Speeding ticket/3 demerit pts - how much insurance premium increase?

[royaljelly]

Hey Guys,

My wife was caught speeding (driving 73 in a 50 school zone). Ticket is for $111+ and 3 demerit points.

We really don't have the time to go all the way downtown or whever the courts are to fight the ticket, so just wondering how much will insurance co. typically raise your premiums? This is her first ever driving offence. I think she's paying about $1600 per year on insurance right now.

One other person mentioned that not all insurance co. check driving records each year, is that right? And if they do increase the premium, does it only stay on your record for 3-5 years?

BTW, I'm located in Toronto.

Thanks.

[madrukus]

i dont think you're gonna wanna just accept the ticket hoping that they dont check. hire one of those companies if you dont have the time to go yourself. i've had three tickets so far (145 in a 100, 70 in a 50, and 130 in a 100) STOPP got me off all of them. (no points no fine, NO INSURANCE RATE HIKE!) personally i dont think anyone should ever just pay a ticket, theres so much chance to get out of it.

[diabolical7]

i think u'll be better off to fight it... but probably i'd be looking at a 50-70% increase

[warpdrive]

1 ticket should not affect your premiums. Most insurance policies (except ones that are reduced for perfect driving records)

It's still worth it to fight it, because it stays on your record for 3 years typically.

[jerryhung]

Tickets stay for 3 years

My last speeding ticket May 2005 didn't increase my premimum at all (130 on 401)

Insurance companies don't always check annually, they do random checks, or when you have major changes (like moving, passing 25, etc..)

i dont think you're gonna wanna just accept the ticket hoping that they dont check. hire one of those companies if you dont have the time to go yourself. i've had three tickets so far (145 in a 100, 70 in a 50, and 130 in a 100) STOPP got me off all of them. (no points no fine, NO INSURANCE RATE HIKE!) personally i dont think anyone should ever just pay a ticket, theres so much chance to get out of it.

And how much did you pay to STOPP? I'm sure they don't work for free :)

[gilboman]

Tickets stay for 3 years

My last speeding ticket May 2005 didn't increase my premimum at all (130 on 401)

Insurance companies don't always check annually, they do random checks, or when you have major changes (like moving, passing 25, etc..)



And how much did you pay to STOPP? I'm sure they don't work for free :)

you should always fight it because if you don't...you used up your freebie and the next one will increase in a raise. thus you need to always fight your tickets. i'm not sure about STOPP..but typically a ticket fighting place charges around 300 to fight a ticket which is peanuts compared to rise in premiums if you get a second one.

[TrevorK]

Since you don't say where you're located; in Alberta 1 minor ticket will not cause an increase in insurance.

[madrukus]

And how much did you pay to STOPP? I'm sure they don't work for free :)

it was around $300 and change i think. was a good move for me cuz they re-evaluated my coverage at the end of that year (4 months later)

[sshe11]

I really think you should fight the ticket ...

[nsr250]

Even a minor ticket will increase your insurance by at least 5%. If you do go to those ticket fighting cases MOST of the time they just get your ticket reduced to a minor and consider it a win. But you're insurance will still raise.

[Shaner]

Even a minor ticket will increase your insurance by at least 5%. If you do go to those ticket fighting cases MOST of the time they just get your ticket reduced to a minor and consider it a win. But you're insurance will still raise.

For most people, one ticket will not cause your premiums to increase. I have one speeding ticket from almost 2 years ago, my insurance company knows about and they didn't raise my rates. They told me I get one freebie, as do most people.

[nsr250]

For most people, one ticket will not cause your premiums to increase. I have one speeding ticket from almost 2 years ago, my insurance company knows about and they didn't raise my rates. They told me I get one freebie, as do most people.

It all depends what company you're with too. My insurance company were jerks , I got my first minor ticket and they auctomatically surcharged 5%. I switched to another company now though.

[ProfessorChaos]

just fight it...

and this teaches a lesson not to speed in a school zone...

let me tell you from personal experience....a friend of mine was hit by a speeding car while crossing the street on his bike(in front of the school in the school zone area)....the driver acted as if it wasn't his fault....even though my friend basically flew over the car on impact and landed behind the car on his face...police report said the driver was going about 85 in the 40 school zone....all i visited my friend a few days after the incident....it wasn't pretty...a broken leg and black bruises everywhere with 5 knocked out teeth....it could have been much worse

[royaljelly]

Thanks for all the replies thus far...

I've also heard that any combination of 2 offences within one "household" will also raise your entire family's premiums (eg. 2 speeding tickets, 2 car accidents, etc). Thus, if my wife gets one and I get one later on, then are we both affected? Is this true with some insurance co.?

If so, I better well fight it then.

