How Long Does A Speeding Ticket Stay On Your Record?

There are only a few things in life that are more frustrating than being pulled over by the police for speeding while driving. Unless the officer lets you off with a warning, you’re likely to get a speeding ticket. 

According to statistics, the US traffic police issue nearly 41 million speeding tickets annually with fines ranging from $20 to hundreds of dollars. However, the consequences can easily extend from a small fine to license suspension and even jail time, depending on the state and your driving record, which also affect your insurance rates. 

One of the most frequently asked questions by motorists in the US is, “How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?” In this post, we’ll help readers understand the effects of speeding tickets on their driving records, status, and auto insurance. 

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay On Your Record?

Once a traffic officer writes a ticket for your traffic violation, such as speeding, it will stay on the DMV record for at least one year, depending on the state where the violation occurred. 

For example, in California, speeding tickets are taken off your record after 39 months. But in Nebraska or Washington, they will stay on your record for five years. 

On the other hand, in Colorado and Alabama, more serious traffic violations, like speeding due to DUI or reckless driving, stay on the record forever. 

Speeding Tickets and Your Driver’s License

The US Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) uses a point-based system to monitor traffic violations. However, the system is also influenced by state laws and guidelines that determine the citation severity following the incidents. 

The math is simple, though — if you receive a speeding ticket, the DMV will add some demerit points to your driving record. 

The number of points added and the penalties and consequences of the traffic violation vary from state to state. Having too many demerit points can lead to temporary or permanent driver’s license suspension, depending on your speed, previous violations, or any injuries caused in case of an accident. 

Speeding Ticket and Your Auto Insurance

Your age and income affect your insurance premium. However, one of the most important things insurance companies consider when determining your rates is your driving record. If you have a clean record, you can potentially save thousands of dollars annually. However, if you have a speeding ticket on your record, you’ll likely pay more. 

In some cases, insurance providers might find you ineligible for their plans due to your high-risk status. To determine your risk level, these companies will assess your entire driving record, including accidents, tickets, DUIs, reckless driving, and other incidents.

The more severe your traffic violation, the higher your premiums will be. For example, if you face license suspension, many companies can decline to write your policy, and you’ll be stuck with limited options that specifically deal with high-risk drivers. 

Speeding Ticket Rules and Limits in the Different States

Speeding tickets are issued to drivers who violate speed restriction laws while driving. Generally, every state follows two-speed restriction law types:

• Laws Specifying Maximum Speed Limits

Depending on the infrastructure and pedestrian traffic in a particular area, the state may declare maximum speed limits for highways (usually 65 mph) and school zones (usually 25–30 mph).

• Laws Requiring Drivers to Operate Their Vehicles at a Speed That Is Reasonable Under the Circumstances

For example, even if the max speed limit on a rural highway is 65 mph, you should try keeping it way under this limit during rainstorms and high winds, which can disrupt vision, cause distractions, or lead to damage by debris. This can also potentially result in a speeding ticket since your actions can pose a threat to other drivers. 

Absolute Speed Limits

Absolute speed limits are the most important speed laws drivers have to follow. For example, if a traffic sign states 60 mph, exceeding this limit will result in a traffic violation. 

Presumed Speed Limits

Many states around the country, such as Texas, allow drivers to drive over the specified speed limit as long as they’re driving safely. However, this doesn’t mean drivers should drive 40 mph in a 35-mph zone. It might be legal, but that is for the officer to decide if they pull you over, as these violations are more nuanced. 

However, if it’s a clear, sunny day with little or no traffic on a highway, you can convince the judge that you were driving safely, given the conditions. 

The Basic Speed Law Theory

This theory states that an officer can issue you a ticket even if you were driving under the speed limit due to the driving conditions at that moment. For example, if you were doing 30 mph on icy roads, an officer could decide that you were going much faster than you should’ve been. 

Here’s a list showing how long a speeding ticket will stay on your record in different states, along with the action/penalties taken:

What Kind of Tickets Affect Your Insurance?

If you’ve been caught speeding or got any other traffic ticket, you can face steep penalties from your auto insurance company. How much you’ll have to pay depends on your state laws, the severity of the violation, and the damages.

