriters. But no company is going to check your record daily to see if you got any violations. Maybe they check it every 3 or 6 months. and the state doesn't have a set time to add it.

So you get a ticket, the state waits until the timeframe allowed to you to contest it is past before recording your infractions, and maybe a short time before that day Geico takes a peek and sees that nothing is changed.

You know that as soon as the insurance knows about the accident they are going to raise your premiums, so usually every extra day between the two is considered a gift.

Side note... this is why you contest every moving violation. If nothing else, it increases the time before the insurance gets wind of it. Best case scenario, the court reduces the moving violation to a civil infraction. Same fine, no points.