If you’ve ever received a quote while driving, you may have been wondering about the difference between speeding quotes and tickets. The truth is that these terms can be used interchangeably. We will explain what to do if you receive a quote and if your driving record can reduce your premiums due to a travel violation.
The difference between quotes and tickets
Citations and tickets in terms are often used interchangeably, but their exact meaning may depend on your state, city, and type of traffic violation. In most cases, both refer to documented traffic violations issued by law enforcement. Whether it’s a speeding violation, whether you run a red light or illegally park, quotes and tickets act as official notices of crime. Fines range from fines and licensing points to mandatory court appearances for more serious violations.
Quotes, travel violations, speeding tickets
Traffic citations generally fall into two categories: mobility violations and non-mobility violations. A violation occurs while the car is moving. For example, speeding, performing a stop sign, reckless driving.
Non-moving violations, on the other hand, include violations when the vehicle is stationary, such as parking in the Palmer Zone or registering expired. Both can lead to fines, but travel violations often have severe consequences, including driving record points and increased premiums.
Mobility violation
- Speeding: Speeding tickets for driving through the listed speed limits can earn you fines and higher premiums.
- Perform a red light or stop sign: The penalties for these violations will vary depending on the condition you live in and whether you have caused an accident.
- Driving under influence (DUI) or driving while drunk (DWI): Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is one of the most serious mobility violations you can commit. In most states, they remain in the license for 5-10 years. In other states, DUIs can stay on the car record forever. Either way, it’s almost certainly going to affect your car insurance costs.
- Reckless driving: Driving in a way that shows intentionally ignoring safety can earn this type of quotation. For example, if you’ve been caught street races, you can receive a ticket for reckless driving. Reckless driving can lead to suspension of driver’s licenses and other severe penalties.
- Signal failure: Notifying the driver behind you when you are spinning will help you avoid an accident. It’s also the law, and if you fail the signal you can win a ticket.
No movement violation
- Parking violation: You can earn tickets by parking in unauthorized spaces, such as next to a fire hydrant or a no-parking zone.
- Expired registration: A citation may be issued if you drive with an expired registration or if you observe that your tag has expired while parked. It could also lead to suspension of driver’s license and large fines.
- Equipment violation: This can happen if the car is not equipped to drive properly. For example, if the headlights are broken, there is a loud exhaust system or a brake light that does not work.
- Failure to create insurance certificate: If you are stopped due to another problem, get involved in an accident, or are unable to provide evidence of insurance coverage, you may receive a ticket. It could also lead to a driver’s license suspension, vehicle registration, and even license plates.
- Coloring window: Some jurisdictions have laws in place regarding window tints and how dark it is. Violation of these laws may result in fines and other penalties.
What is a written warning?
If you are given a written warning while driving, this is not the same as a quote or ticket. This is an official notice issued by law enforcement for a small amount of traffic violations. Unlike quotes, it does not result in fines, penalties or points for the license and is not listed on the car record.
Instead, it acts as a warning measure, warning drivers of violations and underscores the importance of complying with traffic laws. There are no immediate results, but repeated warnings could lead to future law enforcement actions.
What to do if you get a quote or ticket
Getting tickets is never fun, but handling them in the right way can save you from a bigger headache. If you notice that you have a quote in your hand, what should you do with this:
- Read tickets carefully: Take a closer look at the details of what you were quoted, how much the fine is and whether you need to appear in court. Without deadlines or misunderstandings, things can get worse.
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Decide how you handle it:
- Pay the fine: This means accepting the violation and moving on.
- Fighting tickets: If it appears unfair, you can contest it in court.
- Take the driving course: In some states, you can complete a defensive driving class to reduce your fine or prevent points from reaching your record.
- Find out what negotiation options are possible. In certain cases, you may be able to reduce your license fine or get fewer points, especially if this is the first violation. Some courts allow you to sue less fees.
- Take action before the deadline: Whether you pay or compete for your ticket, don’t miss out on the deadline. If you deferred fees, termination of your license, or ignore it, the warrant may continue.
- Check your driving records and how they affect your insurance. Some violations can add points to your license and increase your premiums. It’s worth checking out with your state DMV and insurance company to see how this ticket affects you.
- Don’t ignore it: Sitting a ticket can make a bad situation worse. An unpaid fine means more penalties, suspended licenses, or suspending vehicle registration. Take care of it as soon as possible.