The traffic violation that causes the biggest impact on insurance rates is a hit and run. Negligent drivers can pay up to 82% more for premiums following the incident. 

Here are other kinds of tickets that can affect your insurance:

• Refusal of Breathalyzer
• Speeding in a School Zone
• Driving too Slowly
• Distracted Driving/Cell Phone Violation
• Driving with a Suspended License
• At-Fault Accident
• Driving with an Open Container
• Driving Under the Influence
• Racing
• Reckless Driving
• Operating a Vehicle Without Permission
• Driving with Expired Registration
• Failure to Show Documents
• Failure to Use Child Safety Restraint
• Driving Without Lights
• Failure to Wear a Seat Belt
• Passing a School Bus
• Improper Passing
• Following too Closely
• Illegal Turn
• Driving Wrong Way/Wrong Lane
• Failure to Yield

What Doesn't Impact Your Insurance?

Most insurers only assess your driving record for moving violations, such as infractions or accidents that occur due to speeding. For instance, a parking ticket won’t affect your premium.

However, not all speeding tickets have the same impact on your insurance premium. Some tickets can cause a significant increase in rates. For example, any overturned or expunged tickets from your driving record will influence your rates, no matter when the incident occurred. 

How to Save On Insurance After a Speeding Ticket

Insurance companies typically consider violations on your driving record for at least three years following the infraction. This is why you should compare car insurance companies in your city or state so you can find the best option. 

While your rates will undoubtedly increase after a speeding ticket, there are steps you can take to save on insurance:

• Shop Around

Every insurer determines a different percentage increase in rates after a ticket. If your insurance company decides to increase your rates, this is an opportunity to look for another provider that can offer better premiums. 

• Avoid More Moving Violations

The last thing you need is to add more traffic violations on top of your existing speeding tickets, especially more severe violations like DUIs or hit and runs. Not every insurance company will increase your premium after a single speeding ticket, but if it becomes a pattern, they might not let you off the hook in the future. 

• Go for a Defensive Driving Course

Leading auto insurance companies like Geico and State Farm offer this great program for customers. By taking a defensive driving course, you can lower your insurance rates. Additionally, drivers in New York can avail of a 10% discount for three years after completing the course. 

• Change Your Coverage Plan

If you can’t afford your plan any longer after the infraction, you can save money by switching to the minimum coverage plan, at least temporarily, until you become financially stable. This way, you can continue to drive legally as per your state laws. 

However, this might not be possible for drivers with car loans or leases since most lenders require them to carry collision and comprehensive coverage to minimize their liability. 

When should you drop collision coverage on your car? Once you’ve talked to your lender or paid off the loan or lease. 

• Contest the Ticket

If you think you didn’t deserve a ticket or were speeding due to a legit emergency or situation, you can contest it in court. You might not win, but if you do, your insurer can’t legally hold that ticket against you while assessing your record. 

• Simply Delay

When you receive a ticket, you’ll get a court date at least a few weeks or months away. You can ask for a continuance to extend the date for almost a year. At this time, the officer that issued the speeding ticket can resign, be fired, retire, or get transferred. When this happens, you can ask the court to dismiss your case. This is a rare occurrence. However, if you’re fighting a heavy fine, it’s an option you can consider to save on insurance. 

• Consider Mitigation

If you have a good driving record and haven’t gotten a ticket in years, you can ask the court for mitigation. This might not clean your record. However, it could help lower the fine. All you have to do is plead guilty and explain your circumstances to the judge. For example, if you had a medical emergency and had no choice but to speed, the judge can dismiss or at least lower the fine. Or, if you run a red light by 2/10th of a second, the judge could excuse the fine. 

Conclusion

Your best bet to keep a ticket off your record is to fight and get the fine either reduced or dismissed. Unfortunately, 95% of drivers pay the fines thinking to get it over with and end up paying higher premiums in the long run. 

So, if you’re still wondering, “How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?” don’t. Instead, use the time you have to either fight the ticket or improve your driving record, especially in states where the ticket stays on the record for over a year. And most importantly, avoid speeding at all costs to save yourself from financial and emotional stress in the future.