How to Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes Even If You Have a Speeding Ticket
Last Updated on December 5, 2025
So you received a speeding ticket—but you still want to find cheap auto insurance. While a ticket will almost always raise your rates, there are still reliable ways to secure affordable coverage. Below, we break down how speeding tickets affect insurance and how you can still get cheap quotes afterward.
Key Takeaways:
- Speeding Tickets Affect Rates Differently by Insurer: Some companies raise your rates immediately after one ticket, while others forgive the first one—especially if you have an otherwise clean record.
- You May Lose Safe Driving Discounts: Many insurers reward clean driving. A speeding ticket may cause these discounts to disappear, resulting in a higher premium even without a surcharge.
- Tickets Stay on Your Record for 1 to 3 Years: Most insurers look back 36 months when evaluating violations. Even if points drop off early, the ticket may remain visible in your motor vehicle report.
- You Can Still Get Cheap Rates: Comparing multiple insurers, maintaining a clean record afterward, trading in for a safer vehicle, and reassessing optional coverages can all help reduce your premiums.
How Do Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance Rates?
Your driving record is one of the biggest factors insurers use to set your premiums. A speeding ticket signals risk, so insurers may increase your rate at your next renewal.
Some insurers impose a surcharge immediately after your first ticket. Others may forgive one violation—especially if you’ve been a long-term safe driver. Younger drivers and those with multiple infractions often see the biggest increases.
Your insurer may also look more harshly on multiple violations in a short period, even if your record was clean for years beforehand.
The table below shows rate increases by company:
| Insurer | Average Premium | Premium After Speeding Ticket | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $2,120 | $2,590 | 22% |
| Farmers | $2,040 | $2,520 | 24% |
| GEICO | $1,470 | $1,950 | 33% |
| Nationwide | $1,690 | $1,980 | 17% |
| Progressive | $1,680 | $2,210 | 31% |
| State Farm | $1,560 | $1,950 | 25% |
Source: 2025 averages compiled from Insure.com, ValuePenguin, TheZebra, and Bankrate.
Regardless of age, drivers with repeat violations are far more likely to face higher premiums or be placed in a higher-risk tier. Maintaining a clean record after receiving a ticket is essential for lowering your rates again.
You Could Lose Safe Driving Bonuses
Many insurers offer good driver discounts to policyholders who avoid violations. A speeding ticket may remove these discounts instantly—even if your base rate doesn’t change yet.
Losing a safe-driver discount can sometimes hurt more than the ticket surcharge itself. Here’s a look at common good-driver discounts:
| Insurer | Discounts |
|---|---|
| Allstate | * Safe Driving Bonus – Up to 10% every 6 months without a claim. * Premier Discount – Up to 22% for 3 years accident-free. * Premier Plus Discount – Up to 35% for 5 years of clean driving. |
| American Family | * Good Driver Discount – 5%–20% for no accidents or violations in the previous 12 months. * KnowYourDrive Telematics – Up to 20% additional savings based on safe driving. |
| Esurance | * Good Driver Discount – 30%–40% for 3+ years licensed with 0–1 penalty points. * DriveSense Safe Driver Program – Additional discounts based on driving behavior. |
| GEICO | * Five-Year Good Driver Discount – 26% off after 5 accident-free years. * Defensive Driver Course – Additional state-dependent savings. |
| Nationwide | * Accident-Free Discount – Up to 10% for 5 years without at-fault claims. * SmartRide – Up to 40% depending on safe driving habits. |
| MetLife | * Super Driver Discount – Up to 12% for clean records. * MetRewards – Up to 20% for 5 years accident- and violation-free. (Note: MetLife Auto is now part of Farmers Insurance in most states.) |
| Progressive | * Safe Driver Discount – Average 31% savings after 3 years without tickets or accidents. * Snapshot Safe Driver Program – Additional discounts based on telematics. |
| State Farm | * Good Driver Discount – 10%–25% for 3 years without violations. * Drive Safe & Save – Additional savings depending on driving behavior. |
| Travelers | * Safe Driver Discount – 10% after 3 claim-free years; 23% after 5 claim-free years. * IntelliDrive – Up to 30% depending on telematics performance. |
How Long Do Speeding Tickets Stay on Your Record?
In most states, speeding tickets stay on your record for 12 to 36 months, but insurance companies typically review the past three years of your driving history. Even if your state removes points early, the violation may remain visible to insurers for several years.
On average, a speeding ticket will affect your rate for around 36 months—but duration varies by state:
| State | Time Speeding Ticket Stays on Record |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 years |
| Alaska | 1–2 years |
| Arizona | 1 year |
| Arkansas | 3 years |
| California | 3 years |
| Colorado | 3 years |
| Connecticut | 3 years |
| Delaware | 2 years |
| Florida | 3–5 years |
| Georgia | 2 years |
| Hawaii | 2 years |
| Idaho | 3 years |
| Illinois | 4–5 years |
| Indiana | 2 years |
| Iowa | 5 years |
| Kansas | 3 years |
| Kentucky | 2–3 years |
| Louisiana | 3 years |
| Maine | 1 year |
| Maryland | 2 years |
| Massachusetts | 6 years |
| Michigan | 7 years |
| Minnesota | 5 years |
| Mississippi | 3 years |
| Missouri | 3 years |
| Montana | 3 years |
| Nebraska | 5 years |
| Nevada | 1 year |
| New Hampshire | 3 years |
| New Jersey | 5 years |
| New Mexico | 3 years |
| New York | 3 years |
| North Carolina | 3 years |
| North Dakota | 3 years |
| Ohio | 3 years |
| Oklahoma | 3 years |
| Oregon | 2 years |
| Pennsylvania | 1 year |
| Rhode Island | 3 years |
| South Carolina | 2 years |
| South Dakota | 3 years |
| Tennessee | 2 years |
| Texas | 3 years |
| Utah | 3 years |
| Vermont | 2 years |
| Virginia | 5 years |
| Washington | 3 years |
| West Virginia | 5 years |
| Wisconsin | 5 years |
| Wyoming | 1 year |
FAQs
Final Word
The best way to get cheaper insurance after a speeding ticket is to compare quotes from multiple insurers. Companies weigh violations differently; some may overlook your first ticket, while others may treat you as high-risk immediately.
Another strategy is simple: wait. Tickets become less influential the older they get. Once you reach the 36-month mark without new violations, your rate should drop back toward normal.
Additional ways to save include:
- Compare quotes from multiple insurers
- Stay ticket-free for at least three years
- Drive a safer vehicle with better crash ratings (IIHS list)
- Remove optional coverages if financially appropriate
At the end of the day, insurers evaluate risk—and your driving history is one of the strongest risk indicators. A driver with multiple speeding tickets will always appear to be a higher-risk customer than someone with no violations.
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