How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Texas
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If you get pulled over for speeding in Texas, your first concern might be about how much the ticket costs. However, the real expense usually comes from higher car insurance premiums, which you may have to pay for a few years. Drivers who speed in Texas often see their premiums climb by about nine percent, but there are ways you can save on coverage. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team is here to walk you through how a ticket impacts your insurance premium and what options you have in the Lone Star State.
How much is a speeding ticket in Texas?
In Texas, the cost of a speeding ticket varies by county, with most speeding tickets ranging from $130 to $300. Some counties charge a flat fee, while others base the fine on how fast you were driving. Bear in mind that you’ll usually pay considerably more if you speed in a school or construction zone.
In addition to the speeding ticket, a Texas driver’s car insurance premium will also go up. On average, Texas drivers pay an average of $2,880 per year for full coverage and $831 per year for minimum coverage following a speeding ticket, which is 9 percent more than the average rate for a Texas driver with a clean record.
Here’s how a speeding ticket may be classified or fined according to Texas laws:
- Misdemeanor: Most speeding tickets are classified as misdemeanors and carry a $130 to $300 fine plus court costs, if applicable.
- Reckless driving conviction: If a speeding driver is found to be recklessly driving, they could be charged with a misdemeanor, up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $200.
- Felony charges: If a speeding driver causes the death of someone, the driver might be charged with vehicular manslaughter or homicide charges. If convicted, the driver could face jail time and significant fines.
The cheapest car insurance for Texas drivers with a speeding ticket
Just because your insurance will probably go up doesn’t mean you can’t find cheap car insurance in Texas. Since every car insurance provider weighs personal factors, like your driving record, differently, if you shop for coverage, you can find the company that offers you the lowest premium. Even though you might pay more than average for insurance coverage, you might be able to find a provider who writes affordable policies for drivers with infractions on their records.
Just keep in mind that you might not qualify for certain discounts if you have a speeding ticket on your record.
| Company | Avg. full coverage rate before speeding ticket | Avg. full coverage rate after speeding ticket | % diff. from state average after speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $1,667 | $1,858 | 11% |
| Republic Lloyds | $1,835 | $1,969 | 7% |
| State Farm | $1,871 | $2,045 | 9% |
| USAA* | $1,895 | $2,153 | 14% |
| Nationwide | $2,356 | $2,494 | 6% |
*USAA is only available to veterans, active military members and their families.
What to do after a speeding ticket in Texas
You might not think you have many choices after getting a speeding ticket, but you do. Once you decide whether or not to fight the ticket, there are steps you can take to reduce the price of your car insurance and improve your driving habits.
Fight the ticket or pay the fine
If you don’t believe you should have received the ticket, you do have the right to fight it in court. In order to do this, you’ll probably want evidence that you can present. For example, offer statements from a witness, documentation from a mechanic that states you had a faulty speedometer or dashcam footage. If you don’t feel comfortable representing yourself, you might want to hire a traffic lawyer. They can walk you through what to expect during the court proceedings and help you argue your case.
Take a defensive driving course
In some cases, you might receive a message from the Texas court system saying that your ticket is eligible for dismissal if you complete an approved defensive driving course. Keep in mind that you’ll still have to pay the fine and any associated fees, but the ticket will be dismissed. This usually means that your insurance premium will not go up.
Request quotes from other insurance companies
Each insurance provider weighs unique factors differently to generate a driver’s premium. This means that even though you provide the same personal factors to multiple insurance companies, they offer you different rates. Following a ticket, you may want to request new quotes from several companies in order to compare which one offers you the cheapest policy. Remember to use the same coverage types and amounts so you can do an even comparison.
Look for discounts
Most insurance providers offer a handful of discounts that you can combine to lower your car insurance rate. For instance, if you already have a home or renters policy with a company, you could bundle it with your auto policy in order to get a bundling discount or multi-policy discount. Some companies also offer a premium reduction if you participate in a telematics program that tracks your driving habits.
Frequently asked questions
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There’s not a single best insurance company for Texas drivers with speeding tickets since each company weighs driving infractions differently. Companies also consider your location in Texas, vehicle, age and more when determining your insurance premium. This is why it can be so helpful to request quotes from several companies before purchasing a policy.
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No, you’re not legally required to inform your insurance provider about a moving violation. They will find out about it, however, when the policy comes up for renewal. At that point, you will most likely see your insurance premium go up, and you might lose some of your discounts.
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Although the ticket will remain permanently on your driving record, your insurance provider will usually only factor it into your rates for three to five years after the speeding incident. After this time, you might notice your premium goes back down.
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The cheapest car insurance company for you depends on several factors. Since different insurance providers weigh your driving record, age, gender, vehicle, ZIP code and more differently, it could pay to shop around and request quotes from several companies. To help you get started, Bankrate found that State Farm and Geico offer some of the lowest rates in Texas and could be worth looking into.
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base) and single speeding ticket.
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