If you don’t know what to do, you can always reach out to a traffic lawyer or look into your local traffic laws to understand your options.
How does tickets affect car insurance premiums?
Depending on your car insurance company and driving history, receiving a traffic quote can increase your car insurance premiums.
First automatic quote
If you are concerned about the impact of quotes on car insurance premiums, you may consider asking about ticket forgiveness. Some insurers allow forgiveness to first-time offenders whose tickets don’t affect premiums. Ticket forgiveness is usually limited to minor violations.
For repeat offenders or drivers whose insurance doesn’t offer forgiveness, a single quote can increase the premium by several hundred dollars a year. Depending on the severity of your quote, you may see a fairly small amount of spikes in your premiums.
| Driving Records | average. Monthly Cost* | average. Annual cost* | It will increase above the national average. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $223 | $2,678 | 0% |
| Speeding ticket | $273 | $3,270 | twenty two% |
| Accidents with Disabilities | $321 | $3,857 | 44% |
| DUI conviction | $432 | $5,182 | 94% |
| * Fees are sourced from Quadrant Information Services for full coverage automobile insurance as of March 2025. |
Repeat the traffic quote
Too many traffic tickets can cause a significant premium increase, especially if your driver’s license is revoked or suspended. This can happen in one of two ways:
There are some violations, but if your driver’s license is still valid (which means it has not been suspended or revoked), you may get a policy non-renewal notice from your car insurance company. This notification provides a sophisticated warning that the company cannot renew its car insurance policy. If you are considered a high-risk driver, you can not only have high premiums, but you can also have a hard time securing your insurance policy. Such drivers may need to seek non-standard insurance companies or safe coverage from the state’s insurance pool for high-risk drivers.
If your license is suspended, you can get a cancellation notification from your car insurance company. This can occur at any time during the policy period. You will also need to submit an SR-22 or FR-44 certificate if you have multiple speeding tickets or other violations, or to revive your driver’s license.
In addition to the fine, obtaining a ticket may add points to your driving record. If sufficient points arise, the license can be revoked by the state’s automotive department. If you obtain a traffic quote, additional charges may apply to the following policy updates: It is important to note that some policy conditions may be shorter than others. So if you have a six-month policy for your annual policy, the premium may increase faster.
What is ticket forgiveness?
Ticket forgiveness is not a free pass to speed or roll stop signs, but some insurance companies offer it as a way to prevent fees from rising after the initial minor traffic violation. It is not like forgiveness of an accident, and that applies to crashes.
Not all insurance companies offer this perk, and some states like California don’t allow it at all. Travelers are one of the companies that provide forgiveness for minor violations. This means that if you receive a small speeding ticket or another minor violation, you won’t automatically spike your premium.
If you are worried about how tickets will affect your insurance costs, it is worth checking out if you would like to offer a similar program to your provider.
If I get a speeding ticket, how can I reduce my car insurance premiums?
A traffic violation on a car record can affect premium costs over the years, but there may be ways to offset the negative financial impact.
- Signing up for a telematics program that monitors driving via an app or device is another way to earn potential discounts.
- Talking to your insurance agent or company to make sure you are taking advantage of all the discounts available can also help reduce your fees.
Please note that an increase to premium following a violation is usually temporary and lasts for a few years. After that, if you maintain a clean driving record since the violation, the premium should decrease. Please note that the DUI Premium surcharge may last longer than other types.
FAQ
Methodology
Using Quadrant Information Services, Bankrate analyzes all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states March 2025 rates, with Washington DC rates being weighted based on population density for each geographical region. The cited fees are based on 40-year-old male and female drivers with clean driving records, good credits and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 per person physical injury liability
- $300,000 for each accident
- Liability for property damages of $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured driver physical injury for $100,000 per person
- Uninsured driver’s physical injury for $300,000 per accident
- $500 collision deduction possible
- Comprehensive $500 deduction
To determine the minimum coverage limit, bank rates used minimum coverage to meet the requirements of each state. Our base profile driver owns a 2023 Toyota Camry, commutes five days a week and drives 12,000 miles a year.
Incident: Rates were calculated by assessing the base profile by applying the following incidents: clean record (base), faulty accident, single speeding ticket, and single DUI conviction.
These are sample rates and should be used for comparison purposes only.
