Getting a traffic ticket involves more cost than just the fine that you are assessed. You could end up with points on your license that could raise the cost of your car insurance policy. Before you plead guilty to any traffic offense, you need to consider the other consequences, including a more expensive insurance policy. If necessary, you should fight the traffic ticket with the help of an experienced lawyer.
Traffic Tickets Are an Indicator of a Riskier Driver
Insurance companies are in the business of taking on risk. They become legally responsible for any of your actions behind the wheel. They must pay up to the amount of the policy limit if you were to blame for the accident. In exchange, an insurance company charges you money for its assumption of risk.
An insurance company needs to appropriately price the risk that you personally would pose to other drivers. When an insurance company gives you a quote for a policy, they are making an individualized determination of your own driving record and safety habits. If the insurance company thinks that you would be more dangerous, you would be more at risk of causing them financial losses, and they would need to price your policy appropriately.
Traffic tickets are a prime example of a driver who may have unsafe habits that could raise the insurance company’s overall risk profile. Even if you have simply made a mistake or had a one-time lapse and were caught speeding, these are still things that the insurance company would need to consider. All they see is your driving record and what you may be doing at one moment in time. Accordingly, even if the insurance company sees one ticket, they could think that you are a larger risk and want to charge you more money.
The Insurance Company Would Raise the Price of Your Next Policy
When you are renewing your car insurance policy, the insurance company would conduct a new search of your driving record, and they would see your ticket. They would reprice your insurance, charging you more than they did at your last policy renewal.
How much your insurance goes up depends on both the individual insurance company involved and the nature of the traffic offense. If you have received a serious ticket, such as a DUI or reckless driving, you can expect to pay far more in insurance. Even a speeding ticket could result in a 20% to 30% increase in your premiums. It would take several years for the ticket to come off your record and for your premiums to be lowered.
Car insurance prices in New Jersey are already high enough. Customers report paying 40% or more in increased premiums just due to inflation. The cost of a traffic ticket would be beyond these already higher costs. You could be looking at more than $3,000 in higher insurance costs over the life of your policy before the ticket comes off your record.
At the very minimum, you could expect that a speeding ticket would cost you at least $1,500 in increased insurance costs. This fact alone would give you an incentive to fight a traffic ticket in court. Even if you only succeed in removing the points associated with a conviction, you would still be saving yourself a significant amount of money.
Contact the New Jersey Ticket Lawyers at Ellis Law if You Need Legal Help to Resolve Your Traffic Ticket Issue
The New Jersey ticket lawyers at Ellis Law can represent you in traffic court if you seek to contest a ticket. Hiring a lawyer to help you go in front of the judge can be a worthwhile investment, especially when you have grounds to fight the traffic ticket. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 732-702-6103 or submit our online form. We have offices in New Jersey and New York and serve clients throughout both states.
