How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record?

Most common traffic tickets involve speeding, distracted driving, or running a stop sign. Traffic tickets usually mean paying a fine or trying to fight the ticket in traffic court. However, a traffic ticket can also increase your car insurance rates. Insurance rate increases can continue until the ticket is no longer on your driving record.

Keeping a traffic ticket off your driving history can help you avoid higher auto insurance premiums. You can fight traffic violations or go through traffic school to avoid points on your record. Traffic ticket laws vary by state. To find out how to keep a ticket off your record, talk to a local traffic violation lawyer.

Understanding Traffic Ticket Records

Your driving record determines whether you can drive and how much you must pay for car insurance. Every state has different traffic laws. However, most states will suspend your driving privileges if you have too many tickets, don’t pay your traffic violation fines, or get arrested for drunk driving.

Many states use a driver’s license point system for driving records. Motorists get points for each moving violation, including speeding tickets, reckless driving, and red light violations. After getting a certain number of points in a limited time, the state can issue a license suspension. To reinstate your driver’s license, you need to pay a reinstatement fee and complete the state requirements.

Duration of Traffic Tickets on Your Record

Drivers should check with their state driving agency for a copy of their driving record. In many states, the agency is the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Your driving record should give you a good idea of what the insurance companies look at when determining your car insurance premiums.

Many factors impact your car insurance costs. Most factors, like zip code, age, and annual mileage, are beyond your control. Your driving record also influences your auto insurance rates. Even one traffic citation can increase how much you pay for auto insurance for years. Generally, any additional traffic violations can risk a higher insurance rate because the insurance company sees you as a more dangerous driver.

How long a violation stays on your record also depends on the seriousness of the traffic ticket. Minor infractions like parking tickets won’t affect your record unless you get too many. A speeding ticket or talking on your cell phone will generally affect your record. Serious driving offenses like DUIs are misdemeanor criminal offenses. A DUI or DWI can permanently mark your driving record.

Impact on Insurance and Driving Privileges

Car insurance companies raise rates for drivers with traffic tickets because they think drivers with traffic violations are at a greater risk of getting into an accident. Car insurance premiums depend on the company. Some companies increase insurance costs for a few years, but other companies can drop coverage altogether.

The duration a traffic offense stays on your record depends on the insurance company and state law. Most state driving agencies will keep minor traffic offenses on your record for one to five years. Some states keep all traffic violations, no matter how much time has passed. However, the insurance company may only look back two to five years to determine insurance rates.

Traffic Citations in Other States

A traffic ticket in Texas can affect your car insurance rates in California. Most states share traffic violation information with other states through the Driver’s License Compact. Suppose you get a traffic ticket while out of state; it can still impact your driving record. If you get a traffic ticket in another state, you have to deal with it in that state, or it can increase your car insurance rates.

Strategies for Record Improvement

The simplest way to keep a clean driving record is to avoid getting any traffic tickets. Alternatively, most states allow you to clear a first-time traffic violation with traffic school. States offer traffic school or defensive driving course classes to clear a single ticket. After completing the course, the violation won’t hit your driving record or increase your insurance rates. However, traffic school is usually only available if you haven’t had another ticket in the past year or more.

Legal Advice for Dealing With Tickets on Your Records

A traffic ticket can increase how much you pay in car insurance and put your driving privileges at risk. Traffic school can help you keep a ticket off your record, but it is not always available. If your insurance might go up after another ticket, you can fight the violation in traffic court. Talk to a traffic violation lawyer about your legal defenses to keep your driving record clean.