[Sampras5211]

To The Op. Here Is Your Answer. Why Not Call Your Insurance Broker Re: Premium Increase And Ask The Question. Problem Solved>

[royaljelly]

To The Op. Here Is Your Answer. Why Not Call Your Insurance Broker Re: Premium Increase And Ask The Question. Problem Solved>
I don't see that as a very smart move, to actually call them up and ask outright. The whole point is to hope that they are not aware that I have a ticket and that they won't go searching and increasing my premiums as a result.

[rundmc2005]

The last thing you want to do is call your broker and inform them about the speeding ticket... speeding in a school zone should be accounted as a major.. not a minor ticket.. but I guess it really depends on the insurance company.

There are 2 classes of tickets insurance companies use.. minors are for just normal speeding tickets.. demerit points aren't taken into consideration.. major tickets are, for example, not stopping at a school bus stop when its lights are flashing.. and also speeding in a school zone (altho I am not 100% sure) ..

If you call them to ask for assistance, you are basically telling them to reivew your file @ renewal.. which is not something you want to do... Because insurance companies have alot of clients... they do not review each one every year.. just the ones that they have concern with.. ie) huge claims .. bad driving record ...

As for how much your rates will increase.. it really depends what your * rating with your ins carrier is.. if you're one of the better drivers and have a higher rating.. it won't affect it as much as say .. a G2 driver getting the same speeding ticket.


Hope this helps.

[rundmc2005]

Also, forgot to mention.. if you fight it and end up paying anything (reduced penalty).. it still counts as a ticket since you're basically admitting to it..

The only thing with fighting it is.. the 3 yrs on your insurance record begins on the date of the court sentencing.. not the date you got the ticket. If you don't decide to fight it.. it starts the date you receive the ticket.

So it really depends.. because you may have to wait 3 months for a court date.. and thats' just 3 more months you'll have to wait until the ticket comes off the books in 3 years.


Some food for thought.

[Sampras5211]

ok then dont call your insurer. Keep it quiet but dont complain if you do get caught and they do increase your premium, or even WORSE for that matter when you are questioned on another claim you may have and they ask "have you had any accidents or tickets,etc" and you advise yes and they didnt know possible misrepresentation if they require you to advise on all incidents of this nature. This would void your policy back to its inception date.

How bout you do this then. call up and ask the question as a "what if" you dont have to say that this actually happened to you or not but "what if" you were caught speeding does this normally increase your premiums. Your broker should be working on your behalf you shouldnt be wondering how best to beat the system all the time. this leads to fraud and other problems for insurers.

[GuiltySpark]

DO NOT call your ins. company!
Don't even think about calling 'Points' or 'X-Copper' or any of those scams. Go to the courthouse and request a 'First Appearance', at the first appearance, tell them this is your first ticket and it was an anomaly compared to your prior driving record. Request the ticket be dropped to 65/50 and get 0 points taken off and if you're lucky, you'll get the $$ dropped too.
the First Appearance is a way for the courts to clear their backlog of cases and generally speed the whole thing up. I've had 2 tickets and both times they were lowered significantly.
Best of luck!

[Sampras5211]

DO NOT call your ins. company!
Don't even think about calling 'Points' or 'X-Copper' or any of those scams. Go to the courthouse and request a 'First Appearance', at the first appearance, tell them this is your first ticket and it was an anomaly compared to your prior driving record. Request the ticket be dropped to 65/50 and get 0 points taken off and if you're lucky, you'll get the $$ dropped too.
the First Appearance is a way for the courts to clear their backlog of cases and generally speed the whole thing up. I've had 2 tickets and both times they were lowered significantly.
Best of luck!


http://www.roadwarriors.ca/resources/tutorial/forms/NoticeOfIntention.pdf

REMEMBER* You have 15 days to indicate to the court that you wish to schedule a trial to fight your traffic ticket. Any longer then 15 days can result in a traffic ticket conviction.

Schedule a Trial Date NOT a First Attendance Meeting
Some court offices that require you to attend in person in order to schedule a court date will attempt to persuade you to call in and set up an appointment to meet with the prosecutor. It begs the question: Why allow us to call in to set up a ‘First Attendance Meeting’ with the prosecutor but not allow us to schedule a trial date over the phone? The First Attendance Meeting is simply another deterrent used to discourage you from going to trial. The prosecutor at the meeting, without first providing you with the evidence, will attempt to reach a plea resolution with you. He or she will attempt to convince you to plead guilty to a lesser charge. The First Attendance Meeting is a waste of time. You have the option of reaching a plea resolution agreement or going to trial during the trial date itself, so the meeting is just an unnecessary extra step (unless you are certain you only want to plea negotiate and not go to trial at all, despite not looking over the evidence first). So, save yourself some time and request for a trial date NOT a First Attendance Meeting. Be firm with the Clerk at the office by stating you require a ‘TRIAL’ date.

*Please note that the 'First Attendance' Meeting is different from the 'First Appearance' court date assigned to people with Part III charges. If you received a Part III charge and are summoned to court for a First Appearance, it is important you attend court on the assigned day*

Sounds like fun.